Regional growth hub grants for business solar
Regional growth hub solar grants 2026 — Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West of England, York and beyond. £1k-£25k match-funded grants fo...
£1,000 – £25,000 typical (match-funded, usually 40-60%)
Regional grant + advisory · Updated 12 May 2026
Business Energy Advice Service for West Midlands SMEs
BEAS West Midlands 2026 — free energy audits and capital grants up to £100,000 for West Midlands SMEs. Manufacturing focus, strong for solar PV.
Overview
The Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) is the West Midlands Combined Authority's flagship SME decarbonisation programme. It combines free energy audits, project specification, supplier introductions and capital grants of up to £100,000 per business. With a budget of around £20 million over recent funding cycles, BEAS is one of the most generous regional decarbonisation programmes in the UK.
For commercial solar PV, BEAS is particularly strong because the West Midlands manufacturing sector — automotive, aerospace, advanced engineering, food processing — has the rooftop area and energy spend to justify large solar projects, often combined with battery storage, heat pumps and process electrification. The BEAS grant typically funds 30-50% of the capex on a qualifying project.
Key facts at a glance
| Maximum capital grant | £100,000 (typically 30-50% match-funded) |
| Typical grant size | £10,000 – £40,000 |
| Geographic scope | Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton |
| Programme name | Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) |
| Common focus | Manufacturing, automotive, food processing |
| Eligibility | SMEs (under 250 employees, under £43m turnover) |
Eligibility criteria
- Trading address in WMCA boundary: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton (and limited partnership coverage in some adjoining LAs).
- SME status — under 250 employees, under £43m turnover.
- Commercial premises in the eligible area.
- Existing annual energy spend typically £15,000+ — the programme prioritises projects with material energy savings.
- Subsidy control / state aid compliance.
- Match funding must be evidenced.
How to apply
Step 1 — Register on the BEAS website.
Initial enquiry form covering business type, size, location and energy spend.
Step 2 — Free site visit and energy audit.
A BEAS-accredited assessor visits the premises. Typically takes 2-4 hours.
Step 3 — Receive the audit report and project recommendations.
Identifies eligible projects (solar PV, heat pumps, insulation, LED, BMS upgrades) and indicative grant levels.
Step 4 — Submit the grant application.
Detailed application typically 4-8 pages plus financial projections and supplier quotes.
Step 5 — WMCA panel review.
Typically 6-8 weeks from application to decision.
Step 6 — Grant Funding Agreement.
Detailed terms including delivery milestones and post-project monitoring obligations.
Step 7 — Project delivery and grant claim.
Most grants are paid in arrears with milestone-based instalments.
Watch-outs and pitfalls
- BEAS is regularly oversubscribed. Apply early in each funding cycle.
- Project must align with WMCA's economic priorities — manufacturing, automotive, advanced engineering and food processing receive faster decision-making than retail or hospitality projects.
- Geographic eligibility is strict. A business in Sutton Coldfield (technically in Birmingham metropolitan area) qualifies; one in Sutton (which is Sutton Coldfield's separate place name) may need to confirm postcode-specific eligibility.
- Funding rounds are subject to MCA budget cycles. Check current programme status before investing in application preparation.
- BEAS officers expect a robust energy audit — if your data quality is poor (no half-hourly readings, no sub-metering), expect the audit to flag this as a precursor before any grant can be approved.
Stacking with other grants and reliefs
Most successful 2026 commercial solar projects use a combination of schemes — this is where independent advice earns its keep. Business Energy Advice Service for West Midlands SMEs typically combines well with:
- Annual Investment Allowance for business solar — Up to £1 million per year, 100% first-year deduction
- Smart Export Guarantee for businesses — 3p–15p per kWh exported (2026 fixed tariffs)
- Industrial Energy Transformation Fund for solar PV — 30-50% of project capex (typically £100k-£14m awards)
Sources & further reading
Related schemes
Capital grant Capital grant Tax relief
Other relevant grants & reliefs
Industrial Energy Transformation Fund for solar PV
IETF 2026 guide — match-funded grants of 30-50% for energy-intensive industry in England, Wales, NI. Eligible sectors, application windows, ...
30-50% of project capex (typically £100k-£14m awards)
Annual Investment Allowance for business solar
AIA 2026 guide — how UK businesses claim 100% first-year tax relief on commercial solar PV up to £1m. Eligibility, calculation worked exampl...
Up to £1 million per year, 100% first-year deduction
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is Business Energy Advice Service for West Midlands SMEs?
The Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) is the West Midlands Combined Authority's flagship SME decarbonisation programme. It combines free energy audits, project specification, supplier introductions and capital grants of up to £100,000 per business. With a budget of around £20 million over recent funding cycles, BEAS is one of the most generous regional decarbonisation programmes in the UK.
Is the scheme open for applications in 2026?
As of May 2026, the scheme's funding status is: Rolling (subject to MCA funding cycles). We re-check application windows monthly — if this is critical to your planning, request an eligibility check for the current programme status.
How much can a UK business get?
Typical award range: Up to £100,000 capital grants (match-funded). The size of any individual award depends on project capex, sector eligibility, match funding available and the scheme's per-applicant cap.
Who administers the scheme?
West Midlands Combined Authority. Applications are submitted through the administrator's process — we link the relevant gov.uk and scheme pages at the bottom of this guide.
What are the biggest pitfalls applicants fall into?
BEAS is regularly oversubscribed. Apply early in each funding cycle. Project must align with WMCA's economic priorities — manufacturing, automotive, advanced engineering and food processing receive faster decision-making than retail or hospitality projects. Geographic eligibility is strict. A business in Sutton Coldfield (technically in Birmingham metropolitan area) qualifies; one in Sutton (which is Sutton Coldfield's separate place name) may need to confirm postcode-specific eligibility.
Check if your business qualifies
Free 60-second eligibility check tells you whether Business Energy Advice Service for West Midlands SMEs applies — and which other schemes can stack.
Run free eligibility check Or call 0800 246 1132