The UK government has announced a new scheme to save businesses over £3 million by lowering their energy bills through cutting emissions.
Under the scheme, more than 600 small and medium-sized hospitality businesses in the United Kingdom will receive free energy and carbon reduction assessments, which the government said will help them to cut energy costs and improve productivity.
The trial scheme will be delivered by Zero Carbon Services and is aimed at helping restaurants, cafes, pubs, and hotels to keep more money in their pockets and continue to act as the hubs for their local communities.
It will support businesses to make cost-effective changes such as fixing insulation gaps, upgrading to low-energy lighting or changing heating settings, which the government said will add up to significant savings over the year.
It noted that the UK hospitality sector is largely made up of SMEs and supports 3.5 million jobs, while contributing £93 billion to the UK economy.
The Zero Carbon Services Hospitality trial aims to link the owners of these business with energy and sustainability advisors, helping them to transition their business to net zero.
The launch of the trial comes ahead of the government’s upcoming modern Industrial Strategy, which it said will drive growth in the UK’s key sectors including clean energy.
“Pubs, restaurants and cafes are a cornerstone for communities across the country, with the hospitality sector employing millions of people and contributing billions to the economy,” said Minister for Industry Sarah Jones.
“By providing business owners with expert advice to cut bills and reduce emissions, this will help them keep more money in their pockets to grow their business, employ local people and continue to serve your pint of lager or fish and chips.”
Zero Carbon Services CEO Mark Chapman said that considering the impact of climate change and energy cost increases, there has never been a more important time to cut carbon and transition to net zero.
“Most venues have opportunities to save energy, food and money without realising it. By combining smart data with one-to-one coaching, we help operators take simple, practical steps to reduce waste, lower emissions, and improve day-to-day efficiency,” he said.
“It’s about making small changes that add up — cutting waste, protecting profits and building a stronger, more resilient sector.”
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