Eleven Stafford businesses have shared nearly £150,000 in grants to invest in greener technology that is cutting energy bills, reducing carbon emissions and helping fund further growth.
The funding, secured by Stafford Borough Council from the Government, supported a six-month programme helping micro, small and medium sized businesses improve their green credentials with grants of up to £30,000.
Among the recipients were aesthetic and medical skincare clinic Medi-Spa 28 on Eastgate Street, which has cut its energy bills by around £1,400 a month installing air source pump heaters.
Clinic Director Barbara Pointon said: “What it has enabled us to do by way of further investment into offering other services has been quite phenomenal. It has been a huge win-win for us as a business.”
Stafford Clay Studio used its grant to buy a larger, more efficient kiln that only needs firing up only once a week, replacing the three times a week required by its smaller counterpart and helping cut costs.
Meanwhile, Love’s Independent Funeral Directors on Mill Street, has made its mortuary more “environmentally-friendly and energy efficient” as part of the initiative.
The businesses’ experiences have now been turned into a series of video case studies.
Councillor Tony Pearce, the borough council’s cabinet member for climate action and nature recovery, said: “The huge reduction in costs demonstrated by just one business that converted to more sustainable energy generation is incredible to see – and now those savings are being reinvested to help their business thrive.”
He added: “Climate change must be a priority for everyone. What we do, or don’t do now, is going to have a direct impact on future generations.”
