Trust aiming to switch off firms' power worries

More than half (51 per cent) of companies said they worry about energy price increases, while nearly six out of 10 (59 per cent) said they were concerned about the unstable economy.

Chris Harrop, of Yorkshire paving firm Marshalls, is due to launch the Carbon Trust's Best Advice campaign today. It offers free carbon surveys for all businesses spending between 50,000 and 3m on energy each year. The scheme offers an on-site energy expert and a tailored energy-saving action plan which can cut bills by between 20 and 30 per cent.

Mr Harrop, group marketing director of Marshalls and a regional ambassador for the trust, said: "Smart energy management not only cuts costs but can also make businesses more productive and improves their reputation with customers. A Carbon Trust survey is likely to be the best piece of free advice businesses in Leeds can get this year."

Marshalls, which makes and supplies paving and street furniture to councils, businesses and homeowners and which turned over 312m last year, became involved with the trust two years ago and has cut its energy costs and made a carbon saving of 2,000 tonnes of CO2, since it received a carbon survey.

It did this by giving drivers green training so they understood how to improve fuel consumption, introduced lights triggered by movement which switch themselves off when a room is empty, and boosted the efficiency of its motors.

Myles McCarthy, from the Carbon Trust, which was set up by the Government in 2001 to steer the move to a low-carbon economy, said: "There is a lot of wastage which businesses really need to cut out. The survey highlights that businesses are looking at cost savings as an important step to make."

Energy-efficiency measures could save Yorkshire businesses 411m and 13.7m tonnes of CO2 a year, the trust said.

Its survey of 700 business decision-makers, including 70 in Yorkshire, also asked them where they had received the best business advice, with 29 per cent of respondents saying it had been from their bank manager or accountant, 47 per cent citing a colleague and nearly a quarter (23 per cent) saying it had been their boss.

The Yorkshire awareness campaign is the first to be used outside London.

Firms which spend 50,000 or more on energy can visit www.thebestadvice.co.uk or call 01865 885788 for more information and to register for their free carbon survey. Those which spend less than 50,000 can get free advice through an online tutorial at www.carbontrust.co.uk/onlinetraining, which gives video advice on cutting potential bills and shows how to calculate savings.

Cutting emissions and bills

The Carbon Trust helps to cut emissions by giving businesses and public-sector bodies advice, finance and accreditation to help them reduce their carbon footprint.

It offers interest-free loans of between 3,000 and 500,000 for companies which want to invest in energy-saving projects.

Since 2006, carbon surveys have delivered more than 180m in energy savings for businesses, the trust said.

It is running a competition to win business advice from some top business minds. Five winners from across the UK will be invited to attend a private reception and discussion with Ian Cheshire, group chief executive of Kingfisher and chairman of B&Q, Paul Thandi, chief executive of NEC Group, Dawn Gibbins, founder of Barefoot and the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year, and Chris Marshall, director of the paving firm, Marshalls.

To get involved, go to www.thebestadvice.co.uk