AN URMSTON businessman is boosting his company with a cash-injection of a third of a million for free, though it’s not quite money for nothing.

Urmston-based Tony McCauley, 49, a partner in high end body shop repairers Parkway Prestige, is renting out his roof space for an array of solar panels with an investment deal from Green Energy Commercial.

The ‘free fit scheme’ means that, when the sun is in the sky, the company will slash the electricity bill at their Trafford Park premises by more than half, and the savings over 25 years will be £333,640.

Tony said: “Our energy bill at the moment is about £3,000 a month – paying just over half of that will make a difference.”

Tony and his business partner Dave Gage, 49, hope to re-invest the savings in a dozen apprenticeships to ensure the company’s future come rain or shine through to the next generation.

Tony added: “It’s a dozen apprentices over the life of the deal. These are people who will be trained up and the package we have got will pay for that.”

Eric Redfern, of Green Energy Commercial, said: “It’s a win, win for businesses – we can ensure they fix their electricity bill and the free fit systems can save them a fortune over the lifetime of the deal.

“We are doing similar deals for scores and scores of small businesses and medium sized firms and even household names can see a return on their bottom line by fitting panels.”