An innovative Cardiff Council scheme offering funding packages to small businesses to help make our historic buildings more energy efficient without harming their essential character is set to launch, with a briefing at City Hall on Tuesday 21st January at 1:30pm.

Cardiff Council was one of the first to be awarded funding in new in a new multi-million pound Welsh Government innovation programme to promote the research and development industry.

The three-year Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Catalyst Programme, also funded by the Technology Strategy Board, aims to boost the research and development industry, increase commercialisation of new technologies and create jobs and wealth.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Ashley Govier said, ‘We are looking for cost effective and sensitive retrofit solutions to make traditional and historic buildings more energy efficient, to reduce fuel usage, to increase comfort levels and to meet carbon emission reduction targets. We have been awarded £525,000 for a project to find solutions and this presents a unique opportunity for enterprising small and medium enterprises.

‘I hope the many highly skilled businesses around Cardiff and South Wales attend the briefing at City Hall on the 21st January and learn how they can compete to get involved in this fascinating project.’

Those interested in applying are encouraged to register to attend the briefing at heritageretrofitsbri.eventbrite.co.uk, while application packs are available at tinyurl.com/q52fgqq.

Application submissions for Phase 1 are due back by email no later than noon Friday 28th February 2014.

If you have any queries please contact:

Ross Cannon (02920) 873222
Email: heritagesbri@cardiff.gov.uk