What is the Green for Business Support?
The Green for Business support is a free consultancy programme designed to help small businesses like yours become more sustainable. Through up to two days of expert consultancy, you’ll work with a specialist Green Consultant who will identify practical, impactful changes tailored to your business.
Whether it’s cutting costs, improving efficiency, or enhancing your reputation, going green can give your business a competitive edge — while also benefiting the environment.
What’s in it for your business?
- Lower operating costs
- Better use of energy, water, and materials
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Enhanced brand image and customer appeal
- Greater resilience to climate change
Eligibility
- The Green for Business support is open to all enterprises with 1-50 employees except those involved in activities that the Local Enterprise Offices consider as ineligible for example primary agricultural businesses - farms or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk: gambling including ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956), adult entertainment, tobacco products and cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines)
- The enterprise must be established, registered and operate within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office
- The enterprise must operate in the commercial sphere
- Turnover is in excess of €30,000 annually.
- The business is trading in excess of 6 months.
- Companies forming part of a holding group, franchise, linked companies etc. are only permitted to make one application. Multiple applications will not be considered.
An enterprise will be eligible to apply for the Lean for Business support where it is:
- a company,
- self-employed individual or
- partnership carrying on a trade or profession, the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D by virtue of section 18(2) of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 (TCA). Pay As You Go (PAYG) customers are within the scope of the Digital for Business support.
- Sporting bodies that carry on activities which would be chargeable to tax under Case I or II of Schedule D but for an exemption set out in section 235 TCA are eligible to apply for the Green for Business support.
- Charities that carry on activities that would be chargeable to tax as trading income, but for an available tax exemption under section 208 TCA, are also included within the scope of the Digital for Business support.
- Businesses must have current tax clearance from Revenue. Businesses must supply a Tax Reference Number and a Tax Clearance Access Number to allow for verification of their Tax Clearance status on Revenue’s online portal.
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Note * A small enterprise according to the EU SME definition is a business that has an annual turnover or balance sheet total of €10 million or less. It’s important for applicants to consider the linked companies rule when determining if they qualify as a small enterprise. This rule requires applicants to include the data from any partner or linked enterprises when calculating their employee numbers and financial thresholds. This means that if a business is part of a larger group, it must account for the employees and financial figures of the entire group, not just the individual entity. Here’s a simple breakdown:
Autonomous Enterprise: If your business is totally independent or has one or more minority partnerships (each less than 25%), you use the figures solely from your business.
Partner Enterprise: If your business holds at least 25%, but no more than 50%, of another enterprise, or another enterprise holds at least 25%, but no more than 50%, of your business, you must add a proportion of the other enterprise’s figures to your own.
Linked Enterprise: If your business holds more than 50% of another enterprise or another enterprise holds more than 50% of your business, you must add 100% of the other enterprise’s figures to your own.
The intention of this EU regulation is to ensure that the SME status reflects the economic power of the entire group of linked enterprises, preventing larger businesses from gaining undue advantage from SME support programs. It’s a key part of maintaining fair competition and ensuring that support is directed towards genuinely small enterprises.
How does the Green For Business support work?
There are two main steps.
Step 1: Watch the Webinar
Learn everything you need to know about Green Business and Sustainability Supports offered by the LEO including Green for Business; Green Start and the Energy Efficiency Grant. Including a first-hand account of a business which has already implemented green initiatives and is enjoying the benefits.
Watch back on demand here: Green for Business - Lunch & Learn - YouTube
Step 2: Apply for Green for Business support
Apply for two days of mentoring with a specialist Green Consultant – this will include recommendations on specific changes which your business can implement. Your specific needs will be matched to the Green Consultant’s area of expertise. Your Consultant will prepare a detailed Green for Business Report on your business. Discuss your application with your Local Enterprise Office Click here to find your nearest Office.
Already completed the Green for Business support
And still require futher support on your sustainability Journey?
You might be eligible for the Energy Efficiency Grant.
The Energy Efficiency Grant supports the investment in technologies and equipment identified in a Green for Business Report, GreenStart Report or a SEAI Energy Audit with 75% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of €10,000. The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of enterprises on the environment thereby increasing the agility and resilience of these businesses.
You might be eligible for GreenStart.
GreenStart aims to improve environmental performance through greater resource efficiency helping companies achieve competitive advantage and greater market share through enhanced credentials and cost savings. Click here for eligibility and to find out more.
You might be eligible for a follow on Green for Business support
Contact your LEO Office- please click HERE
Case Studies - Videos
Watch here