Dorset based Barker, the largest domestic laundry in the UK and a leading specialists Dry Cleaner, has received a low carbon grant funding award of £25,000, allocated by Dorset Council’s ‘Low Carbon Dorset’ programme.
‘Low Carbon Dorset’ is a 3-year programme of activities being run by the Council to help stimulate growth in Dorset’s low carbon economy and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). It aims to help improve energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy and aid the development of new low carbon products.
Matthew Barker, MD at Barker advised, “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this award which will allow us to invest immediately in various new equipment and laundry efficiency technology: 2 new washing machines, a boiler and a water heating system. “The new gas fired water heating system will enable us to change from the steam method by which we currently heat water, thus reducing our use and reliance on fossil fuels by an impressive 50%.
“Incredibly the investment required by the business will be paid back by energy efficiency savings within just 3 years. We are hugely grateful for the financial support given by ‘Low Carbon Dorset’ which is helping us to achieve our eco ambitions and making this journey significantly easier for us. We would also like to recognise the support provided by innovation and growth funding experts SG Financial Ltd, whose Managing Director Shaun Gomm introduced the business to the team at ‘Low Carbon Dorset’ and led the funding application process on behalf of the Barker Group.”
Dr Erik Blakeley, Energy Efficiency Technical Officer for ‘Low Carbon Dorset’ commented, “The Barker project unlocked innovative technology investment relating to their core laundry business and is also delivering a significant saving in terms of reducing carbon emissions (over 90 tonnes CO2e p.a.). We see many good applications for standard measures such as LED lighting and improved space heating equipment but grants for measures related to the specific technologies of a particular industry are less common.”
About Barker
Barker is a high-quality fabric care and manufacturing business specialising in the improvement of established markets, from laundry to shirt making. Fully traceable, ethically grown and woven cotton of the highest quality is used to manufacture its bed linen range whilst also being the global leader in the supply of starched dress wear to the legal profession and the film, TV and theatre industries. Their work can be seen in Downton Abbey, Poirot and Mr Selfridge, to name just a few. Barker are now the largest domestic laundry in the UK and a leading specialists Dry Cleaner, with a heritage dating back to 1861.www.barkergroup.info
About Low Carbon Dorset
Low Carbon Dorset is a three-year programme of activities led by Dorset Council in partnership with Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which aims to boost Dorset’s low carbon economy and reduce its carbon footprint. European Regional Development Fund – The Low Carbon Dorset project is receiving up to £3.2m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.