A TISSUE manufacturer from Malvern is going greener after accessing grant funding through a ground breaking energy efficient project that has helped Worcestershire businesses rake in more than £100,000. Essential Supply Products of Enigma Business Park tapped into European funding through Resource Efficient Worcestershire and made a successful application for a £12,000 grant to pay towards the costs of a more energy efficient air compressor, which could help reduce energy bills by more than £4,500 per annum, improve profitability and reduce Co2 emissions.

Isla Buchanan, projects manager at ESP, said: "There were a few areas within our business where we could make improvements, both environmentally and financially, and the financial support received helped us implement an updated compressor solution far sooner than anticipated. The new compressor will not only service us more efficiently in the immediate term, but also has the capacity to cope with future demands in our growing business. The REW team has provided great support throughout this process and also helped us consider elements of efficiency which we can carry forward to our new premises.”

Working alongside Worcestershire.Business.Central, the support service working to re-invigorate the local economy, REW arranges for county businesses to receive free assessments of their premises, equipment, processes and performance to identify potential to increase their energy efficiency. Qualifying firms can then access funds to cut their expenditure on waste, water, heating, insulation, lighting and raw materials, better enabling them to improve profitability and environmental performance.

The funds, which are available to firms based and trading in the county, with less than 250 employees, turn over less than £40milliion and are outside the agricultural, retail, public, social welfare and educative sectors. The fund is provided by Worcestershire County Council in partnership with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce and the West Midlands European Regional Development Fund programme.

Cllr Anthony Blagg, the County Council's cabinet member for environment, , said: "It's fantastic to be able to provide local businesses with funding for goods and services to help manage and take control of energy costs. I would encourage other Worcestershire businesses to look at the support available."