Energy Assessment Terms and Conditions
PDF - EA Terms & Conditions - BEAS2 v1
Green Solutions is delivered by Staffordshire County Council in collaboration with Staffordshire Local Authorities to support businesses with decarbonisation and improving the natural environment whilst growing the local economy, and is part funded by the Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS), a government-funded pilot programme through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
It offers subsidised support to businesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent areas to enable them to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Green Solutions has the following key elements:
- Energy Assessment: There are two types of Assessment available: Standard Energy Assessment and Energy Intensive Assessment. Both are fully subsidised. This means that you, the recipient business, will not need to contribute any finance towards it, although the value of the subsidy will be notified to you and taken from funds on your behalf.
- Low Carbon Grant: This element is partly subsidised and delivered by Staffordshire County Council. This means that you, the recipient business, will need to contribute finance towards project costs.
These terms and conditions relate solely to an Energy Assessment.
What is a subsidy?
All elements of Green Solutions are provided as UK Government Minimal Financial Assistance (MFI) subsidies, under the Subsidy Control Act 2022.
For the full definition of “subsidy”, please see the Subsidy Control Act 2022. For the purposes of Green Solutions a subsidy is the financial assistance given, directly or indirectly, from public resources by a public authority.
Under UK rules, “an enterprise cannot receive a subsidy if, on receipt of it, it will have received more than £315,000 during the current and preceding two financial years” (financial year being 1 April to 31 March).[1]
Both before and after receipt of a subsidy, you will be informed, in writing, of the amount of subsidy your business will/has received. This must be retained for three years and declared if asked for by any other subsidy awarding body.
Who can receive support?
This element of Green Solutions is available to a business that:
- Business Activity: Companies must be officially registered (on Companies House) and active for at least 12 months in the same premise, with financial records demonstrating operational activity.
- Business Type: Must be a commercial entity or profit-seeking enterprise, such as a partnership, limited company, or Community Interest Company (CIC). Sole traders are not eligible.
- Commercial Address: Businesses must operate from a registered commercial address and not a residential property. This must be from a premise in a Staffordshire or Stoke-on-Trent Local Authority area.
- Energy Bill Responsibility: Applicants must be responsible for paying their business energy bills for at least 12 months.
- Energy Consumption: Businesses must use a minimum of 25,000 kWh of energy (electricity and/or gas) annually.
- SME Classification: Businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than €50 million, or a balance sheet total under €43 million.
- Subsidy & Schemes: Has not received over £315,000 in subsidies in the current and previous two financial years (financial year being 1 April to 31 March), and has not participated in ESOS.
What is involved in an Energy Assessment?
Standard Energy Assessment
This will be carried out by Pro Enviro Ltd, and involve:
- A review of current energy consumption.
- A site visit.
- Recommendations to reduce energy use and carbon emissions.
- Discussions throughout to understand your business needs, accuracy of information provided and how best to implement recommendations.
Whilst an eligible business will not be asked to contribute financially towards the cost of the Standard Energy Assessment, the full value of this, i.e., the subsidy, will be taken from available funds on your behalf.
The value of the Standard Energy Assessment will be provided to you, in writing, both before and after it is undertaken.
Energy Intensive Assessment
This will be carried out by one of a specialist assessment team and will involve:
- The assessment team working with you to gather and review 12-month energy data for your business.
- Site visit – process line-walk and data gathering with your business’ operations team.
- Off-site analysis and review of data to identify opportunities and develop a roadmap for energy reduction.
- Review findings and identified opportunities to prioritise and validate potential energy savings and assess suitability for grant funding.
- Produce Energy Saving Assessment report.
Whilst an eligible business will not be asked to contribute financially towards the cost of the Energy Intensive Assessment, the full value of this, i.e., the subsidy, will be taken from available funds on your behalf.
The value of the Energy Intensive Assessment will be provided to you, in writing, both before and after it is undertaken.
How do I apply for an Energy Assessment?
To apply for an Energy Assessment, you must:
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) form, and complete Additional Information,
- Provide true and accurate business information regarding subsidies received in the current and previous two financial years (financial year being 1 April to 31 March) and
- Agree to accept the Green Solutions Terms & Conditions for a Standard Energy Assessment.
- SCC may contact you to discuss your application and, when satisfied you meet all necessary criteria, will share your details with Pro Enviro Ltd, who will contact you to carry out the Energy Assessment.
Following confirmation that the Energy Assessment has been completed, you will receive notification of the amount of subsidy awarded.
On completion of your Energy Assessment, you can contact SCC if you wish to apply for a Low Carbon Grant to implement any of your report recommendations.
How are your details used?
The Data Protection Act 2018 is the UK’s implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that controls how a person’s personal information is used.
You can access the Green Solutions Privacy Policy via Staffordshire County Council.
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1 – See Chapter 7: Minimal Financial Assistance UK Subsidy Control Statutory Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) November 2022
Version 1 – April 2025