Workers at small businesses trying to cut costs are forming a new generation of “energy entrepreneurs” according to npower, the headline sponsor of The Energy Live Consultancy Awards (TELCAs).

New research by the energy supplier shows nearly half of SMEs (42%) see energy efficiency as an aid for business growth. The findings are from npower’s latest Business Energy Index (nBEI) – which surveyed 500 SMEs across a variety of sectors.

More  SMEs are focusing on bottom line savings on energy costs which they can reinvest in their business, suggests the statistics, with almost half (44%) slashing their energy use by 5-10% in the last year.

The results show businesses think the Government should be giving a helping hand on this front, with half of SMEs (53%) believe government grants should be available to assist with financing energy efficiency measures.

Out of the firms which have cut energy use, it seems simple measures such as turning off unused equipment (59%), monitoring energy use regularly (55%) or educating staff (49%) had a real impact while half (49%) say they undertook an energy review or put an action plan in place (49%) to cut down consumption.

Elsewhere 55% have installed new light fixtures and fittings, 45% have had their boiler serviced and 21% have considered loft insulation.

Phil Scholes, SME markets director at npower said: “We undertook this research to understand how SMEs currently manage energy in their business and assess where we may be able to help with bespoke products and services. It’s really encouraging to see this trend of ‘energy efficiency entrepreneurs’, i.e. those SMEs who recognise that saving energy can result in tangible business benefits such as investment and growth.”

npower is the headline sponsor of the TELCAs, the exciting new awards programme for the energy consultancy sector. The supplier is sponsoring the SME and I&C Consultancy of Year awards and the winners will be announced at a fabulous awards ceremony on 27 June 2013.