TL;DR: Key Takeaways
The News: On 11 December 2025, the Government announced £2 million in new funding via the Made Smarter Adoption Programme to help SMEs invest in solar, heating, and insulation.
Why It Matters: This is ring-fenced money specifically for the hardware that unlocks flexibility revenue. The Government is effectively subsidising your future income stream.
The Evidence: The Willow Review found that 67% of SMEs who adopted sustainable practices reported reduced operational costs. This is not charity - it is ROI.
The Catch: £2 million is small for the whole UK. These pots drain fast. The businesses that are ready will get the money.
Bonus: If you are in hospitality, the Zero Carbon Services trial is offering free energy assessments to 600 businesses, projected to deliver £3 million in collective savings.
If you read our previous articles, you know that the future of business energy is flexibility. Using solar panels, batteries, or smart heating to trade energy with the grid is the best way to cut costs and earn revenue. But there is always one barrier: the upfront cost.
This announcement just offered a solution.
What SME Energy Grants Are Available?
The Department for Business and Trade has confirmed an additional £2 million in SME energy funding via the Made Smarter Adoption Programme.
This money is specifically ring-fenced to help small businesses invest in technology that lowers energy bills.
What the Funding Covers
- Solar power installation
- Heating system upgrades
- Building insulation improvements
The Goal
To help the UK’s 5.7 million SMEs become energy efficient and cut their operating costs - while building the flexible assets that will generate income in the years ahead.
Why Now? The Willow Review Findings
This funding is a direct response to the Willow Review, an independent report published in June 2025 and spearheaded by Small Business Britain and Barclays.
The review found a statistic that validates everything we have been saying about energy flexibility:
67% of SMEs who adopted sustainable practices (like installing solar panels or selling energy back to the grid) reported reduced operational costs.
This is not about “saving the planet” (though that is a nice bonus). It is about return on investment. The businesses that invest in this hardware are seeing clear financial benefits.
The Cost Barrier Problem
The Willow Review also identified why more SMEs have not made these investments:
- 59% of SMEs cite implementation costs as the major barrier to sustainability (UK Net Zero Business Census 2024)
- Only 24% of small businesses currently recognise the financial advantages of sustainability
The Made Smarter funding is designed to break this barrier by subsidising the upfront investment.
Bonus: Are You in Hospitality?
If you run a pub, cafe, restaurant, or hotel, there is a separate opportunity specifically for you.
The press release highlighted the Zero Carbon Services Hospitality trial:
The Deal: 600 small hospitality businesses are getting free energy usage assessments.
The Value: This scheme alone is expected to deliver £3 million in collective savings and prevent 2,700 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
The Catch: It is a trial, so spots are limited. If you are in hospitality, this is worth investigating immediately.
How to Apply for Made Smarter Funding
Most business owners will read this news and think, “That sounds nice, maybe I will look into it next year.”
Do not do that.
Government funding pots like this - £2 million is relatively small when spread across the UK’s 5.7 million SMEs - get drained in weeks by the businesses that are ready.
Here is how to position yourself at the front of the queue and maximise your chances of securing SME energy funding:
Step 1: Audit Your Energy Needs
Do you need solar panels? Is your heating system 15 years old? Does your building leak heat through poor insulation?
Decide what “hardware” you need to unlock the flexibility revenue we discussed. These are the assets that will generate passive income in 2026 and beyond.
Step 2: Get Your Data Ready
To apply for grants like Made Smarter, you typically need to prove your current baseline energy usage.
This is where Meet George can help. Our platform organises your consumption data so you have the evidence ready for your application. You will need:
- Current energy bills showing usage patterns
- Smart meter data if available
- Evidence of your business size and eligibility
Step 3: Register with Made Smarter Now
Do not wait for the funding window to open. Register with the Made Smarter Adoption Programme today.
The programme operates regionally across England, with plans to expand to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland from 2026-27. Registration gives you access to technology advisors who can guide your application.
Step 4: Apply the Moment Windows Open
Bookmark the Made Smarter site for your region. When the application window opens, submit immediately.
The businesses that prepare now will get the money. The businesses that “look into it later” will find an empty pot.
How This Connects to Flexibility Revenue
If you have been following our coverage of Demand Side Response and energy flexibility regulation, you will understand why this funding matters beyond just “saving money on bills.”
The assets that Made Smarter will help you purchase - solar panels, battery storage, smart heating - are the same assets that can earn you money through flexibility markets.
The Revenue Stack
Once you have these assets installed:
- Reduced energy bills - immediate savings from self-generation and efficiency
- Demand Flexibility Service payments - earn £3-£6 per kWh for reducing consumption during peak times
- Capacity Market retainers - £20-£50 per kW per year just for being available
- Export revenue - sell surplus solar generation back to the grid
The Government is offering to subsidise the assets that will generate your future income. This is not charity - it is smart business.
The Bigger Picture: Policy Convergence
This Made Smarter announcement does not exist in isolation. It is part of a coordinated policy push we have been tracking:
- Load Control Licence - making flexibility markets safe and regulated
- MHHS Settlement - rewarding efficient energy users with lower costs
- Ofgem TPI Regulation - cleaning up the broker market
- Made Smarter Funding - subsidising the hardware for participation
The Government is building a system where data-rich, flexible businesses pay less and earn more, while data-poor, inflexible businesses face rising costs.
The Made Smarter funding is your entry ticket to the winning side of this divide.
Meet George’s Role
While we do not provide grant application services directly, Meet George can help you prepare:
Data Organisation: Our platform consolidates your energy consumption data into the format needed for grant applications.
Flexibility Assessment: We can identify if your business has the load profile that makes flexibility participation worthwhile.
Partner Introductions: Once you have the hardware installed, we can connect you with our vetted aggregator partners to start earning flexibility revenue.
Ready to explore your options? Learn how to switch business energy suppliers as your first step toward energy efficiency, or contact us at flexibility@meetgeorge.co.uk to discuss flexibility opportunities.
Join the Meet George platform waitlist to be notified when we launch and start taking control of your business energy.
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