Leicestershire celebrates major environmental achievement during COP27 

As world leaders continue to discuss the climate crisis at COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, action to reduce carbon emissions continues to be taken closer to home.  The LLEP Business Gateway and its partner Zellar, are celebrating a milestone for their pioneering initiative which helps Leicestershire businesses save money and reduce the carbon they generate.

Eighteen months ago, the LLEP Business Gateway launched the Zellar programme, giving 100 local SMEs free access to an online platform through which they could track their carbon emissions and kickstart their sustainability journeys. Today they announced that they have so far helped local businesses save a massive £143k on their energy bills, allowing them to invest in sustainable changes to secure further savings.  Participating companies have so far invested £400,000 in green technologies since the start of the Zellar programme and contributed 3,400 hours of volunteering towards local environmental projects.

Welcomm Communications – a telecoms business based in Market Harborough – has been using Zellar since the start of this year.  Their sustainability champion, Wendy Savill, commented: “Since starting on our sustainability journey, we have been so encouraged by the Zellar platform in many ways, not least by realising the cost savings we have made. These have come from making small changes in the business which were so easy to implement. We are excited to measure further changes in the near future and to achieve more savings, especially in the current economic climate. A huge thanks to Zellar for giving us that focus”.

Acting Head of the LLEP, Sue Tilley, added: “We are so proud of how Leicestershire companies have embraced this initiative as part of their response to the climate emergency.  We’ve always been leaders in environmental issues and it’s great to see that tradition continuing with our Zellar project which is the first of its kind in the UK. We do still have 16 free places left if any other businesses would like to join the scheme to save money and attract new customers.”

A further benefit to the region has come in the form of a £600,000 investment from the Co-operative Bank to Leicestershire businessman Gary Styles, who is the Founder and CEO of Zellar.  Mr Styles commented: “The Co-operative Bank is a perfect investor for Zellar. We hold so many shared values and they have the highest Environmental Social and Governance score of any UK high street bank.  We’re also incredibly thankful to the LLEP Business Gateway and to all the pioneering Leicestershire businesses that have supported our journey so far. We would urge more businesses to get onboard and grab those final free licenses.”

To apply for a free license please visit this page.

Further information

At a glance facts and figures of the LLEP Business Gateway / Zellar initiative: 

• 84 business active on the Zellar platform
• £143k saved on energy costs (almost £1,700 per business).
• £400k invested in green technologies, such as solar panels and LED lighting
• 42 sustainability champions installed.
• Nearly 500 energy saving checks completed.
• 3,400 hours of volunteering put towards local environmental projects.

COP 27 runs from 6 November – 18 November