How a leading Trust won an £85,342 net zero grant.

Discover how Zenergi streamlined funding access, and enabled a Thinking Schools Academy Trust to roll out a 24-school heat decarbonisation plan.

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Thinking Schools Academy Trust: A Trust-wide programme of heat decarbonisation plans

What Thinking Schools Academy thought

The HDP programme helped us achieve a starting point to drive our sustainability policy, and to understand opportunities to reduce consumption and costs. This has placed us in a much stronger position to bid for future grant funding rounds too. The output of the surveys was to a very high standard and the team were extremely helpful, ensuring we achieved key Salix milestones.

James Fenlon

Head of Estates and Health and Safety

Thinking Schools Academy Trust

What we think

By securing critical funding and shaping a Trust-wide plan, Thinking Schools Academy Trust have put carbon reduction at the heart of their estate strategy to drive real change."

Harry Eaves

Senior Energy Consultant

For over 10 years, Zenergi has been a trusted partner for Thinking Schools Academy Trust, providing expert guidance and value-driven solutions to manage and reduce energy costs. This partnership has now paved the way for transformative sustainability initiatives.

A team effort

With 24 schools under its umbrella, Thinking Schools Academy Trust has consistently relied on Zenergi to protect its energy budget, handle complex queries and validate payments to ensure cost efficiency. The introduction of government schemes aimed at providing financial support to public bodies to reduce their carbon footprint, prompted the Trust to turn to Zenergi for support to develop a full net zero strategy.

Making an impact

Leveraging our expertise, we prepared a successful application for the Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF), securing £85,342 in grant funding. This funding enabled the development of a comprehensive, Trust-wide heat decarbonisation plan – an essential foundation for future sustainability projects.

Driving results

The heat decarbonisation plans created with Zenergi’s support are a critical step for future grant applications under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS). These plans will enable the Trust to:

Transition away from fossil-fuelled heating systems.
Identify and prioritise energy efficiency measures.
Unlock additional funding for impactful upgrades like LED lighting, electric vehicle charging points, and solar PV installations.

£ 85,342 grant awarded

thanks to our preparation of a bid for Low Carbon Skills Fund

How Zenergi can help you achieve your funding aspirations

Grant application success: Our expertise in funding applications ensures you have the best chance of securing financial support for your sustainability initiatives.
Comprehensive energy plans: We create tailored heat decarbonisation strategies, providing clear priorities and cost-effective solutions.
Future-proofing your organisation: By addressing your energy needs today, we help you unlock funding opportunities and transition to a low-carbon future.

Chris Jermy Director of Customer Success Zenergi

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Explore services delivered for Thinking Schools Academy Trust

Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF)

The Low Carbon Skills Fund (LCSF) is a government grant programme administered by Salix Finance designed to support public sector organisations in undertaking energy audits, creating carbon reduction strategies, and developing robust heat decarbonisation plans. We can help your organisation prepare a successful application, determining your eligibility for the scheme, collating the data and evidence assessed against the scheme criteria, and making the necessary calculations.

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Heat Decarbonisation Plan

We'll accelerate your move away from fossil-fuelled heating systems. You'll gain a clear understanding of quick wins; measures that reduce your electrical loads; costs to do so; and return on investment, allowing clear prioritisation and a strategic plan to transition to a low carbon future.

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Bill Validation

We'll identify any possible discrepancies in energy and water bills, ensuring the numbers are based on accurate usage data and guaranteeing the correct rates are being applied. We'll safeguard you from potential financial losses while allowing more informed and accurate budgeting and forecasting.

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Energy Procurement

Energy can be a significant expenditure for any organisation, especially during periods of high market volatility. The type of contract you choose can significantly affect what you’ll pay in the long term and it can be difficult to compare prices when there is an endless product and supplier choice available. Take control of your energy costs by leveraging our real-time market insights and market-leading expertise.

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