Tom Hayes

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) sponsors the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) as the national accreditation body. UKAS is independent of government, however DBT is working with UKAS to seek out and assess opportunities for supporting SMEs' participation in and use of accreditation. Certification processes are based on international standards and UKAS accredits to these standards to ensure certification bodies are fit for purpose. Where certification schemes exist, these are initially assessed by UKAS and reviewed on a regular basis by UKAS with the scheme provider.

The Government’s forthcoming Small Business Strategy will set out how national and local business-support schemes can align to increase growth and productivity. Existing offers available include the Business Support Service, local Growth Hubs across England and The Help to Grow scheme.

Financial support is available to businesses through the Government-backed British Business Bank (BBB) to improve access to finance for investment and growth. In Bournemouth East, businesses can access resources such as the South-West Investment Fund, offering loans to SMEs through the BBB, and the joint Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council/UK Shared Prosperity Fund economic development programme

This Department has not made an estimate of the number of English Language Teaching (ELT) centres that have closed permanently since the pandemic began, but is aware of data published by English UK which states that one in six of the UK's 415 language schools, 69 in total, closed in the first year of the pandemic.

This Department works closely with English UK and have provided support for their English with Confidence campaign, including through the production of promotional material and hosting ELT agents during familiarisation visits. We will continue to ensure that the ELT sector’s recovery and ambition is captured in the Government’s International Education Strategy and via the English Language Teaching Action Group. DBT will be supporting English UK’s Study World event in the UK and in China and will support the sector at ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) Berlin, alongside considering ELT mission destinations for the next 12 months.

This Department has not made an estimate of the number of English Language Teaching (ELT) centres that have closed permanently since the pandemic began, but is aware of data published by English UK which states that one in six of the UK's 415 language schools, 69 in total, closed in the first year of the pandemic.

This Department works closely with English UK and have provided support for their English with Confidence campaign, including through the production of promotional material and hosting ELT agents during familiarisation visits. We will continue to ensure that the ELT sector’s recovery and ambition is captured in the Government’s International Education Strategy and via the English Language Teaching Action Group. DBT will be supporting English UK’s Study World event in the UK and in China and will support the sector at ICEF (International Consultants for Education and Fairs) Berlin, alongside considering ELT mission destinations for the next 12 months.

It is not Government policy to make commitments on youth mobility as a routine part of any trade deal. The UK generally seeks provisions in trade agreements that focus on business mobility, these help to expand opportunities and enhance certainty for UK businesses seeking to export services. The UK English Language Training sector is considered and consulted where necessary to ensure that their interests are supported.

The Government does not have any plans to introduce a specific paid leave entitlement at this time. However, depending on the nature of the individual’s employment, survivors may be able to access a range of leave entitlements allowing them to take time off from work when they need it.

Being at work is often important for victims, and there is practical support employers can offer which can make a real difference, such as signposting, financial assistance and supporting safety in and around the workplace.

In November the Government received advice from the NESO on how to achieve our clean power 2030 target. We will review this advice and outline our approach to clean power by 2030 in our action plan later this year. The move to a clean power system by 2030 is vital to support the transition to technologies that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, including electric vehicles and heat pumps.

Decarbonising heating is one of the biggest challenges facing the UK. Reducing energy demand and powering homes with green energy is a key priority within the Clean Energy by 2030 Mission. A range of technologies to heat the home of the future are likely to be required including flexible technologies such as battery storage.

More generally, the Home Energy Model (HEM) is a calculation methodology designed to assess the energy performance of homes and is set to replace the Standard Assessment Procedure. Consultations on the proposed HEM closed in March 2024 and the Government will respond to the consultation in due course.

The use of energy monitoring systems can support all types and sizes of business to better understand their energy consumption. It can assist large businesses and their corporate groups to carry out mandatory energy assessments of their buildings, transport and industrial processes under the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, to enable the identification of costed energy saving measures. ESOS participants are required to disclose their total energy use, and submit action plans and progress updates on any energy saving measures they decide to implement following their assessment. Businesses that are also in scope of Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting can also set out in their annual reports the key energy efficiency actions they have taken alongside the required energy and emissions disclosures.

