Malvern Hills District Council declared a Climate Emergency on the 23 July 2019 with the Destination Zero: Creating a greener and more sustainable Malvern Hills District being approved in January 2020.
In January 2021, Malvern Hills District Council approved the 2021-2025 Visit The Malverns Visitor Economy Action Plan. The new Visitor Economy Action Plan aspires for the area to become a recognised green tourism destination, and includes a variety of actions to help improve the Malvern Hills districts green credentials to help reach our goals.
There are a number of priorities and actions within the project, including:
Sustainable tourism grants for tourism businesses, including energy audits, electric car sharing points, low energy hand dryers, Green Tourism Business Scheme costs etc. 50% match-funded.
The NEW Green Tracker – promoting top tips and green initiatives for tourism businesses to adopt as well as monitoring energy, water and waste.
Green Mark to develop a sustainable tourism business community for The Malverns.
Development of a green tourism business training and event programme.
Encourage donations to local conservation organisations like Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Malvern Hills Trust.
Encourage businesses to reduce the use of single-use plastics.
Encourage businesses to source food and drink locally.
Create a ‘Take The Pledge’ marketing campaign for visitors (coming soon)!
This Industry section is designed to help tourism businesses across the Malvern Hills district adopt greener practices, reduce carbon emissions and help reduce the impact on the environment.
Please see the links below for more information about the support available.
View our NEW Green Tracker to monitor and benchmark your energy, water and waste as well as for top tips on how to adopt sustainable practices for:
Tourism businesses from across the Malvern Hills district can access grants to help adopt greener practices.
Malvern Hills District Council will provide 50% match funding for projects which cost a maximum of £5,000 (£2,500 grant). Advice will be given for how to access other grants for projects costing over £5,000.
Green Mark – A Commitment For Adopting Greener Practices
Take our Sustainable Tourism Quiz to help measure where you are in relation to adopting greener business practices and to find out whether you’re eligible for a Visit The Malverns Green Mark.
Once you’ve completed the questionnaire a member of the team will contact you to signpost you to useful information, grant funding opportunities and/or request further information to see if you are eligible for a Green Mark.
The Green Mark promotes your commitment for adopting greener tourism business practices. Collectively tourism businesses will become part of a Visit The Malverns Sustainable Tourism Business Group.
Be internationally recognised for your efforts in reducing your businesses impact on the environment with a Green Tourism Business Scheme Award. Discounts are available for tourism businesses located across The Malverns.
Discount codes are available for businesses operating in The Malverns, including Free Registration of £75 (Ex VAT) plus 10% Discount Off Annual Membership Fees.
Net Zero Worcestershire – Sustainability Grants & Support
Up to £8,000 is available for SME’s in Malvern Hills to implement energy saving initiatives including LED lighting, heating and insulation and renewables. The initiative aims to support Worcestershire SMEs to make the transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon future.
This can be used on things like solar panels, insulation and energy efficient lighting just to name a few.
Worcestershire County Council also offer Decarbonisation Reviews to help improve your businesses energy efficiency.
Larger tourism businesses like hotels with conferencing facilities can apply for funding via the Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) through Worcestershire County Council. Dependent on eligibility, the grant programme can provide free energy and resource efficiency reviews and grants from £1,000 up to £20,000. Match-funding is required. A 40% grant is provided towards the cost of successful projects.
Worcestershire County Council has launched a new Here2Help Business programme in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the success of our first Here2Help Business programme Worcestershire County Council has launched a second phase aimed at supporting the recovery of local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here2Help Business 2 is designed to assist Worcestershire Businesses to recover, adapt, develop and support future resilience. Tourism businesses maybe eligible to get additional funding to help develop larger projects. Up to £15,000 is available which needs to be match-funded 40%I60%.
The Here2Help Business 2.0 programme consists of the following projects – Sustain & Grow, Adapt and Develop.
Tourism and hospitality businesses can help to support conservation activities by making regular donations to the local conservation organisations managing sensitive habitats and landscapes, which is particularly relevant for visitors / customers arriving by car.
The additional revenue provided to these organisations will provide new conservation initiatives will also help off-set carbon emissions. Businesses can choose to make regular donations based on the number of visitors they receive by car.
Malvern Hills Trust is responsible for the conservation and management of the Malvern Hills and its surrounding common-land.
Please make a donation to the Malvern Hills Trust here.
Worcestershire Wildlife Trustis responsible for looking after various natures reserves within the Malvern Hills district, including Blackhouse Wood, Boynes Coppice and Meadows, Brotheridge Green, Crews Hill Wood, Duke of York & Ryefield Meadows, Hanley Dingle, Hardwick Green Meadows, Hillcourt Farm and The Blacklands, Holybed Farm Meadows, Hunthouse Wood, Melrose Farm Meadows, Monkwood, Nash’s Meadow, Pennels Bank Wood, Penny Hill Bank, Pool Hay Meadows and The Knapp & Papermill Reserve.
Please make a donation to the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust here.
Reduce Food Waste with Too Good To Go
Sign up to this food redistribution app for an easy way to pass on your businesses leftovers. You can still profit from surplus food buy selling it in Too Good To Go’s Surprise Bags, where customers pay a discounted price for previously unsold food.
Go the extra mile and save more food from the bin with advice from Love Food Hate Waste. Their website has plenty of guides, quizzes, blogs and recipes to help you make the most of your produce – at the same time as saving you money on costs.
Recommended by VisitBritain, the carbon footprint calculator measures your hotel’s impact on our climate by estimating the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by the hotel. The calculator also gives you advice on how you can reduce these emissions.
