St Andrew’s Hospice has successfully secured over £9,000 in funding from North Lanarkshire Council’s Business Growth Fund, supported by the Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES), to install solar panels on its site. The funding was obtained with guidance from Business Gateway, which provided one-to-one support through senior business adviser John McAndrew.
Project Details and Benefits
The installation of solar panels is expected to reduce the hospice’s electricity costs by at least £20,000 per year and decrease reliance on fossil-generated electricity. Any surplus energy generated will be returned to the National Grid. John Heron, Facilities Manager at St Andrew’s Hospice, emphasized the organisation’s commitment to sustainability, noting that the hospice already recycles donated items and minimizes food waste. “We recognise we can always do more to be a sustainable neighbour and reduce our carbon footprint,” Heron said.
Expert Support and Future Plans
Business Gateway arranged fully funded consultancy support from net zero specialist Zoe Stirton, who conducted a detailed energy audit. The audit identified further opportunities to reduce energy consumption and potential eligibility for a grant to purchase an electric vehicle. Chris Morris, Local Energy Scotland Manager, commended the hospice for taking positive action to advance its sustainability mission. John McAndrew added, “It has been a privilege to support the team with this project, helping unlock opportunities that will benefit the organisation for years to come.”
