£220 million of grants made available in Phase 2 of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) 

Energy-intensive industries like manufacturing and material recovery will be able to bid for grants of up to £30 million for reducing carbon emissions. This can include, but is not limited to:
 

• Installing more efficient boilers 
• Installing electric motors 
• Installing heat pumps to replace natural gas-fired boilers and steam turbines
• Developing technologies for industrial carbon capture 
• Fuel switching 
• Recycling waste heat into renewable electricity 

Consultation on flexible working and response to consultation on the right to time away for unpaid carers

The government has today announced a consultation on flexible working, with proposals to make a flexible working request a day one right and to encourage employers to suggest alternatives if a request is turned down.

Given the impact that Covid has had on how we work, this is a discussion worth having and I would encourage all businesses to have their say at Making flexible working the default - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

A government response to the consultation on the right to time away from work for unpaid carers has been published. After incorporating the views of carers and businesses, a framework for the manifesto promise of a one week leave entitlement for unpaid carers has been proposed. It will be a day one entitlement, can be taken flexibly (doesn't have to be in a single block) and employers will be given a notice period and the ability to reasonably postpone. Read more here- Carer’s leave - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

You can read the Minister's letter to me on both of these issues on my website here.

Deadline for final SEISS grant applications next Thursday (30th September) 

The deadline to claim the fifth and final Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grant is 30th September.

Apply here, where you are likely to need your turnover for the following: 

• ‘reference period’ (this needs to be based on a 12 month period, including the total turnover for all of their businesses, and in most cases can be taken from the 2019-20 or 2018-19 tax return); and the
•  ‘pandemic period’ (a 12 month period which starts on any date from 1 April to 6 April 2020).

Open Call by Drax  to join Bioenergy with Carbon Capture Storage supplier event series
 

I understand that Drax are reaching out to businesses across the country to identify a supply chain for their negative emissions project. The first of these events was a webinar earlier today, and Drax are planning to host a series of events throughout the next year.

A formal public consultation on Drax’s BECCS plans will take place in November, when stakeholders including local communities will be able to learn more about the proposed project and provide their feedback as part of the planning process.

Businesses interested in finding out more about Drax’s plans can email Ddrax@NOF.co.uk.