Worcestershire County Council is reminding businesses that grants for up to £6,750 are still available through the Resource Efficient Worcestershire Programme.

Businesses are advised to sign up as soon as possible to give themselves the best chance of a share of the money.

Grants can help towards energy efficient lighting, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, improved motors and drives and process improving equipment. Grants are also available to help businesses tackle waste and implement water saving measures, plus more.

The Resource Efficient Worcestershire Programme provides businesses with a free resource efficiency assessment and a comprehensive report with advice on how to make cost saving changes. This looks at where energy, water and resources are being used and highlights potential savings to be made at little or no cost.

Around 40 businesses have already received assessments,and can save around £9,000 and 35 tonnes of CO2 per year, on average. Businesses can then access match funded grants of up to £6,750 to help reduce the costs of energy, waste, water and raw materials, improve profitability and their environmental credentials.

Richard Underwood, Underwoods Steel Stockholders said: "After advice from Resource Efficient Worcestershire, we were able to get better control of our energy use, reduce our carbon footprint, and make significant reductions in energy costs."

To be eligible for an assessment or grant, a business must be located in and trading from Worcestershire, employ fewer than 250 people and have a turnover of fewer than 50 million Euros (approximately £40 million).

Business sectors that are not eligible for support include agriculture, retail, businesses that primarily serve the public, social welfare and education.

The county council in partnership with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce was awarded funding from the West Midlands European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme for the initiative.

For more information or to register for an assessment call 01905 822833 or visit www.business-central.co.uk/rew