The Heart of the South West Growth Hub team have pulled together cost of living resources including information, top tips and links to schemes and further support for managing and mitigating the impacts of rising costs. We have included information and links to tools & resources to help with improving your business energy efficiency and renewable energy options.
We would also encourage you to get in touch with our Growth Hub team to find out about support for your business such as advice with business planning and resilience.
Cost of Living Related Support and Guidance
Here are quick links to sources of support and guidance to help with cost of living and energy cost challenges. Click on the heading to go directly to the relevant resource pages.
Cost of Living Help for Households
Getting help if your business can’t afford its energy bills | Ofgem
Citizens Advice guidance on energy supply and billsÂ
MIND: Mental health information and support
Business Debt Advice
The business debt helpline provides help, information and resources to businesses to help them manage their finances. If you are struggling with rising business costs, you can access free and independent debt advice over the phone and online. You can call the freephone number 0800 197 6026 and speak to an expert or alternatively, the site has a range of online help, including a live webchat facility, factsheets, FAQs, sample letters, a budgeting tool and guidance on how to prioritise debts.
Fact Sheet – Managing your business financesÂ
Support in your local area
Click on the relevant local council to be directed to sources of help and support in your local area.
Resource Efficiency, Renewables and Net Zero
As business operational costs continue to rise, improving your businesses energy efficiency could be just one way to reduce costs, whilst at the same time working towards achieving net zero.
The Growth Hub works with a number of partners who offer schemes to help businesses improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and cut carbon emissions. You may wish to explore the options below.
Home – UK Business Climate hub (businessclimatehub.org)
Plymouth University Net Zero Exchange
Other resources and tools
| Looking for energy efficiency support for your business? – Energy Saving Trust | Guidance, tools and links to support with reducing costs by making your business more energy efficient. |
| Energy management plans: How to improve energy efficiency in your business | FSB, The Federation of Small Businesses | Energy management plans: How to improve energy efficiency in your business |
| Support with reducing your business energy bills | NatWest Business | Quick energy-saving tips for your business and links to guidance and support. |
| Insight | Manage Energy Price Rises | Lloyds Bank | 5 ways SMEs can manage energy price rises |
| 5 Tips To Manage Energy Price Increases For Small Businesses (fundingcircle.com) | 5 tips to manage rising energy costs for small businesses |
| Tips to Help Save & Cut Your Office Energy Bill | EDF (edfenergy.com) | Becoming more energy efficient could go a long way. We talked to our energy efficiency experts who recommended these free tips that could reduce your business energy bills by up to 10%. |
Are You Looking for Other Business Support Options?
Our Growth Hub team are on hand to help you navigate the business support options, find answers to your questions and put you in touch with the right schemes to meet your business needs and aspirations. Get in Touch and a Growth Hub Adviser from our team will get back to you.
