The offer is available to the first 300 qualifying small or medium enterprises (SMEs) that apply. The council-led programme is part-funded by SSE’s Sustainable Business Communities project with Zellar, and United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF).
Delivered through CheltenhamZero, the program is designed to help local businesses within Cheltenham borough to kick-start their sustainability journeys and support Cheltenham’s drive towards becoming net zero by 2030.
Zellar makes it easy for businesses to make a start and take climate action. It helps them to calculate and understand their carbon emissions and then build an achievable plan to reduce them, based on their size and sector. Zellar is already helping over 1,000 UK SMEs to plan, activate, measure, report and share their business sustainability journeys, and reduce their energy costs.
Alisha Lewis member for climate change said, ‘’I’m thrilled that we are the first council in Gloucestershire to offer the Zellar platform and alongside CheltenhamZero are able to make it free of charge to the local business community.
"The platform offers a practical and accessible way to help businesses make real headway in tackling climate change issues whilst also reducing their energy costs and I’d urge organizations to sign up as quickly as possible.‘’
A benefit of Zellar will see the council and CheltenhamZero gain consolidated data reports, enabling them to track the emissions reduction progress of local businesses as the town works together towards Cheltenham’s 2030 net zero target.
Becki Sillence, CheltenhamZero communications manager, continued, “We are delighted to announce this enhanced offer for CheltenhamZero members and look forward to working with Zellar and supporting local businesses to kickstart their sustainability journey.”
Nikki Flanders, managing director of Energy Customer Solutions at SSE, said, “I am delighted that Cheltenham Borough Council is enabling this opportunity for businesses. Providing the right tools and support to small businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills has never been more important. Business engagement is vital if we are to achieve our UK net zero targets and exactly why SSE Energy Solutions chose to sponsor the Zellar platform, which will provide free low-carbon support, guidance and inspiration to 15,000 small and medium-sized businesses, the lifeblood of the UK economy."
Gary Styles, founder and CEO of Zellar, commented, ‘We’re excited that Cheltenham Borough Council has chosen Zellar to help it achieve its 2030 net zero commitment. This is a brilliant opportunity for Cheltenham businesses to join a community of over 1,000 UK companies that are reducing their emissions and bringing down their record high energy bills.’’
Free one-year access to Zellar is available to any SME that is operational within the Cheltenham borough boundary. Sign up takes less than 90 seconds.
Cheltenham is the seventh regional partner to sign up to the Zellar program and joins Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP, East Midlands Chamber, Leicester and Leicestershire LEP, Greater Lincolnshire LEP and the Business Gateway, Made in Northamptonshire, Market Harborough District Council.