The Government has consulted on raising non-domestic Private Rented Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and will publish the Government response early next year. The Government continues to engage with trade bodies and other key stakeholders to help property owners understand the requirements and what support is available to them and will be publishing updated guidance to support landlords with compliance where necessary.

Non-domestic properties are eligible for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offering up to £7,500 off the installation of a heat pump.

The Government is committed to engaging and supporting business small and large through the transition to net zero. We know that SMEs can face particular decarbonisation challenges and it is important they have access to reliable information and advice to help them take action to reduce their emissions.

We encourage small and medium-sized businesses to visit the UK Business Climate Hub, which provides advice to reduce their emissions and case studies, highlighting examples of businesses taking action. It is run by the Broadway Initiative, in partnership with government and a coalition of business organisations.

Smart meter-enabled energy monitoring technologies are key to helping businesses understand their energy use in an accessible way to identify savings. Since 1st October 2024, the Government has required energy suppliers to provide all small businesses with free and regular information on their energy use based on their smart meter data, for example via an App, online platform or display. Suppliers must also open up access to data to third parties who are working to provide innovative energy management tools on behalf of businesses of all sizes.

Short courses for electricians training to install EV chargers and solar PV are estimated to cost £300 and £650 (+ VAT) respectively. For heat pump and heat network courses, the Heat Training Grant offers trainees a £500 discount, which covers most of the course costs.

Contractors installing heat pumps and solar PV within Government schemes are required to be Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified. The overall cost of MCS membership can be over £1,000 a year. Many installers are also members of Competent Person Schemes.

The Department will continue to assess the cost of training and certification.

The Government has consulted on raising non-domestic Private Rented Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and we are aiming to publish the Government response early next year. We will publish updated guidance to support landlords with compliance where necessary.

The Government has also introduced a number of policies to encourage businesses to help meet net zero targets. This includes Climate Change Agreements which provides business rates exemptions and tax discounts in exchange for businesses meeting energy and carbon reduction targets, the Business Energy Advice Service for SMEs which is currently being piloted in the West Midlands, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which provides up to £7,500 off the installation of new heat pumps and the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund providing grants for energy efficiency and deep decarbonisation projects.

The Government will shortly publish the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan which will outline our approach to delivering a clean electricity system which will ensure our energy security, help tackle the climate crisis, create good jobs and protect billpayers. NESO’s report on achieving clean power by 2030 showed that it is possible for the UK to generate more clean energy than it consumes, creating the scope to export excess clean power to other countries via interconnectors which will enable us to trade energy with some of our closest European allies.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

The Government is committed to accelerating renewables deployment to meet clean power 2030 and the Contracts for Difference scheme will continue to be an important element of this. We are working with industry to consider ways this scheme and other energy policies can evolve to deliver our clean power goal.

The Government is committed to accelerating solar deployment to meet clean power 2030 and reviews the Contracts for Difference scheme before every round to ensure it continues to deliver this and other objectives. We will confirm details for Allocation Round 7 in due course.

The Government’s upcoming Clean Power 2030 action plan will detail the Government's strategy protect people from increased energy bills caused by volatile global gas markets and accelerate our pathway towards greater energy independence through the deployment of clean energy.

Importing cheaper electricity during peak times reduces the need to turn on carbon-intensive domestic generation and can enhance security of supply by providing access to a more diverse generation pool that complements our domestic energy mix.

To ensure security of supply, the electricity system requires generating capacity that can dispatch power in the event of high peak demand, unexpected outage or during periods of low renewable output. As we transition to clean power the government will work with the private sector to ensure flexible technologies such as hydrogen, long duration electricity storage and power with carbon capture and storage are deployed.

Unabated gas will increasingly move to a backup role as low carbon alternatives deploy. We will continue to develop our strategy to enable a transition away from unabated gas whilst maintaining security of supply.

Government considers the use of sustainable biomass for electricity generation to be low carbon. This assessment takes into account emissions attributed to biomass from across the supply chain.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero publishes territorial emissions estimates, found here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-territorial-greenhouse-gas-emissions-national-statistics. However, international reporting guidelines, established by organisations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), require carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the combustion of biomass to be accounted for in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector rather than the energy sector. Correspondingly, CO₂ emissions from the use of imported biomass are accounted for in the LULUCF sectors across the national inventories in which the biomass was harvested.

