Our UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) has allocated funding to help local businesses reduce their carbon impact and increase sustainability.

Through previous support, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole based businesses have been able to gain free access to online platform Climate Essentials to create bespoke carbon reduction plans. Local businesses have also accessed around £80,000 worth of grants to use towards projects that have allowed them to reduce their carbon impact via changes to their operations.

With funding from our UKSPF, from 2 June 2025, SMEs based in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can apply for a financial contribution of up to £500 towards an energy audit for their business premises (50% match-funded, maximum £500). Energy audits allow an organisation to see where they can save energy and increase energy efficiency, resulting in financial and carbon savings.

Businesses will need to have obtained 3 quotes when applying for an energy audit grant, with preference to local suppliers, and confirm that without the funding an energy audit would not have taken place.

Grants for energy audits are limited and will be given on a “first-come, first-served" basis (where criteria have been fully met), with the expectation that the application window will close by September 2025, or when funds have been fully committed.

Case studies

‘Marsham Court Hotel is one of the local businesses that has benefitted from the free access to Climate Essentials. You can watch James, Operations Director, talk about their experience with the online platform and creating their bespoke carbon reduction plan.

‘Bad Hand Coffee in Bournemouth (BH2) received a match-funded grant of £5,000 to help them install additional solar panels to their premises, following the creation of their carbon reduction plan through Climate Essentials. You can watch the interview with Joel, owner of Bad Hand Coffee, talk about his experience.

Contact us

For more information about the energy audit scheme, please contact the Economic Development team on economicdevelopment@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.