Written question WQ94385
- Asked by
- James EvansConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
What grant support is available for horticultural growers and garden centres to invest in environmentally sustainable measures and water capture technology, in light of the challenging economic conditions for businesses?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning
Business Wales is the Welsh Government’s business support service and is available to support businesses, including horticultural growers and garden centres, to build more resilient businesses and develop their business practices. The service offers a wide range of advice and support including from Decarbonisation Advisers to support businesses to adopt or improve environmental strategies, and work towards creating resource efficient and resilient businesses.
The service can support businesses to access finance, help ensure they are lending ready and provide impartial advice on a range of financial support available. The Business Wales website has a business finance zone offering specialised guidance and information to help people identify appropriate finance as well as a finance locator.
The Development Bank has worked closely with the Welsh Government to create a suite of products that directly meets market needs through accessibility and flexibility within the prevailing market conditions. The Green Business Loan Scheme offers discounted interest rates and patient capital to support businesses undertaking energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects, It offers funding from £1,000 up to £1.5m. The Scheme also provides access to fully and part-funded consultancy support to carry out business specific energy audits.
The Green Business Loan Scheme is only one of the offers available. The Development Bank offers a wide portfolio of funds; a number of these funds can provide support for decarbonisation projects.
Support may also be available through the Welsh Government's SMART Flexible Innovation Support (SMART FIS) programme to assist organisations to innovate. See SMART Flexible Innovation Support (FIS) | Business Wales (gov.wales)