Historic manufacturer eyes green growth with net zero funding

A 100-year-old Black Country manufacturing firm run by the great grandson of its founder is entering a new era of green growth backed by £100,000 from Mayor Richard Parker’s multi-million-pound business support programme.

Thomas Dudley Ltd is one of thousands of companies across the West Midlands getting help to cut their energy usage, reduce their carbon emissions and slash millions of pounds off their fuel bills.

The Mayor visited the family-run firm to see the positive impact of new energy efficient manufacturing equipment, upgraded lighting and a low carbon heating system that’s been installed thanks to £100,000 from the Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS).

The funding, along with the company’s own investment, will cut its carbon emissions by more than 300 tonnes a year - the same amount of carbon produced annually by 175 family cars – and slash fuel bills by £200,000 a year at current prices.

The group-wide decarbonisation plan will also boost productivity, help win new orders and futureproof the businesses with customers now looking for greener supply chains.

BEAS is delivered on behalf of the Mayor by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) through Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM) and funded by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ).

The Mayor said: “For decades, manufacturers like Thomas Dudley Ltd have been a cornerstone of our economy and I’m not prepared to let high energy costs hold them back.

“This funding is crucial to their future, and to thousands more of our region’s most energy intensive companies. We’re helping them stay competitive so they can keep growing and provide good local jobs.

“After years of under-performing on economic growth, our region is now turning a corner. My forthcoming Growth Plan, backed by the government’s Industrial Strategy, is about unlocking potential. Not just for businesses, but for every community across the region - growth for everyone.”

Mayor Richard Parker with Martin Dudley, chairman of Thomas Dudley Ltd.

Thomas Dudley Ltd was founded in 1920 as an iron foundry making municipal and construction castings, most notably cast-iron toilet cisterns. It now makes the largest range of plastic plumbing products anywhere in the UK.

Now in its 105th year, the company is run by chairman Martin Dudley – the fourth generation of the family at the helm – and employs 420 people in Dudley, designing, manufacturing and selling plastic plumbing products with 120 of those working in the plastics division.

Martin Dudley said: “High energy costs are one of our biggest challenges and any way that we can save money is really important to the future of our business.

“The BEAS audit carried out by Pro Enviro was a real eye-opener. It gave us a clear picture of how energy was being wasted and helped us pinpoint the least efficient machinery, which we have replaced with new, better performing technology as part of the scheme.

“This is not just a one-off for us, it’s part of a programme of decarbonisation right across the group of companies, and being part of BEAS has turbocharged what we’re able to do.”

The West Midlands has a higher proportion of energy hungry businesses than any other UK region which is why tailored support to help firms be more energy efficient is a key element of the WMCA’s work to boost resilience, productivity and drive economic growth.

It will also help the West Midlands achieve its #WM2041 ambition of becoming a net zero region by 2041.

Thomas Dudley Ltd is one of 4,000 businesses getting help to identify measures to decarbonise and reduce energy demand, with match funded grant support available to put those measures in place.

If fully implemented, these businesses would save £24m a year in gas and electricity costs and reduce their annual carbon emissions by more than 50,000 tonnes – the equivalent to the amount produced by 30,000 cars each year.

SMEs can apply for a free energy efficiency audit leading to an opportunity to secure up to £100,000 of match funding.

This could include supporting investment in new machinery and equipment, improved manufacturing processes, or LED lighting, solar power, heat pumps, and insulation.

BEAS is being delivered by the WMCA and DESNZ through BGWM in partnership with Aston University, Coventry City Council, Black Country Industrial Cluster, Birmingham City Council, Warwickshire County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Worcestershire County Council, and Pro Enviro.

The scheme is among a range of support programmes for SMEs that can be accessed for free through BGWM, the business advice service set up by the WMCA.

Register an interest on the BGWM website.