Discover...
x
At Business Sheffield, we help Sheffield’s manufacturers become more efficient, sustainable and resilient. Through the Low Carbon Grant and Innovation in Action Energy Challenge, we support local businesses to reduce energy use, lower costs and invest in smarter, cleaner technologies that drive growth.
EE Ingleton Engineering, led by Terry Lee, is a leading UK manufacturer of custom perforated panels, industrial screen products and wear parts for the recycling and animal feed industries. In recent years, the company has also expanded into architectural metalwork.
As a high-energy consumer, EE Ingleton had already made significant investments in improving its plant equipment, but the sharp rise in energy costs created new challenges and urgency for further change.
“While energy wasn’t unimportant, it wasn’t the most important thing for us,” says Terry Lee, Managing Director at EE Ingleton. “Covid, the Ukraine crisis, and knowing your electricity bill will quadruple sharpens the mind to what you should be looking at.”
Working with Business Sheffield, EE Ingleton received a Low Carbon Grant to support the purchase of new energy-efficient compressors. The funding helped the business replace outdated equipment and reduce the project’s payback period from two years to one, allowing them to save money faster and reinvest in further improvements.
“We’ve replaced two old compressors and a boiler, which will save us around £20,000 in energy per year,” says Terry.
The impact of the Low Carbon Grant has gone beyond energy savings. It has allowed EE Ingleton to future-proof its operations, make smarter investment decisions, and reinvest in equipment that supports long-term sustainability. Terry says the financial support came at exactly the right time, helping the business stay competitive despite rising costs across the sector.
“The grants are a great help,” he adds. “With rising costs in gas, electricity and national insurance, any support that helps finance energy-saving equipment is vitally important. The help we’ve had has allowed us to bring several projects forward.”
They also took part in Business Sheffield’s Innovation in Action Energy Challenge, which connects local manufacturers with technology providers to explore practical ways to reduce energy consumption and boost productivity.
Partnering with FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, the company used real-time data monitoring to analyse energy use across its machinery. The insights helped identify inefficiencies and supported informed decisions about future investments.
“A new compressor costs around £20,000 and uses half the electricity of the old one,” Terry explains. “The investment will pay for itself in just 12 months.”
As part of the programme, EE Ingleton also worked closely with professional advisors who provided mentoring, expert advice and access to new funding opportunities. This collaborative approach helped the business plan and bring several energy-saving projects forward sooner than expected.
We continue to work with EE Ingleton, with new projects already underway to further improve efficiency and sustainability.
“They’re really pragmatic,” Terry adds. “They genuinely are trying to help and move us forward, and they understand the pressures that small businesses are under.”
If your business is looking to reduce energy costs or lower carbon emissions, the Low Carbon Grant is still open for enquiries. The grant can be used to invest in energy-saving equipment such as lighting, heating systems, solar panels and more.
Our Low Carbon Advisors are also here to help. We offer free one-to-one support, energy surveys and access to funding opportunities that make sustainability achievable for Sheffield businesses.
To find out more, contact businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk or call 0114 224 5000.