Winter Savings Support: Access free support today 

Schools and colleges are likely to face higher energy costs as temperatures drop and oil and gas prices are impacted by global instability. But there is free government-funded support available to help your education setting reduce its energy costs and cut emissions too. This autumn and winter, we are offering tailored support through the Winter Savings Support Programme. From one-to-one expert advice, to accessible online workshops and staff training opportunities, there is support available for education settings across England. 

The Winter Savings Support Programme is commissioned by the Department for Education, provided by the Climate Ambassadors programme run by the University of Reading and EAUC, and delivered in partnership with Let’s Go Zero.  

We are providing priority support through a first-come, first-served approach to settings identified by the DfE. Support for the wider education sector is still widely available year round.

Depending on your setting’s needs and circumstances, you can access support through one of three routes: 

1. One-to-one support, or  

2. A 90-minute online workshop, and/or

3. CPD for your sustainability or estates lead  

All options are accompanied by ongoing support and will result in your setting creating tailored energy saving actions as part of a climate action plan.

Book your preferred support below ↓

Through one-to-one support, Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisors alongside Climate Ambassadors will identify the best actions for you to take over winter to reduce your setting’s energy costs. This support can either be online or through an in-person visit. 

If an in-person route is most suitable for your setting, we will visit your site and review your energy consumption and spending with you. Following this, you will receive a Sustainability Report and climate action plan full of impactful and practical actions to reduce costs and energy wastage. 

Your Let’s Go Zero Climate Action Advisor, alongside a Climate Ambassador, can also speak to senior leaders, staff, site team and pupils to understand the specifics of your context and identify quick wins to engage the whole community. 

The registration link will navigate to the Let’s Go Zero form which will allow us to reach out to you.

St James CofE Primary – a small primary school in Hereford – saved over £6,000 on their energy bills in under a year by accessing one-to-one support from a Climate Action Advisor. 

A 90-minute workshop by Let’s Go Zero and Climate Ambassadors to create your bespoke climate action plan to help your school or college save costs and reduce its energy use. Our expert advisors support you to tailor the plan to suit your setting and share examples of impactful yet practical actions that other settings have completed, resulting in significant savings. You will leave the workshop equipped with the resources and knowledge to take action and the inspiration to get started. 

If you have signed up for one-to-one support, please do not register for a workshop slot. 

Choose one workshop slot from the available dates below:

November

December

You can register for free, accredited CPD from the Climate Ambassadors programme, developed by Change Agents UK and EAUC. Training is designed for sustainability leads and the colleagues who manage your buildings and energy use day to day.

Short online sessions run from January to March 2027 and cover:

• Optimising heating systems
• Responding to overheating and extreme weather
• Monitoring and managing energy use and understanding where energy costs arise
• Identifying savings opportunities through tariffs and billing
• Building the business case for action
• Leading sustainability action effectively
• Engaging colleagues

You’ll leave each session with practical actions for your own setting. Sustainability leads, business managers, site managers, caretakers and estates staff are welcome, and you can register more than one person.

If you are a Climate Ambassadors volunteer, or would like to become one, and keen to support education settings with their energy efficiency, please reach out to your Regional Hub Manager, or email hello@climateambassadors.org.uk