Commercial landlords are already required to meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to improve energy efficiency and the Government has consulted on strengthening these, which we will publish the response to early next year.

Through the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, large businesses must undertake energy audits and are encouraged to make energy efficiency improvements. We are currently providing audits and grants to SMEs as part of a pilot with the West Midlands Combined Authority, to identify and provide grants for energy efficiency measures for businesses.

More detail on the Government’s approach to decarbonising non-domestic buildings, including through the Warm Homes Plan, will be published in due course.

The Government recognises the importance of local initiatives in driving net zero action and provides initiatives, including funding, to help achieve this.

On energy efficiency, Government will partner with local and combined authorities to roll out the Warm Homes Plan. Government is also using devolution deals with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities to pilot new approaches to funding retrofit from 2025.

In addition, Government funds five Local Net Zero Hubs which support local authorities to develop net zero projects, including those relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy, and to attract commercial investment.

Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will also provide commercial, technical and project-planning assistance, increasing capacity and capability to build a pipeline of successful projects in local areas.

The Government recognises the importance of local action to help realise our national net zero targets.

On energy efficiency, Government will partner with combined and local authorities to roll out the Warm Homes Plan. We are also using devolution deals with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities to pilot new approaches to funding retrofit from 2025 and are exploring how we can build on these for other areas.

To support net zero initiatives, Government funds five Local Net Zero Hubs which support local authorities to develop net zero projects, including those relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy, and to attract commercial investment.

Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will also provide commercial, technical and project-planning assistance, increasing capacity and capability to build a pipeline of successful projects in local areas.

Details of actions being taken to increase deployment of solar power and battery storage will be set out the forthcoming Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, as well as the forthcoming Solar Roadmap.

Since February 2024, the VAT for solar and battery storage has been 0% and will be until March 2027. And as part of the Warm Homes Plan, officials are exploring the role of incentives and private finance to support homeowners with the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements and low carbon heating, including support for solar and batteries.

The Government does not plan to reform the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive in order to reduce the cost for installers. The scheme closed to new applications at the end of March 2022 and no new installations have been carried out since that date.

Commercial landlords are already required to meet Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to improve energy efficiency and the Government has consulted on strengthening these, and we will publish the response early next year. Our energy advice service pilot in the West Midlands is delivering subsidised energy assessments and grant funding for energy efficiency measures to Small and Medium Enterprise’s (SMEs) in the region and we are currently considering options for longer term support for SME decarbonisation. Mandatory energy audits required under the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme also provide large businesses with cost-effective ways to save energy and reduce bills.

The Government has introduced the £5 million Heat Training Grant, supporting trainees in England taking training relevant to heat pumps and heat networks. For heat pumps, the grant is designed to support businesses with 250 employees or fewer, including sole traders.

Through the reconvened Solar Taskforce, we are identifying and taking forward the actions needed to develop supply chains and a high skilled, well-paid solar workforce. These actions will be set out in the Solar Roadmap, which is expected to be published in Spring 2025.

DESNZ is also engaging closely with wider reforms to the skills system, including the creation of Skills England and the new Growth and Skills Offer. Our Office for Clean Energy Jobs will ensure we have the skilled workforce we need for the net zero transition, and good jobs are spread across the country.

The energy saving measures identified in audits by large businesses in scope of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) are currently voluntary to implement. ESOS participants are however required to submit actions plan and progress reports which can include information on proposed implementation of audit recommendations.

The approach to enforcement in England, including civil penalties where ESOS requirements are not met, is set out in the Environment Agency’s enforcement and sanctions policy.

These arrangements were in place in Phase 3 of Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme, and the Government has not announced any plans to make further changes in Phase 4.

On 5 November, Government published an open letter,[1] jointly with Ofgem, supporting a reformed connections process that accelerates connections for viable projects aligned with strategic plans.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aligning-grid-connections-with-strategic-plans/open-letter-from-desnz-and-ofgem-aligning-grid-connections-with-strategic-plans-5-november-2024

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aligning-grid-connections-with-strategic-plans/open-letter-from-desnz-and-ofgem-aligning-grid-connections-with-strategic-plans-5-november-2024