Under the compulsory scheme – which is designed to improve manufacturers' energy efficiency – larger companies (250+ employees or annual turnover over £50m) will have to carry out a detailed energy audit by 5 December 2015 latest.
Gareth Stace, head of climate and environment policy at EEF, says the organisation expects around a third of manufacturers will need to comply, making it vital for them to get to grips with the scheme as quickly and smoothly as possible.
However, a recent npower survey shows that 46% of manufacturers aren't even aware of the scheme and 69% feel uninformed about what is required of them.
"With the deadline for ESOS compliance hitting at the end of the year it's vital that companies get up-to-speed," comments Stace.
"For the many manufacturers that have already taken significant steps to improve energy efficiency, ESOS can be viewed as a stock taking exercise," he continues.
"For others, the scheme will provide the impetus to map out an energy efficiency strategy from scratch, highlighting the most cost-effective measures to be taken and where considerable savings can be made."
The guide - Understanding the Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme: a Guide for Manufacturers – provides an overview of the scheme, explaining what it is, who qualifies, what is required and by when.
It is designed to help businesses plan their approach to the scheme and provides valuable links to other sources of help and information.
To download the free guide, use the link below.