Before applying for any loan finance, you should speak with an independent financial adviser to see whether a green loan is suitable for your business.

Many grants and loans are location specific and it’s often best to:

• Contact your local authority. Your local council may have grants or loans available.
• Contact your energy supplier. Many offer small loans and grants for businesses to improve energy efficiency.
• Search online resources like Grants Online to see what’s available in your local area.

Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF)

Visit the Government’s website to check guidance. Funding rounds tend to come up every Spring and Autumn and can support the deployment of energy efficiency technologies to reduce industrial energy consumption and deep decarbonisation projects. Your business must be operating in an industrial sector listed in the eligibility criteria. 

Find funding to help your business become greener

Search for updates on Government support to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Almost £5 billion of funding has been made available to help UK businesses become greener as part of the Government’s commitment.

Clean Growth Financing Initiative – Lloyds Bank

Funding from Lloyds Bank can support a broad range of investments in sustainable business – from small improvements in environmental impact, right through to large-scale renewable energy infrastructure.

Loans are available for organisations with either a £3-15 million turnover, or a turnover of over £25 million, to assist with:

• Reduction in carbon and greenhouse gas emissions for core business processes, properties and infrastructure.
• Energy efficiency, renewables, environmental sustainability improvements or production of related products.
• Investment in low carbon vehicles and transport.

Ofgem

Ofgem offers an updated guide for small business energy grants, schemes and advice to lower your carbon emissions and get more efficient with your commercial energy use.

Barclays Green Loan

Your business must meet the European Commission’s definition of an SME, which means having fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than €25m.

• The loan is only available for sustainable green projects – check if your project’s eligible.

You could borrow money to fund all green changes to your business and green projects, including: 

• Harnessing and storing solar and wind energy 
• Improving EPC ratings
• Upgrading to eco-friendly machinery 

NatWest Green Loan

NatWest has recently announced a new Green Loans proposition to offer borrowing with no arrangement fee to qualifying SMEs investing in eligible clean buildings, energy, transport and agriculture.

Green loans and green asset finance are due to be open for applications from 18 February 2022.

HSBC’s Green SME Fund

Available to UK SMEs with a group annual turnover of up to £25m.

Oxford Community Impact Fund (small and medium grants – Oxford City only)

There is £5,000 (per Medium Grant) and £1,000 (per Small Grant) for non-profit-making organisations, including schools and colleges, to pursue a Zero Carbon future for Oxford.

They are looking for projects that help deliver the following key interconnected priorities, in line with the City Council’s Strategy: 

• Support thriving communities
• Enable an inclusive economy 
• Pursue a zero carbon Oxford
• Deliver more, affordable housing

Asda Investing in Places and Spaces Grant

Grants will be between £10,000 and £25,000 investing in community spaces and places and projects must fall into at least one of the following categories: 1. Building Repairs 2. Building Development 3. Outdoor Development. Stage 1 will close: on 19 March 2023: More Info.

Postcode Society Trust

There is £25,000 available for charities and community interest companies (CICs) responding to the climate emergency, and £2,500 for voluntary sector organisations. 

Including support for projects responding to the climate emergency & promoting sustainability.

Morrisons Foundation

Grants for projects up to £25,000, for charities only. The project must help the community and the grant cannot part fund a project.

Aviva Climate Fund by Aviva Community Fund

They are awarding up to £50,000 for charities or social enterprises to speed up the transition to net zero.

Blenheim House Bursary and Green Loan Scheme

Local charities and community projects to the Blenheim Estate are invited to apply for bursaries and green loans. The scheme focuses on different topics and can support sustainable projects who are doing something positive and practical to address climate change.

The Green Loan Scheme currently offers zero-interest loans of up to £10,000 for any constituted body ie parish or town councils, schools or charities within Oxfordshire

Magic Little Grants

£500 to charities for climate emergency & promoting sustainability. Apply once per year.

FCC Communities Foundation

For buildings within 10 miles of a landfill site, so can apply for an FCC grant of between £2,000 – £100,000 which will support community projects.

Valencia Communities Fund

For buildings within 10 miles of Ardley Waste Processing Plant, nr Bicester grants of between £2,000 – £100,000 for not-for-profit organizations with projects that protect the environment and maintain, repair or restore a building of historic or architectural interest that is open and accessible to the public.

Big Energy Saving Loans

Loan finance between £20,000 to £150,000 for social enterprises and charities in England, for energy efficiency and renewable energy installation.

Charity Excellence Funding 

Sources of charitable trust and foundation grant funding for UK church projects & buildings (repairs, capital, construction, renovation and restorations). You’ll find more using the free Funding Finder database, using the Faith category, and 50+ funder lists.