The North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) is calling for 300 local businesses to come forward and claim their free access to Zellar, an online sustainability platform that enables businesses to reduce their carbon emissions and energy bills. Businesses on Zellar can reduce their emissions and save up to £4,100* in energy bills.
NTCA is the latest region to sign up to the Get Zero Get Zellar programme – a nationwide initiative designed to help local business kickstart their sustainability journey. The programme will help local businesses contribute towards North of Tyne’s drive towards becoming Net Zero. The offer is available to the first 300 qualifying small or medium enterprises (SMEs) within the North of Tyne that apply.
The NTCA led programme is part-funded by SSE’s Sustainable Business Communities project with Zellar, and through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
To secure access for your business come along to the North of Tyne Business Sustainability Webinar with Zellar on Thursday 30 November at 1pm.
According to research 9 out of 10 SMEs** remain unaware of even their carbon emissions, and struggle to make headway when it comes to sustainability. Zellar makes it easy for businesses to make a start and take climate action. It helps them to calculate and understand their carbon emissions and then build an achievable plan to reduce them, based on their size and sector.
Zellar is already helping over 1,000 UK SMEs to plan, activate, measure, report and share their business sustainability journeys, and reduce their energy costs.
By joining the Get Zero Get Zellar North of Tyne will also gain access to consolidated data reports, to enable it to track the progress of local businesses as it works towards its net zero target.
NTCA Cabinet Member for Clean Energy and Connectivity Cllr Richard Wearmouth said: “I’m thrilled that we are the first Combined Authority to offer the Zellar platform and alongside Net Zero North East England are able to make it free of charge to the local business community.
“The platform offers a practical and accessible way to help businesses make real headway in tackling climate change issues whilst also reducing their energy costs and I’d urge organisations to sign up as quickly as possible.”
Gary Styles, founder and CEO of Zellar, commented: ‘”We’re excited that the North of Tyne Combined Authority has chosen to join our Get Zero Get Zellar programme.
“This is a brilliant opportunity for North of Tyne businesses to join a community of over one thousand UK businesses that are reducing their emissions and bringing down their record high energy bills.
“And, of course to help the North of Tyne reach its net zero goal. Based on previous ‘first come first served’ programmes we’ve run, I’d urge business to apply early to avoid disappointment.’’
Gary Styles Zellar
Nikki Flanders, Managing Director of Energy Customer Solutions at SSE, said: “I am delighted that the North of Tyne is enabling this opportunity for businesses. 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 and exactly why SSE Energy Solutions chose to sponsor the Zellar platform, which will provide free low-carbon support, guidance and inspiration to 15,000 small and medium-sized businesses, the lifeblood of the UK economy.
“Business groups, led by the FSB, have been calling for an accessible platform that provides practical information on how to reduce energy usage and environmental impact and Zellar is the perfect example of what can be done in this space.
“We believe our Sustainable Business Communities project will be a vital enabler for SMEs to get to grips with their sustainability responsibilities.”
To qualify for a free one-year Zellar licence a business must be based in the North of Tyne. The first 300 eligible businesses to sign up will be granted one year fully subsidised access to Zellar worth £299.
NTCA is the latest regional organisation to sign up to Get Zero Get Zellar and joins Cheltenham Borough Council, North Kesteven District Council, 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.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
