New platform will encourage Manchester businesses to upgrade their vehicles

A new digital platform will allow businesses in Greater Manchester to apply for support to purchase low-emission vehicles. 

The new Financial Support Scheme service, which is due to launch in November, will enable individuals to check their eligibility for grants and subsidised finance from central government to upgrade or retrofit their vehicles. 

The system is built on QV Systems’ Accelerator Technology. The process is fully automated, businesses just need to enter their details before being presented with a range of funding options from approved lenders and brokers. 

It is hoped that this service will support businesses across Greater Manchester to upgrade their vehicles ahead of the new Clean Air Zone, which is due to launch in May 2022. 

Cllr Andrew Western, Greater Manchester lead for Clean Air said: ‘As a city region, we are committed to tackling air pollution, which is the biggest environmental public health issue facing the city-region and contributes to around 1,200 deaths in Greater Manchester alone each year.

‘That’s why we have developed a Clean Air Plan that not only helps us meet government requirements on nitrogen dioxide air pollution, but also delivers the funding support for those businesses, individuals and organisations who need to upgrade their vehicle to become compliant.

‘We are looking forward to working with QV Systems to help us deliver the plan, improve the quality of our air and ensure Greater Manchester continues to be a healthy, sustainable and happy place to grow up, get on and get old.’

In related news, under the Clean Air Plan, consultancy firm Aecom will measure air pollution at 450 locations across Greater Manchester. 

The firm will collect pollution samples from each monitoring site every month. They will then analyse this data in order to assess the effectiveness of the plan. 

Photo by Mihály Köles