Leicestershire MP supports local firm leading the charge on green energy for county businesses

Mid-Leicestershire MP Peter Bedford has backed a Leicestershire electrical firm’s campaign to help local businesses tackle rising energy costs by making the switch to green and clean energy.

The MP's visit to Glenfield Electrical, based in Mill Lane, Glenfield, comes as a new report from manufacturing body Make UK warns that UK industrial electricity prices are four times higher than those in the United States and 46% above the global average. The report calls on the Government to act before the industrial strategy becomes "fatally flawed".

Earlier this year, Glenfield Electrical published A Sustainable Future for Leicestershire Business, its own report based on a survey of 40 county SMEs. Its findings painted a stark picture: half of businesses said their energy bills were rising, with three in five (60%) worried about the impact on their operations.

At the same time, more than four in five (82.5%) said they wanted to cut their carbon footprint – yet only 17.5% had firm plans to install renewable technologies in the next 12 months. Solutions such as solar panels and LED lighting can be a very efficient way to reduce energy bills. However, barriers including upfront costs, a lack of advice about grants, and restrictions imposed by landlords on rented premises were among the most common obstacles holding businesses back.

Phil Houlder, Managing Director of Glenfield Electrical, said: "Businesses are already facing plenty of obstacles in a difficult financial climate – tax and rate hikes, falling demand and ever more legislation. On top of that, plenty of barriers to accessing green, clean energy exist, particularly when it comes to landlords and tenancies.

“The Make UK report confirms what we are hearing from businesses on the ground here in Leicestershire. Rising energy costs are an existential threat to energy-intensive businesses, and the time for action is now. We want to help local firms achieve the win-wins of both environmentally and financially sustainable energy, and we hope today's visit by our local MP helps ensure their voice is heard in Westminster.”

Mr Bedford said: “If it’s going to help businesses save money and contribute to the adoption of greener, cleaner energy, then it’s a very worthy campaign. Glenfield Electrical are raising awareness and sharing advice on what is one of the major challenges facing businesses today. It’s great to see a company in my constituency help others to cut costs and survive in such turbulent times for business.”

Glenfield Electrical, which has been operating in Leicester and throughout the Midlands since 2013, is using the findings of its survey to inform practical guidance for businesses wanting to reduce energy bills and make the move to greener energy, including advice on renewable technologies and energy tariff choices.

The report A Sustainable Future for Leicestershire Business is available at glenfieldelectrical.com/sustainablebusiness