Get Zero. Get Zellar.
Cheltenham becomes first local council to sign up to Zellar’s Sustainable Business Communities programme, funded by SSE Energy Solutions.
Cheltenham may be well known for its horse races, but Cheltenham is in its own race, a race to net zero by 2030. And to help it get zero, it’s getting Zellar - with 300 local SMEs set to receive one-year free access to Zellar.
The council becomes the first in the UK to take advantage of our Sustainable Business Communities project, where our partner SSE Energy Solutions pledged to match-fund Zellar licences to local authorities that purchased 100 Zellar licences. Making use of United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF) Cheltenham Borough Council has purchased the threshold 100 licences as part of its efforts to get Cheltenham to net zero by 2030. With a further 200 matched equally by SSE Energy Solutions and Zellar.
Cllr Alisha Lewis member for climate change, commented: ‘’I’m thrilled that we are the first council in Gloucestershire to offer the Zellar platform and alongside CheltenhamZero are able to make it free of charge to the local business community. ‘’
The programme is delivered through CheltenhamZero, a collaborative partnership of local organisations with a united mission of achieving net zero in Cheltenham by 2030. Cheltenham Zero members have joined the CheltenhamZero Partnership net zero pledge and committed to act on climate change by working together to propel the town to zero emissions by 2030.
To get licences into the hands of local businesses CheltenhamZero are spearheading our new Get Zero. Get Zellar. campaign, which is raising awareness around how by using Zellar, business can help the town reach its publicly stated net zero pledge.
Becki Sillence, CheltenhamZero communications manager, stated: “We are delighted to announce this enhanced offer for CheltenhamZero members and look forward to working with Zellar and supporting local businesses to kickstart their sustainability journey.”
With 9/10 SMEs unaware of their carbon footprint and rising operational costs, many businesses find it hard to know where to start. Zellar makes it easy. Businesses can calculate their emissions, start to understand them and then build an action plan to minimise them - based on their size and sector.
Cheltenham businesses that take up the free access to Zellar will become part of a growing community of over 1,000 Zellar enabled businesses nationwide – all committed to reaching net zero. UK SMEs already using Zellar are already benefiting from reducing their emissions and reaping the financial rewards that brings.
Sustainability in its most simplistic terms means less waste and less use of resources – if we use less then we spend less. Sustainability and saving money go hand in hand. Zellar motivates SMEs to become sustainable by showing them that the benefits go beyond just environmental; threading sustainability into your business will bear financial, time-saving and business development rewards. Sustainable business is simply smart business. And sustainable businesses, stay in business.
Nikki Flanders, Managing Director of Energy Customer Solutions at SSE, stressed the significance of supporting SMEs: “Providing the right tools and support to small businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and energy bills has never been more important. Business engagement is vital if we are to achieve our UK net zero targets.”
Zellar founder and CEO, Gary Styles, encouraged businesses to get involved sooner rather than later: “Based on previous ‘first come first served’ programmes we’ve run, I’d urge businesses to apply early to avoid disappointment.’’
SMEs operating within the Cheltenham borough boundary can claim free one-year access to Zellar today. Signing up your business is simple and can be done in less than 90 seconds.
Visit cheltenhamzero.org/zellar to find out more about how Zellar can help your business save energy and costs. Use discount code CHELTZ30SSE for your one year free access when you checkout. Click here to sign up (discount automatically applied).
Cheltenham is the first local authority to join the Sustainable Business Communities programme backed by Zellar and SSE Energy Solutions.
They join seven other self-funded regional bodies on the platform including Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP, East Midlands Chamber, Leicester and Leicestershire LEP, Greater Lincolnshire LEP and the Business Gateway, Made in Northamptonshire, Market Harborough District Council.