EDF’s sustainability grant programme offers small UK businesses a chance to receive up to £5,000 or a workplace electric‑vehicle charger, aiming to boost greener operations across the sector.
How the programme works
EDF and Enterprise Nation, with support from NatWest and Square, announced the competition on July 21, 2026. Ten winners will be selected: five will receive a cash grant of that amount, while the other five will obtain an EV charger, including installation, supplied by Pod. Applicants may enter for the grant, the charger, or both.
Eligibility is limited to UK‑based firms with fewer than 50 employees that have been trading for at least a year. Businesses must occupy premises they own or lease, and provide a Companies House registration number or sole‑trader UTR proof. Companies in insolvency, examinership or receivership are excluded.
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Individuals applying must be business owners or have the owner’s consent. Employees of EDF, Enterprise Nation, NatWest or Square, as well as their immediate family members, are barred from participation.
Specific requirements for the EV charger
Applicants seeking the charger must have dedicated off‑street parking for staff or visitors; residential addresses do not qualify. Renters need landlord permission, and they must demonstrate “electrical readiness,” which includes a site‑management service subscription costing £9 per charger per month to access management controls.
The cash grant is taxable, and recipients are responsible for any tax liability. According to the programme details, the money may be used for energy‑efficient appliances, enhanced insulation of walls, lofts or floors, and other sustainability upgrades.
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Businesses must submit an eligibility form through an Enterprise Nation account before proceeding with the full application. A panel of judges will review all entries, and successful applicants will be contacted by the organization.
“Small businesses have the ambition to become more sustainable, but access to funding can often hold them back,” said Aaron Asadi, CEO of Enterprise Nation. “By partnering with EDF Small Business, we’re giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to invest in changes that are good for their business and good for the environment.”
The application window closes at midnight on August 31, 2026. Applicants must outline how the grant or charger would improve their sustainability, and be prepared to share their story if requested.
