NORFOLK COUNTY COUNCIL

Business Transition to Net Zero (BTNZ) Grant

• Are you a growing business and want to improve your operational efficiency?

• Do you need to invest in plant and machinery to become more productive?

• Would you benefit from fully funded specialist “clean growth” consultancy to measure

your carbon emissions and plan future carbon reduction investments?

The BTNZ scheme provides grant support to help businesses improve their operational

efficiency on their road to Carbon Net Zero.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is available?

Norfolk County Council has BTNZ grants available of up to £100,000 to part-fund capital

projects to a maximum of 20% of total project costs. The minimum grant available is

£25,000. The minimum project costs are therefore £125,000.

If your project is less than £125,000, please contact the Growth Hub to discuss other grant

schemes. (See contact us below)

Location of support

You must be classed as a small or medium enterprise and your project must be located

within the boundaries of Norfolk County Council.

Timeframe

Your project must be ready to proceed immediately and be fully completed and claimed by

31/07/2025 and you must check with your proposed suppliers that this is achievable.

Examples of projects we could support.

Typical projects to be supported will be focused on clean growth / net zero including:

• Energy efficient plant and machinery

• On-shoring of product manufacturing and supply chains to increase efficiencies

• Development of new technology or innovation and productivity improvements

• Reducing methane, nitrogen oxide and other greenhouse gases/particulate emissions

• Heating, e.g., Biomass, ASHP/WSHP but not fossil fuel alternatives

• Innovative R&D projects focussed on clean growth and/or net zero.

• Cluster applications will be considered, and applicants will be encouraged to work to

support others within their business or sector community and their supply chain.

• Battery energy storage systems

Following investment, we would expect to see at least one of the following outcomes:

• Improved productivity

• Improved operational efficiency.

• Measurable reduction in t/CO2e

• Creation or development of your net zero action plan

• The introduction of new products and services,

• The adopting of technologies which are new to your business.

• Accessing new markets

• Increasing export capability

• Safeguarding of jobs

Net Zero Action Plan

You should already be aware of your environmental impact and must have a meaningful,

bespoke Net Zero Action Plan in place to be eligible for grant funding and all grant applications

must be supported by a detailed Net Zero Action Plan.

Funded external specialist consultancy support is available to assist you to create or develop

your Net Zero Action Plan and to calculate your Carbon Savings. Your adviser will complete

a simple form and we will allocate a fully funded consultant to you.

Your Net Zero Action Plan should include aspirations for energy, water, waste reduction and

reduction of impact on the environment.

Your Net Zero Action Plan should reflect any carbon reduction steps already taken and how

the project seeking support fits with the road to Net Zero. The consultants will also give your

guidance on future improvements.

There is an expectation that anticipated Carbon Savings (t/CO2e) are calculated and

evidenced for the proposed project.

If you require assistance in producing or developing a Net Zero Action Plan the Growth Hub

Adviser and specialist consultants will be pleased to help you.

What business sectors are not eligible for support?

• Banking and insurance

• Accommodation

• Agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture, forestry, fisheries and the primary production,

processing, and marketing of their products

• Schools, nurseries, and childcare facilities.

• Publicly funded bodies and statutory services, healthcare, and care homes.

• Religious or political organisations

• Energy generation and distribution

• Coal, steel, and shipbuilding

What costs are we not able to support?

• Solar panel supply and / or installations;

• Premises costs;

• LED lighting;

• Insulation;

• Property improvements or renovations;

• Windows, doors and fixtures and fittings etc;

• Core running or staff costs (Revenue costs);

• Vehicles (energy efficient or fossil fuel);

• Intangible Assets – IP, Patents, Trademarks, Trade Names;

• Any costs incurred before a grant offer is made;

• Items that are not directly needed to deliver the proposed work;

• The replacement of items and consumables including laptops and software;

• Website creation;

• WMS/CRM platforms or equivalent;

• Land purchase;

• VAT, unless this cannot be recovered;

• Any projects that can be funded from other grant schemes;

• Repeat applications, including from linked companies.

How do I apply for funding?

Businesses wishing to apply for support should first contact the Growth Hub through this link:

Our expert Business Growth Advisers will work with you to develop your application. As part

of the process, an initial in-depth diagnostic exercise will be undertaken by Growth Hub

Business Advisers to determine eligibility of your business and identify what type of support

you require.

In order to provide support, the Growth Hub will need to register your details.

Please note, the services of the Growth Hub are free and impartial.

Subsidy Control

Where possible, the grant subsidy will be provided through the Local Growth or Energy Usage

Streamlined Routes.

When the Streamlined Routes cannot be used, grant support may be available through

Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA).

The maximum support through MFA is £315,000 and this is a cumulative total of all support

received over the current, and the last two complete financial years through MFA, EU de

minimis and Small Amounts of Financial Assistance Allowance.

If you are offered support through MFA, you will need to make a declaration that you have not

already exceeded the £315,000, and/or with approval of the requested support, you will not

exceed the £315,000 threshold.

Things you should know.

• There are limited funds available, and they are awarded on a first come first served

basis.

• You must be an established SME and be able to provide accounts covering at least

two years.

• We are unable to support ailing or insolvent businesses with a negative balance

sheet and financial checks are undertaken.

• This discretionary grant is awarded by an independent panel, and it may take up to

28 days for you to be notified of a decision.

• All planning permissions or other dependencies must be evidenced as in place at

time of application.

• If you are successful, you must not spend any money, order any items, or commence

any project activity until you have formally accepted the grant offer.

• To support your application, you will be required to provide routine business

documents such as quotes, business accounts and bank statements.

• All projects will need to demonstrate value for money and there will be a requirement

to provide at least three quotes for each category of expenditure over £2,500, and one

quote per item for projects below £2,500. The minimum value of a quote from a single

supplier is £1,000.

• You will receive advice and support as required during the application process.

• If your grant application is successful, you can only claim your grant once you have

completed all aspects of the supported project.

Please note, grants are awarded on a discretionary basis and are subject to

eligibility checks and approval.