NEWSROOM

The Marches Energy Grant (MEG) offers free advice, energy assessments and grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to SMEs from all sectors in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

The grant has supported Hollinswood and Randlay Parish Council’s £88,000 investment in upgrading local community facilities. At Randlay Community Centre, the grant facilitated the removal of the gas boiler and the installation of heat cooling systems. Meanwhile, Hollinswood Neighbourhood Centre and The Pavilion have both transitioned to air source heat pumps, with The Pavilion also benefiting from the installation of solar panels. These upgrades will not only reduce carbon emissions but also enhance energy efficiency, ensuring that The Pavilion can function as an off-grid emergency hub when required.

Stuart Fisher, Assistant to the Clerk, said:

“The process in itself was very easy and understandable. Marches Energy Grant, Worcestershire County Council, and our parish councillors were all incredibly supportive. These three projects, which we expected to take years, were completed in just months. We are now close to being carbon neutral, and we are confident that by April 2026, we’ll be able to fully eliminate gas from all of our sites.”

Councillor Sheenagh Unwin, Chairman of the Parish Council, said:

“We are incredibly thankful to everyone who has worked together to enable this project to be completed and to meet the aims of our Parish Council, as identified in the Parish Strategy. Particular thanks go to our staff team and to colleagues at The Marches, Telford & Wrekin Council and Worcestershire County Council.” 

Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability said:

“Telford & Wrekin Council made a commitment to reach carbon net zero in our operations by 2030, so it’s fantastic to see Hollinswood and Randlay Parish Council doing the same. Renewable energy solutions like the solar panels we helped to fund with a grant from the Climate Change Fund in 2023, are key to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and becoming carbon neutral, and we hope that other Town and Parish Councils will follow this brilliant example.”

Randlay Community Centre now generates over 30 megawatts of power annually—more than enough to meet the centre’s energy needs ensuring they are on track to meeting their Net Zero 2030 goals.

For more information on how to register for future Net Zero support, visit: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/netzero

Notes to Editors:

The Marches Energy Grant (MEG) is delivered by Worcestershire County Council in partnership with Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Telford & Wrekin Councils.

MEG offers free advice, energy assessments and grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to SMEs from all sectors in Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. The funding is also available to support community buildings. As well as the grant funding, the project will also run related networking and webinar events for SMEs and other organisations.

The MEG initiative builds on the success of previous programmes such as the Marches Renewable Energy (MarRE) fund and the Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) grant scheme.

Assessments are for SMEs who wish to use their energy more efficiently, reduce costs and improve environmental credentials. Grants worth up to £60,000 are available for eligible businesses. Up to £100,000 in match funded grant is also available to eligible businesses implementing energy efficiency measures through the pilot Business Energy Advice Service fund (this excludes renewable energy projects).

Applications are now closed, and new funding and support will be announced in April 2025.