Basildon For Business - Low Carbon Across The South East (LoCASE)
Low Carbon Across the South East (LoCASE) is an EU funded project set up to help businesses tackle and adapt to climate change.
The LoCASE programme will improve business resilience, profitability and competitiveness, whilst contributing to the protection and preservation of the environment. It will do this by:
- providing business support to 1,050 small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
- cutting emissions by 6,510 tonnes of carbon dioxide
- supporting 67 new businesses
- introducing 80 new products
- enabling knowledge transfer with 47 businesses
- creating 270 jobs in the low carbon and environmental goods and services (LCEGS) sector
LoCASE success stories in Basildon
LoCASE and Basildon RUFC
A LoCASE grant helped Basildon RUFC improve their energy efficiency and save around £1000 per year on energy bills.
To find out how see: LoCASE - Case Study 2017 - Basildon Rugby Football Club (PDF, 349 KB)(opens new window)
LoCASE and CYCLES UK
A LoCASE grant helped CYCLES UK with the installation of a new LED lighting system and effectively reduced the cost of their Basildon relocation.
To find out how see: LoCASE - Case Study 2017 - CYCLES UK in Basildon (PDF, 213 KB)(opens new window)
LoCASE and Gerald McDonald & Co Ltd
A LoCASE grant enabled Gerald McDonald & Co Ltd to replace outdated refrigerant to comply with 2020 requirements, improve their energy efficiency and prevent the release of harmful gas into the atmosphere.
To find out how see: LoCASE - Case Study 2017 - Gerald McDonald & Co Ltd in Basildon (PDF, 254 KB)(opens new window)
LoCASE and PGR Builders & Timber Merchants
LoCASE funding enabled PGR Builders & Timber Merchants to install new LED lighting and replace their old heating system with the latest air conditioning units for an annual cost saving estimated at £1250.
To find out how see: LoCASE - Case Study 2017 - PGR Timber in Basildon (PDF, 112 KB)(opens new window)
Match-funded grants of up to £10,000
The LoCASE programme can provide match-funded grants of up to £10,000 to:
- help cover the cost of energy efficiency measures for any small or medium-sized business
- enable businesses in the low carbon sector to expand and develop
Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available to spend on parts and installation costs for items including:
- light-emitting diode (LED) lighting and controls
- energy-efficient motors, drives and air compressors
- heat exchangers
- building improvements
If your business offers low carbon goods or services, grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available to be spent on:
- purchasing equipment and machinery
- research and development
- marketing and website development
- business development consultancy
Regional Eligibility
Businesses in the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) (opens new window) region can apply for support from the LoCASE project. This includes:
- Basildon
- Thurrock
- Southend
- Essex
- Kent and Medway
- East Sussex
Who can apply
To be eligible for a grant, businesses must:
- be considered an SME - employ fewer than 250 people, and have an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million or a balance sheet not exceeding €43 million
- spend the full value of the LoCASE grant on a project taking place within the SELEP area
- secure 60% of the costs of the project in cash from private sector sources before the LoCASE grant agreement is concluded
- not be engaged in a restricted sector according to the state aid regulations and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) requirements - details covered in our eligibility test
- not have already exceeded the de minimis state aid limit - €200,000 over 3 years - nor be in a position where the de minimis State Aid (opens new window) limit would be exceeded were the application to be approved