The Lowdown on the ‘Improve Your Resource Efficiency Programme’
Monday, November 7th, 2011 by corli
I had one question in mind when I attended the ‘Improve Your Resource Efficiency’ seminar: do we qualify for a grant? Unfortunately, the answer was more complicated than a mere yes or no.
Wessex Enterprise explained that applicants had to meet certain eligibility criteria:
- Less than 250 employees (or a group with no more than 250 employees)
- Annual balance sheet not exceeding €43 million
- Annual turnover not exceeding €50 million
- Not be more then quarter owned by firms that do not comply with the above criteria.
Grants could be used for: lighting upgrades, new heating systems, compressors, recycling equipment, CAD design software, testing & monitoring equipment, consultancy / training / certification for environmental management or other projects. These grants are issued on a 50% match fund basis (minimum of £1000 threshold and maximum of £40000). Investments must be in Dorset.
The bottom line was that the amount you qualify for depends on the difference between your current carbon footprint and your potential post-grant carbon footprint. The potential difference needs to be comparatively substantial, which unfortunately limits the options of a smaller enterprise [especially those that do not have high consumption or high wastage].
Wessex Enterprise does offer 12 hours free support, which can be used to benefit the business in developing an environmental policy, guidance on developing an environmental management system, legal compliance check, resource related research projects, etc.


















