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It is widely recognised that energy efficiency has a key role to play in the energy transition in industrial and tertiary sectors. An increasing number of countries are implementing policies to promote energy efficiency in productive sectors and to enhance energy efficiency investments by companies of different sizes and structures. Technical and economic barriers prevent fully exploiting the benefits of energy efficiency, particularly in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which form the backbone of the global economy. It is estimated that 99% of all companies in Europe are SMEs, representing 60% of employment and 50% of turnover. In the UK, the share of the working population employed by SMEs is just over 61%, with micro enterprises ( This paper, developed as part of the EU-funded project, LEAP4SME, aims to provide an overview of the existing SME-targeted energy efficiency policy measures in the UK, and to identify best practices. The paper is also informed by separate research conducted by Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the UK Climate Change Committee which investigated the challenges faced by SMEs in terms of decarbonisation. The review of measures highlights that many smaller-scale programmes are in force, at different levels: national, regional and local government. Many of the support measures take the form of financial assistance either through grants, loans or subsidies. SMEs are also supported in different parts of the UK via awareness raising campaigns and access to information and advice. In terms of funding, this is available through different levels of government as well as the private sector and institutions which straddle this typical divide. In addition to the overview, the analysis identifies a number of barriers and success factors, an understanding of which should to enhance the replicability of best practices in other sectors and contexts. |
