TENDER FOR THE PROVISION OF A SERVICE TO ENABLE WINCHESTER DISTRICT BUSINESSES TO BECOME ZERO CARBON AND ACCESS FUNDING

This business support programme funded by the council and ERDF needs to have measurable outcomes and impact that lead businesses to adopt sustainable investments, processes and practices. The purpose of the activity is to:

• Reduce carbon emissions from business
• Provide companies with green audits
• Provide access to finance in order to improve energy efficiency and/or support growth in the development of new low carbon technologies
• Raise awareness of and increase the take up of new low carbon/circular economy business models
• Encourage businesses to adapt a peer led approach
• Help businesses to access LoCASE funding by promoting LoCase and identifying businesses for referral to the programme

Specification

Winchester City Council is looking for a consultancy to support businesses in the Winchester District in meeting the challenge of carbon neutrality through the following outcomes:

• help businesses become zero carbon, reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions
• promote and help businesses to access LoCASE funding to reduce their energy use

Service requirements Marketing requirements (engagement)

• Business engagement and securing beneficiaries of the service including promoting LoCase
• Outreach to existing business groups such as Winchester Business

Improvement District and the local chambers of trade/ business in the market towns to secure beneficiaries

• Publicising the service including crediting Winchester City Council and EDRF in any marketing material which must be approved by the council in advance
• Organising and delivering regular learning / action planning workshops for businesses on the programme for a 12 month period
• Work with the council on hosting quarterly zero carbon workshops for Winchester district businesses and attend to promote the programme.

Zero Carbon savings requirements (support)

• Identifying and work intensively with 26 businesses from across the district. The businesses must be from a range of sectors, geographical areas and sizes (including small, medium and large businesses) that is representative of the businesses located within the District. The economic profile of the Winchester District can be viewed here.
• Identify those businesses with greatest potential and help them to develop the actions and steps so they can become zero carbon.
• Signposting to the advice and support to enable them to take action, including funding and grants
• Create an expected carbon saving target associated with the delivery of the programme overall and capture carbon savings of individual businesses on the programme.
• Sharing information and best practice including creating case studies for business on actions that have been successful
• The business information and support service is for a 12 month period from 1 March 2022 to 28 February 2023.