No Need To Wait For New Green Investment Bank, Businesses Urged

UK businesses are being reminded that millions of pounds worth of public funding is already on offer to help them go green.

[UKPRwire, Fri Mar 26 2010] Chancellor Alistair Darling used his final Budget before the General Election to reveal plans for a new £2 billion Green Investment Bank to support low carbon industries.

But business funding experts j4b Software and Publishing are reminding companies that hundreds of smaller funds are already available to help them improve efficiency, cut waste, slash energy bills and increase productivity.

Jeremy Phillips, managing director of j4b Software and Publishing, said:

“A new green investment bank will undoubtedly help the UK make the most of the shift to a low carbon economy, but there’s already millions of pounds worth of public funding up for grabs to help businesses boost their bottom line by going green.”

Green Grants Machine is a free website created by j4b to help businesses find funding to improve their environmental performance.

It includes a fully searchable database with details on more than 400 grants, loans and awards on offer to UK businesses by the European Union, Government departments, regional development agencies and local councils.

Mr Phillips revealed:

“There are interest-free loans to buy new energy efficient equipment, grants to develop innovative low carbon products, funds to generate renewable energy and much more – all this adds up to lower energy bills, less waste and increased profits.”

Other green measures announced during Mr Darling’s Budget include £60 million for offshore wind, a pledge to halve company car tax for ultra low carbon vehicles, and continued support for the “Pay as you Save” scheme to encourage homeowners to improve energy efficiency.

ENDS

Notes to editors

j4b Software and Publishing Ltd is an information services company providing research, information publishing and technology solutions for business, public and community sector organisations.

It is part of the IDOX group, a specialist information and knowledge management company focusing on the development and delivery of software products and content for information and knowledge sharing for information professionals at all levels and consultancy services for local authorities and related bodies.

www.greengrantsmachine.co.uk is a free to use website that enables businesses to search through hundreds of grants, loans, awards and other funds available to help them improve their environmental performance.