Search icon
Home » Our Priorities » Infrastructure and Places » Energy

Energy & Environment

We're working towards a flexible, reliable and secure energy generation and supply system.

The LEP Energy Strategy reviews current policies and considers the possibilities and funding available for the transition to a low carbon economy.

Funded by central Government, the Marches Energy Strategy was officially launched in July 2019. It recognised that the way energy is generated and consumed in the UK has changed and that there are a significant number of challenges that need to be faced. The current energy infrastructure is already at capacity that presents a threat to future business and housing development. However, there is also an opportunity to invest in innovation that can overcome these challenges while providing a unique selling point for those in the energy supply chain to invest in the area.

In 2023, to bring the Energy Strategy in line with national net-zero targets, the LEP engaged Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-operative (BHESCo) to help develop a Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP) for the Marches. LAEPs are recognised as the leading method for translating national Net Zero targets into local energy system action with plans that are collaborative, data-driven and cost-effective. Specifically, LAEPs look to:

  • Define a long-term vision and the energy requirements for an area to ensure the long-term vision can be met.
  • Provide sufficient detail to demonstrate how an area can meet the vision.
  • Identify short, medium, and long-term actions and projects, to help deliver energy investments and action within the region.

The development of the LAEP was overseen by a Steering Group with representatives from business, communities, and the local authorities in the Marches. A copy of the Marches Local Area Energy Plan can be downloaded here.

The LEP is also supported in the delivery of the Energy Strategy by the Midlands Energy Hub. The Hub publishes a quarterly Newsletter, highlighting new developments across the Midlands.

The Marches Energy Strategy

Midlands Energy Hub

Funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Midlands Energy Hub is one of five local Energy Hubs in England. Each Energy Hub provides Local Enterprise Partnerships, local authorities and others, with practical support to develop local energy projects. For further information about the work of the Midlands Energy Hub, contact:

Tim Yair – Marches Regional Senior Energy Project Officer

tim.yair@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Marches Energy Fund

In 2022, the Marches LEP allocated £4million of funding to support projects that could meet the priorities set out in the Marches Energy Strategy. This represented a significant investment in energy projects by the LEP and arose in response to a recognition of the need to invest in energy efficiency and generation to help support businesses across the region.

The initial call for potential projects by the LEP received 28 Expressions of Interest, and totalled over £50Million of projects. As the Fund was significantly over-subscribed, the Fund was only able to support 3 proposals, which the LEP felt would help to tackle many of the energy difficulties encountered by businesses in the region:

Marches Network Monitoring to support Community Decarbonisation

National Grid Electricity Distribution will be installing monitoring equipment into 200 Low Voltage substations within the Marches LEP area to help improve the available data and understand capacity constraints within the region in order to help identify opportunities for providing demand side measures.

Marches Network Monitoring

Herefordshire Low Carbon Technology Centre

Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College are creating an MCS accredited training centre for low carbon and renewable technology installations at their Holme Lacy Campus. The Centre will be amongst the first nationally to offer the new apprenticeship standard in Low Carbon Heating Technician, and will provide training to the construction industry; developing the skills required to install low-carbon technologies, including retrofit.

Herefordshire Low Carbon Technology Centre

Marches Energy Grant (MEG)

Building on the successes of previous programmes such as the Marches Renewable Energy (MarRE) fund and the Business Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP) grant scheme, the Marches Energy Grant (MEG) will offer free advice, energy assessments and grants for energy efficiency and renewable energy measures to SMEs from all sectors in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. The funding will also be available to support community buildings. As well as the grant funding, the project will also run related networking and webinar events for SMEs and other organisations.

Marches Energy Grant (MEG)

 

Back to top arrow
Close icon

The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

Skip to content