Businesses on a Denbighshire industrial estate are forecast to save almost £250,000 in energy costs and safeguard jobs thanks to a pioneering renewable energy scheme.
The project has provided 40 companies on the Colomendy Industrial Estate in Denbigh with carbon reduction plans and mentoring support and already nine are seeing the financial benefit after taking steps to cut their emissions.
The work is part of a Denbighshire business collaboration project run by social enterprise Cadwyn Clwyd, and is funded by the Denbighshire County Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund Programme.
Cadwyn Clwyd commissioned sustainability expert Tom Powell through his One Earth Education company which specialises in helping businesses implement net-zero strategies.
He said:
“We have been able to provide businesses on Colomendy with a range of services from a comprehensive carbon footprint and sustainability strategy, customised training, a net zero toolkit, technical advice and bid-writing support that has helped secure £270,000 in grants.
“We circulated all the businesses on Colomendy and 40 came back to us which was encouraging and nine of them have already taken advantage of the service we offer and been awarded grants.
“The project has helped 40 local companies understand their carbon footprints, roll out training and implement effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions which helps safeguard local jobs.
“We estimate that the energy savings in the first five years will be as much as £250,000 and we have created a model which can be replicated across similar commercial and industrial zones across North Wales.
“I’ve been really pleased to see how the project has gone and how successful it has been in our local community and for it to have produced tangible results immediately. It has seen a reduction in carbon emissions, an upskilling of employees on the industrial zone and the creation of a cluster of carbon-conscious business leaders. At the same time it has created a model which can be rolled out to other areas across North Wales and beyond.”
One of the first companies to sign up was Morris Granite and Marble, specialists in bespoke stonework, who have been on the Colomendy Estate since 1978, and directors Andrew Morris and Pen Roberts are already seeing a dramatic decrease in their energy costs.
They received a Cadwyn Clwyd grant to help them install a 160-panel solar array.
Pen said:
“It has been a fantastic opportunity for us. It always seems a good idea but a bit overwhelming and Tom has been such a great help in making it a smooth process and given the chance we’d do it again if there’s another grant available.
“On some days this winter we’ve seen as much as a third of our power produced by solar so it’s been a big saving.”
Lock Stock Self Storage, opened in Denbigh in 2000, have also seen a dramatic benefit, not just to the bottom line but to their workforce.
Mike Trow, Lock Stock Operations Manager, said:
“The business has been growing rapidly and now has 30 storage parks across North Wales, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Liverpool but we are conscious that we need to make them more sustainable as well.
“Through the project we’ve been able to step up a programme of installing solar security lighting to significantly reduce our electricity consumption across our locations.
“We also insulate our storage units and thought we’d have to outsource due to increased costs, but the grant funding allowed us to purchase new solar lights and a new insulation spray machine which can line our units more efficiently and retain those jobs.”
The Colomendy project is part of a £1.7 million ‘Supporting Local Business’ project in Denbighshire which is funded by the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund and managed by Cadwyn Clwyd in collaboration with Denbighshire County Council.
Cadwyn Clwyd Manager Lowri Owain said:
“The Fund has made available £1.4 million in business grants for micro and small businesses along with nearly £300,000 in a business collaboration project with £60,000 invested in the Denbigh’s Colomendy Industrial Estate Project.
“The wider package of support across Denbighshire has been very successful and in all has supported 358 businesses, safeguarded nearly 250 jobs and created a further 40 new jobs while producing 26 new business start-ups along with 35 carbon reduction grants across the county.
“The focus of the project has been to enable businesses to trial new products, services and technology with the emphasis on sustainability and achieving progress towards Net Zero.
“The County Council have been really pleased to see the money going to local businesses on the Colomendy Industrial Estate and how they have been encouraged to work together.”
Since 2001 Cadwyn Clwyd has secured and invested over £35 million in funding for North East Wales's local economy and communities. Its recent portfolio of support programmes over the last 18months has involve nearly £5million in support for businesses and community projects across Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.
