Families to save hundreds on energy bills through £1 billion insulation scheme

MORE than 300,000 families are set to save hundreds of pounds on their bills thanks to new energy efficiency upgrades. The Government launches the £1 billion drive to help those most in need heat their home for less, through the Great British Insulation Scheme.

Families in lower Council tax bands with less energy efficient homes will be offered vital upgrades; such as:- roof, loft or cavity wall insulation; which could cut their annual energy bill by an average of between:- £300 to £400.

The scheme will boost help for those on the lowest incomes as well as extend support to a wider range of households compared to other existing Government funded schemes. Those eligible for support under the Great British Insulation Scheme include:- families in Council tax bands:- A to D, within England, A to E in Scotland and Wales, with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or below.

The 300,000 set to benefit come on top of the 2.4 million homes that have so far benefited from new energy efficiency measures under existing support schemes, as part of Government's ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable across the country.

These customers will be able to find out if they can get support to make their homes more energy efficient by using a new online checker tool.

Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:- "We are determined to help families keep their homes warm through the winter months and save on their energy costs. Our Great British Insulation Scheme will help hundreds of thousands of people, including some of the most vulnerable in society, get the upgrades their homes need, while cutting their energy bills."

The scheme will help build on the Government's progress in improving energy efficiency in the country's homes - in 2010, just 14% of homes had an EPC rating of C or above, compared to 47% in 2022.

This support will run alongside the existing Energy Company Obligation scheme, which offers free home energy efficiency improvements, such as insulation, heat pumps and solar panels to families on low incomes.

Customers will be able to use a new online checker for the Great British Insulation Scheme, launched today, to find out if they are eligible. The tool will ask a series of questions - including how they heat their home, whether their home has solid or cavity walls, and if they are receiving any benefits.

A separate checker has also been launched for the Home Upgrade Grant, which could help as many as 25,000 off the gas grid homes that have an EPC rating of D to G. People can find out if they qualify for energy efficiency support; ranging from insulation and draft proofing to new windows and doors, as well as heat pumps and solar panels.

Customers using the online tools will then be referred to either their energy supplier, for support from the ECO programme and Great British Insulation Scheme, or their local Council for the Home Upgrade Grant, to take the next step in making their home more energy efficient.

Mike Thornton, Chief Executive, Energy Saving Trust said:- "Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is a vital part of addressing both the energy crisis and climate emergency. By reducing demand for fossil fuels it provides a triple win long-term solution for cutting energy bills, decreasing carbon emissions and improving energy security. The launch of the Great British Insulation Scheme is therefore a welcome development as it will mean more households are eligible for financial support for insulation measures and comes at a crucial time as we approach the colder winter months."

Start Up Loans hits £1bn milestone

START Up Loans, part of the British Business Bank, has delivered more than £1bn of loans across the UK since its inception in 2012. The loans have been issued to 105,109 businesses, at an average of £9,547 per business.

Of those loans, Sefton has received £5.3m in 568 loans. The average loan amount was £9,295, just shy of the average for the North West Region at £9,341.

Supporting under represented groups... The Start Up Loans programme provides a means of reaching under-represented groups who are excluded from mainstream finance by helping them start businesses.

Of the loans to make up £1bn, nearly 40% have been lent to female business owners, with a total value of £371m, and 20% have been lent to people from:- Black, Asian and Other Ethnic Minority backgrounds (not including White Minorities), with a value of £201m.

Just 4% of the UK's small businesses in 2021 were majority led by people from an ethnic minority group and only 20% of new businesses had female founders according to The Rose Review.

Backing 18 to 24s to start a business... Young people between:- 18 to 24 years old have received £106m (11%) in loans since the programme began.

70% of lending outside London and the South East... Of the £1bn provided to start ups, nearly 70% has gone to small businesses outside London and the South East. The top 3 Regions receiving Start Up Loans outside of London and the South East are the North West; £121.6m, Yorkshire and the Humber; almost £90m and the South West; almost £85m.

£1bn milestone case study:- Robin Valley Jewellery, Liverpool... Local recipient of the Start Up Loans scheme is Sefton-based Robin Valley, who took out their loan of £15,000 in June 2023.

