Electric Vehicle Charge Point Fund | open until 8 September 2022 (or earlier if budget is utilised before then)
The Electric Vehicle (EV) Charge Point Fund provides a one-off payment to tourism businesses towards the installation of an EV charge point. It will support around 100 charge points.
By adding an EV charge point to your business, it will help to demonstrate a point of differentiation and your commitment to responsible tourism practices, meeting the needs of visitors who are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability in their travel plans.
Businesses can apply for funding to assist in the installation of an EV charge point on their premises. The funding available is 75% of the total cost of the charge point and installation (including applicable VAT), up to a maximum of £15,000. There is limited funding available, and it will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
The Fund is being administered by Energy Saving Trust (EST) on behalf of VisitScotland, and the Scottish Government. Read the full criteria / guidance and apply for funding on the Energy Savings Trust website.
Sustainable Tourism Certification Scheme | open until March 2023 (or until all funding is used up)
As a result of the Sustainability Certification Scheme Fund, part of the Destination Net Zero programme, three sustainable certification programmes successfully secured a total of £60,000 to help businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 in a sustainable manner.
The Fund has been allocated to Green Tourism, Green Key and EarthCheck. The three scheme providers are now offering a £500 discount on their membership fees to those within the tourism industry looking to gain green certification. The discount means eligible tourism businesses will get membership for the first year either discounted or even free depending on the certification scheme’s fees. Take a look at the Green Certification Schemes.
The following projects have received net zero transition funding, delivered by HIE:
- The rebuild of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory – the development has received almost £200,000 worth of net zero funding which will go towards creating a new, sustainable and energy efficient building, using power from the island’s community-owned renewable energy grid as well as from the building’s own solar panels.
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Transformation of Nevis Range – the project includes plans to create a new hotel and bunkhouse. The Lochaber mountain resort has received £500,000 to help ensure that the facilities will be built in as low carbon a way as possible to help with its continuing journey to net zero.
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Re-charge in Nature – a nature-based tourism recovery project, led by NatureScot which seeks to encourage more people to engage with nature and learn about the impact of climate change while recharging their EV or cycling or using an e-bike. The project seeks to present integrated information profiling existing charging infrastructure and nature-based experiences close by.
