A Kidderminster-based manufacturer makes considerable energy savings and reduces its carbon footprint

Vision Labs, along with sister companies International Glazing Services and Lens Online, form part of the Specsavers supply chain. The lens manufacturer, based in Kidderminster, reached out to Worcestershire County Council’s Clean Growth team after identifying a programme which would help them on their journey to becoming climate positive by 2035.

Since receiving a fully funded decarbonisation review, Vision Labs has generated cost savings and reduced its carbon footprint.

Councillor Richard Morris, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for the Environment, said: “It is important for businesses to begin the decarbonisation process as soon as possible to ensure resilience and play their part in addressing climate change.

“I am very pleased we have been able to help Vision Labs implement changes and make good investments which have simultaneously generated cost savings and created a positive impact on the environment.”

Mark Edwards, Environmental and Facilities Manager at Vision Labs, International Glazing Services and Lens Online, said: “Thanks to the initiatives of Worcestershire County Council, we have been able to make considerable savings to our energy usage and carbon footprint.

“These initiatives helped provide an understanding that we need to have more close monitoring of our building management system so this is where we are looking to invest. This will help us to identify areas of the business that are using a lot of energy and help us to pick up spikes, abnormalities, and to drive down costs moving forwards.

“If anyone is thinking of reaching out to the Clean Growth team, I would say go for it because there is help out there, and there are definite savings to be made.”

The programme Vision Labs benefited from was a pilot scheme funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund. The scheme, which ended in December 2022, has supported over 100 Worcestershire businesses and organisations through Decarbonisation Reviews, achieving a reduction of approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO2.

At least 20 Worcestershire organisations have additionally received further financial support in the form of grants for smart energy monitoring systems and energy-efficient lighting.

The programme also launched the Worcestershire Decarbonisation Portal, which allows businesses to easily measure their carbon footprint and develop a personalised decarbonisation plan.

Following the success of the programme, Worcestershire County Council has unveiled further Council-funded decarbonisation support, now available for eligible Small and Medium Enterprises.

Up to 90 hours of decarbonisation support is available per business. The type of review offered will depend on the business’s requirements, size and the complexity of its projects.

For full eligibility, please visit the dedicated pages on the County Council website. 

Businesses across the county can also gain free access to Worcestershire’s Decarbonisation Portal. Limited licences are available. Interested businesses can learn more about the portal on the Council’s website.

Worcestershire County Council is committed to preserving and protecting the environment for future generations. The Council’s Net Zero plan focuses its efforts on reducing its environmental impact even further whilst still enabling sustainable growth.