12 businesses awarded with CheltenhamZero business grant

£36,655 of CheltenhamZero business grants have been awarded to 12 successful small to medium sized businesses, focusing on a diverse range of projects addressing low carbon transitions and improving energy efficiency, delivering business growth and resilience.

The CheltenhamZero business grant received a substantial amount of interest from local businesses, emphasising Cheltenham’s engaged and motivated business landscape, encouraging businesses that want to champion net zero projects.

The funding pot was made available by the Cheltenham Borough Council, who received £36,655 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to support local businesses as Cheltenham’s dedication to the climate transition continues.

This business grant will enable businesses to save on energy costs and unlock barriers to sustainable development and business growth.

Cllr Richard Pineger, cabinet member for climate emergency said: “I want to thank Isobel for her professionalism and dedication in helping Cheltenham businesses access grants to speed up their transition to low-carbon operations.

“These grants don’t just benefit individual businesses - they inspire wider change, as we’ve seen with the e-cargo bike project encouraging communities to embrace a low-carbon lifestyle.

This is just one part of the fantastic work Isobel is doing with many local businesses and clubs. I’m grateful to her and to all the businesses taking part. Your efforts matter and show that together we can move towards a net zero Cheltenham.”

This funding was delivered by CheltenhamZero, from Cheltenham Borough Council. With sessions, advice and 1-2-1 support offered as part of the process to enable businesses to make the most out of this opportunity to best position their business and make the most out of the opportunity.

Isobel Filipova, business initiative manager for CheltenhamZero, continued: ‘’We were looking for projects with the highest carbon reduction return on investment, with an awareness of the positive impact it would have on the business, community, and local economy.

“We were especially keen to ensure businesses were applying for solutions which would best reduce their emissions and costs. We had a diverse range of projects from e-bikes to LEDs, and insulation to hand dryers.

We were encouraged to see the amount of match funding supporting these applications. Our 12 awarded projects will have a total investment of £72,324 including £35,669 of matched funding being delivered during 2025-2026.

“It was important for us to fund projects focused on improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon in the borough and enabling business to free up funds to enable them to invest in, build and grow their businesses.

“We continue to support all Cheltenham businesses, even if we aren’t funding their projects, as part of the broader support offered by the CheltenhamZero initiative.’’

Georgina Saunders, energy services manager, Severn Wye Energy Agency, said: “Severn Wye provided energy audits for several Cheltenham based businesses through the Cheltenham Zero initiative. When we were asked to support the grant selection process, we were more than happy to share our expertise.

“It’s been a rewarding experience. We have seen a variety of innovative approaches amongst businesses looking to reduce their carbon emissions. The funded measures will also support reduced energy bills, encouraging further resilience amongst Cheltenham’s business community.”

Some of the innovative ideas that businesses have enacted from the 2025 CheltenhamZero Business Grant are listed below:

• The London Inn - £1,340 – Smart cellar project.
• Williams Cycles - £4,000 – Funding for e-cargo bicycle to enable month long test drives for local businesses and residents.
• Cheltenham Boxing Academy- £5,000 – Full project to include LED upgrade, bike rack installation and further recommendations from their SWEA audit.
• St. Pauls Garage - £3,420 – LED upgrade and installation of motion sensors.
• Mission Inclusion and Common Ground community centre on Brooklyn Road, Cheltenham Model Centre and Scarlet Monkey – a combined £8,873 – LED upgrading across all businesses.

Find out more about the grant recipients and their projects for 2025 here.

 

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For enquiries to CheltenhamZero, contact: [email protected]

Notes for editors

This project has received £36,655 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.  Find out more about the projects and businesses on the webpage.

About Cheltenham Borough Council

Working with residents, communities and businesses to help make Cheltenham net zero by 2030 is one of five key priorities for the council. Our Climate Emergency Action Plan: Pathway to Net Zero sets out our aim to achieve the 2030 target by working with residents, communities, businesses and public and voluntary organisations.

Cheltenham Borough Council will continue to decarbonise council buildings, homes and the way we work, maximising opportunities to retrofit our council homes and buildings to reduce carbon, make them warmer and reduce the cost of bills.

The CheltenhamZero business grants are an example of us providing support to our residents and businesses to help them to do the same, as stated in our key priority 3: Reducing carbon, achieving council net zero, creating biodiversity. Businesses can show their commitment to tackling the climate emergency head on by joining CheltenhamZero.

About CheltenhamZero

CheltenhamZero supports around 200 local organisations, from a wide range of sectors, with their net zero journey. It’s free to join and membership is open to businesses, public services, charities, schools and community organisations operating within Cheltenham.