Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support small businesses with energy transitions.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is committed to supporting small businesses across the UK in their transition to cleaner, more secure energy.

Key steps include:

• UK Business Climate Hub – the Department has recently provided a grant to fund a refresh of the UK Business Climate Hub, a central platform offering SMEs across the UK sector-specific guidance, and information about green finance options.
• Business Energy Advice Service (Pilot in the West Midlands) – the Department is trialling an approach to providing small businesses with energy audits and grants to invest in energy efficient equipment.
• Financial support via schemes like the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (now closed for new applications) and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (not available in Northern Ireland)
• Investing in innovation, helping SMEs adopt low-carbon technologies and improve energy efficiency.

These programmes form part of the Department’s wider efforts to ensure small businesses can play a full role in the UK’s energy transition, while benefiting from reduced costs and enhanced competitiveness.

For Northern Ireland, energy policy is devolved. However, we continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to share best practice and support UK-wide collaboration on energy transition. Small businesses in Northern Ireland can access advice and support through local programmes.