Yorkshire lacks environmental initiatives report claims

YORKSHIRE has been revealed as one of the poorest regions in the country for environmental funding initiatives.

The Green Grants Machine’ Report has revealed a major funding imbalance between English regions with the East Midlands topping the list with a total of 25 initiatives whilst the East of England came in bottom with eight.

Yorkshire has a total of 13 local and regional environmental schemes.

Green Grants Machine, Jeremy Phillips said the report raised a number of issues as it appeared certain areas of the country were getting short changed.

Mr Phillips said: “Our study is a raw indication of how easy or difficult it should be for businesses to access local and regional environmental funding schemes. Environmental schemes are very important – the more funding schemes there are in any given area – the easier it should be for businesses to secure money to help them reduce fuel and energy costs, as well as recycle waste efficiently.”

In addition to 157 regional and local funding schemes identified by the report The Green Grants Machine also noted a further 97 national, UK or EU environmental initiatives which English businesses can apply for.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have access to 40, 23, and 4 regional and local environmental schemes respectively – as well as 70 UK and EU schemes.

Mr Phillips added: “The availability of 97 national funding schemes like the Carbon Trust Applied Research Grant and the Environmental Transformation Fund from BERR will certainly soften the blow for businesses least well represented at a regional level. The money is out there. But it’s up to individual businesses to go out and claim it!”

More than 200 local, regional, national and European environmental schemes are featured on the free online searchable Green Grants Machine database.

For more information visit www.greengrantsmachine.co.uk.