The Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) project

The Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) has been running since 2016, and has been supporting County Durham based businesses in generating financial savings and reducing their carbon emissions through energy efficiency.

BEEP provided an independent analysis of existing business practices through in-depth energy audits. The resulting bespoke recommendations report provided small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with cost-effective options for generating financial savings through energy reductions and generation activities.

Joint funding from ERDF and the council enabled this service to be offered to local County Durham businesses for free. BEEP support was initially focussed on the county's SME sector and after two very successful projects over a six year period, to date it has helped over 500 Durham businesses with bespoke energy advice.

The project also provided SMEs with grant funding to support SMEs with the capital costs of energy efficiency and low carbon generation technology installations, helping over 100 businesses reduce their energy, carbon footprint and energy related overall costs. BEEP has acted as a catalyst to Durham based businesses' decarbonisation journeys as well as delivering energy bill cost savings.

Feedback indicates that in some instances BEEP has helped prevent some businesses from closing especially during COVID and the energy crisis, underlining the significant impact of the project on local businesses and the local economy.

BEEP has now progressed to a new phase post ERDF funding and is working closely with other partners across Durham to deliver the same support to businesses across the county.

BEEP are currently a delivery partner on the Durham Business growth programme. Durham Business Growth is an integrated programme to boost productivity and support growth in County Durham businesses, contributing to the delivery of more and better jobs in an inclusive green economy, which will run from September 2023 to March 2025.

The programme is financed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) which offers funding, support, and advisory services. BEEP continue to offer fully funded bespoke energy audits and reports to Durham based businesses via this programme.

If you would like some energy advise for your business you can fill in the application form on Climate Change County Durham: BEEP.