The business which received the £1bn milestone loan was drawn down by Wanchong Chen and Lian Zhang, owners of Robin Valley Limited, a jewellery business based in Liverpool. Robin Valley's wooden jewellery combines innovation, sustainability and unique design. The business serves as a wholesale supplier to prominent organisations and gift shops including the London and Marwell Zoos, Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden and the Fitzwilliam Museum. They took out a £15,000 loan to purchase machinery and pay for staff wages which allowed them to expand production.

Wanchong Chen's advice for budding entrepreneurs looking to start a business or take their existing business to the next level is:- "Have the confidence to give it a go. If you don't try, you won't know, and if you don't do it someone else just might. If you're prepared to learn on the job and learn from your mistakes, then you are well-placed to become a success. Start Up Loans provide life-changing funds to small business owners, who otherwise may not be able to secure funding. I used my loan to buy a new laser that is integral to creating our wooden jewellery and pay staff wages. I have huge respect for anyone who tries to start their own business and best of luck to all those who pursue their passion project".

Dr Sophie Dale Black, UK Network Director for the North of England, British Business Bank said:- "Robin Valley's vision and unique product offering will ensure that the business continues to prosper with the right support. The Start Up Loan came at the right time for this business, propelling it into national growth, and we're pleased to have supported this crucial stage of its development. The British Business Bank is committed to investing in local businesses that support their local economies and catalyse future growth across the Region."

Small Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:- "Across the UK, thousands of small businesses have now been supported by over a billion pounds in Start Up Loans. This crucial support is enabling enterprising companies like Robin Valley start and scale up their ventures and I urge even more to follow in their footsteps."

Value for money to the UK taxpayer... The Start Up Loan programme has been shown to be value for money to the taxpayer with an independent review showing the economic benefits of the scheme are 5.7 times the economic cost.

What to do if you think your home could be affected by RAAC

SCHOOLS across the country have been closed due to concerns about reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), but now fears are growing that other buildings could also be affected; including:- residential homes.

MyBuilder.com, a platform that matches reliable tradespeople to homeowners, has put together a guide to help homeowners if they have any concerns about RAAC in their property, and what steps to take if there's an issue.

RAAC is a product that was regularly used between the 1950s and the 1990s, most commonly in public buildings such as Schools. However, it is now believed that it was potentially used in residential homes, in particular Council housing, as it was cheap and widely available at that time. Many of these homes will now have passed into private ownership.

How to identify if your home may be affected by RAAC:-

Age of the property. If your home was not built between the 1950s and 1990s, you are unlikely to be affected. However, if it was, it's possible RAAC is present.

Take a look. If your property was built in that time period, the next step would be to conduct a visual inspection. RAAC was often installed in the form of large "planks," but it is best to appoint a surveyor to check to ensure correct identification, and because of the risk of other materials being present, such as:- asbestos.

Andy Simms, an expert from MyBuilder.com, said that if homeowners have concerns, they can enlist the support of experts to identify if RAAC has been used in their property:- "If your home was built between the 50s and 90s, and particularly if it has an area of flat roofing, it's worth checking for RAAC. We hope that in the majority of cases, RAAC won't be present, but it's always better to err on the side of caution and get it looked at."

What to do if RAAC is present:-

• Appoint an engineer. If potential RAAC has been identified in your property, then you must enlist the services of a structural engineer. They will confirm if RAAC is indeed present, including with a lab test.
   

• Preventative intervention. Depending on the severity of the situation, it might be sensible to consider repairing and maintaining the materials, especially in terms of protecting against water damage and cracking.
   

• Check your insurance policy. Before going any further with any remedial action, check if you're covered. Generally, your buildings insurance should cover this, but each policy is different, so make sure you take a look.
   

• Book remedial work. In the majority of cases where RAAC is identified, it will need to be replaced. Once the full picture has been disclosed, the engineer can advise which tradespeople you will need to complete the work.

Andy Simms said:- "It's understandable that homeowners whose properties might be affected would be concerned. However, with the right expert advice, any issues caused by RAAC can be quickly and effectively remedied, and in most cases should be covered by your insurance. We'd advise anyone who is concerned to act quickly, as due to the sudden increased awareness of RAAC, surveyors and engineers are likely to be experiencing a high level of demand."

Full details can be seen at:- MyBuilder.Com.