Check out this sustainability support for small businesses in Oxfordshire
The world of energy and sustainability for small businesses can be a confusing (and let’s face it, a boring) one.
However, if you run a small business in Oxfordshire and you have been wanting to investigate energy use or carbon footprint reductions, there is local support available worth knowing about. Some of this support is completely free, and some involves funding to help with the cost of improvements. Here is a quick rundown.
1. Free energy assessment from Energy Solutions Oxfordshire
Energy Solutions Oxfordshire (ESOx) is currently offering any SME in the county a free, in-person energy assessment. These would normally cost roughly £1,500, and they're funded through Low Carbon Hub's renewable energy portfolio.
An expert assessor from the Environmental Information Exchange (EiE) team at Oxford Brookes will visit your premises and produce a report tailored to your building. This covers your heating and cooling systems, insulation, lighting, appliances, and how the building is being used day-to-day. The report sets out a range of recommended actions, from simple, no-cost changes to longer-term investments in low-carbon technologies, along with estimated costs and projected savings for each one. It also flags any funding you might be eligible for.
ESOx reports that organisations that act on the recommendations save an average of 19% on their energy bills, with around a third of the recommended actions costing little or nothing to carry out.
To be eligible, your organisation needs to have fewer than 250 employees and be based in Oxfordshire. Community buildings and charities are also eligible.
ESOx is delivered by Low Carbon Hub in partnership with the EiE at Oxford Brookes University.
More information: energysolutionsoxfordshire.org/free-energy-assessment
2. Green Fund match funding (up to £10,000)
Organisations that have already had an ESOx energy assessment can apply for their Green Fund, which provides match funding towards energy efficiency upgrades or renewable energy installations.
Grants are available between up to £10,000, on a 1:3 basis. This means ESOx contributes 25% of the project cost, while your organisation funds the remaining 75% from its own capital or other grant sources. For example, the minimum £200 grant requires total project expenditure of £800, and the maximum £10,000 grant requires total spend of £40,000.
The Green Fund launched in May 2025 and has so far provided over £125,000 in match funding to 25 organisations across Oxfordshire. Projects funded to date include solar panels for a medical centre in Eynsham, an air source heat pump and battery storage for a quilting retailer in Henley, LED lighting upgrades for an Oxford clothing shop, EV chargers for a motorsport membership organisation, and a new electric forklift alongside LED lighting for a steel fabrication business near Bicester.
Applications are reviewed quarterly by a board of energy and industry professionals, who assess each project on its impact, additionality, and scalability. The next deadline for applications is 10 June 2026.
Having an ESOx energy assessment is a prerequisite for applying to the Green Fund.
More information: energysolutionsoxfordshire.org/get-match-funding-with-our-green-fund
3. Free Workplace Energy Efficiency Checklist
For businesses not yet ready for a full assessment, ESOx has also published a free Workplace Energy Efficiency Checklist. It covers low-cost actions that can be looked at without needing a specialist visit and gives a reasonable picture of where there might be room for improvement.
Find it at: energysolutionsoxfordshire.org/energychecklist
4. Enterprise Oxfordshire net zero resources
The Enterprise Oxfordshire Business website has brought together a range of net zero resources for Oxfordshire SMEs in one place. This includes guidance on understanding your carbon footprint, links to business toolkits, and information on local events such as the annual Environment and Sustainability Showcase. It is a useful reference point if you're trying to get a broader picture of where to start.
Find it at: enterpriseoxfordshirebusiness.com/net-zero
5. District council funding schemes
Funding available through local councils comes around quite frequently, so it's worth keeping an eye on what your district council has on offer. South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse district councils have previously run grant schemes of up to £10,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, covering measures such as EV chargers, insulation, heat pumps, and renewable energy. Cherwell District Council has also run funded energy assessment schemes in partnership with ESOx.
Individual schemes open and close as funding rounds come through, so checking in with your local council's business support team periodically is a good habit. If you’re based in South Oxfordshire, the District Council's business sustainability pages are a useful starting point.
6. UK-wide support worth knowing about
Beyond what's available locally, there are a few UK-wide resources that Oxfordshire businesses can access regardless of where they're based.
The UK Business Climate Hub (businessclimatehub.uk) is a government-backed, free online platform specifically aimed at SMEs. It includes a carbon calculator, a climate action planner, and sector-specific guidance on reducing emissions. It is also a useful place to find information on green finance and funding schemes that may be available in your area. The hub was developed with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and has recently been updated as part of a wider effort to make sustainability guidance more accessible to small businesses.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers grants of up to £7,500 towards the installation of a heat pump in small non-domestic properties in England and Wales and has been extended to 2030. This is primarily aimed at properties currently heated by fossil fuels, and eligibility depends on the type and size of the building. Details are on the government's website at gov.uk.
For manufacturing businesses specifically, the Made Smarter Adoption programme provides support with adopting digital technologies that can improve energy and resource efficiency. It includes access to specialist advice and match-funded grants of up to £20,000 for eligible equipment. The programme is open to SME manufacturers with premises in England, and is delivered regionally, so it's worth checking whether there's currently a South East or South Central strand running.
National funding schemes do change regularly, so the UK Business Climate Hub's finance and support pages are a reasonable place to check what's currently open.