NatWest, the UK’s biggest bank for business, is today announcing that it has joined forces with energy experts Perse and Absolar to help businesses save money on their energy bills and transition to a greener future.

Supporting businesses to reduce their energy usage, cut their costs and decarbonise their operations is key to NatWest’s mission to tackle climate change. Research by the bank has found that, with the right support, half of the UK’s carbon reduction ambition could be achieved by UK small and medium-sized enterprises, and the majority of SMEs would stand to benefit financially from reducing their carbon emissions. However, in a survey by the bank less than 10% of SMEs surveyed said they see climate action as a source for future growth.

Through its new partnership with Perse, NatWest is supporting businesses on their journey to net zero with access to free and instantly personalised recommendations on how they can reduce their energy usage. By optimising energy procurement, making easy tweaks to everyday operations and helping businesses to identify the right low carbon technology for them, Perse has already saved its customers over £1 million and 4,000 tonnes of CO2.

NatWest is also today announcing a new partnership with Absolar, to provide businesses with the tools to find out whether solar energy could be the right move for them. Absolar’s technology captures the solar potential of premises remotely and gives an estimate of the savings a business could make by using solar power. With reports typically returned within 48 hours, businesses can quickly get a view of their options and access a directory of certified suppliers in their area.

James Holian, Head of Business Banking at NatWest, said:

“As the UK’s biggest bank for business, we know that many business owners want their businesses to be more sustainable, but find it difficult to know where to start.  We want to help business owners navigate this complexity and connect them to resources and insights so they can both help tackle climate change and grow their businesses.  That’s why we are proud to launch these new partnerships. Through these, we look forward to giving businesses the tools they need, both to save money and to decarbonise their operations.”

Jane Lucy, Co-founder CEO of Perse, said:

“At Perse, we are proud to join forces with NatWest to help businesses unlock new energy savings, boost resilience and generate tangible carbon reduction. Our personalised recommendations and expertise enables businesses to focus on the right measures for them. Through this partnership, we look forward to empowering even more businesses to embrace sustainable practices and achieve their energy efficiency and financial goals.”

Nic Cory, Director at Absolar, said:

“We are delighted to partner with NatWest in their commitment to helping businesses access the potential of solar energy. Through our innovative technology, we aim to provide a wider audience of businesses with quick and accurate assessments of their solar potential, allowing data-led and informed decisions about investing in solar power. By highlighting the significant cost savings and environmental benefits together with providing certainty of investment costs, we can accelerate the transition to a greener future and drive financial success for businesses.”