Boost Your Business - Green Efficiency Competition by KCLR in Association with Carlow & Kilkenny Local Enterprise Offices
As a business owner, you're likely aware of the increasing emphasis on sustainability in both the business world and society at large. However, you might not yet realize the significant benefits that sustainability can bring to your company, such as improved efficiency and cost savings.
To support businesses like yours in becoming more sustainable, we're excited to introduce the Boost Your Business - Green Efficiency Competition . This competition designed to help small businesses take their first steps towards sustainability by connecting you with a green consultant who can guide you in making small but impactful changes to your business—benefitting both your company and the environment. Each eligible finalist will be provided with this consultatancy which could potentially open the door a €7,500 grant for your business.
Additionally, the overall winners—one from Kilkenny and one from Carlow—will each win a €1,000 advertising package from KCLR and €1,000 in business marketing support from the Local Enterprise Offices.
Benefits of Developing a Greener Policy Include:
- Increased cost savings
- Improved resource efficiency (e.g., reduced energy, water, and material usage)
- Lower environmental footprint and greenhouse gas emissions
- Enhanced value of products and services
- Greater customer access, improved corporate image, and reputation
- Increased resilience to climate change impacts
Competition Details: All eligible entrants will receive a Green for Business voucher and a chance to access a 75% grant towards implementing green initiatives.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to enterprises with 1-50 employees (excluding certain industries, such as primary agricultural businesses, gambling, adult entertainment, tobacco, and unauthorized cannabis products)
- The business must be established, registered, and operating within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office
- The business must operate in the commercial sphere, with an annual turnover exceeding €30,000 and have been trading for more than six months
- Companies that are part of a holding group, franchise, or linked companies are limited to one application
Ineligible Businesses
- Are operating solely from a domestic/home based office.
- Companies with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, “not for profit” organisations – which do not meet the above criteria, trade associations, company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce, Sporting Bodies – which do not meet the above criteria and other non-commercial bodies or associations are not eligible to avail of the Small Capital Grants.
- Are operating in the coal or steel sector.
- Are active in the primary agricultural, fishery or aquaculture sectors.
- * Are involved in activities that Local Enterprise Offices considers as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk. Ineligible activities include activities relating to:
- The gambling sector, including ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956).
- Adult entertainment.
- Tobacco and tobacco related products.
- Cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines.