By Tim Adler on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
What business grants are available in Wales?
Wales is a beautiful nation with inspiring scenery, wonderful hospitality and leisure activities and a proud industrial heritage. But beyond the picture-postcard Wales are regions of economic deprivation, which the Welsh government and local authorities are keen to address.
Offering business grants to companies in Wales is one way to encourage start-ups and the self-employed to promote economic activity and stimulate employment.
Whether you’re situated in dramatic Snowdonia, urban Swansea, or anywhere in-between, if you already run a small business in Wales – or are looking to start one – then you could be eligible for a range of grants.
>See also: Business grants for women
Are there any business grants in Wales?
Yes, there are plenty of business grants in Wales.
A grant is a sum of money given to an individual or business for a specific business project or purpose.
Business grants in Wales usually cover only part of the total costs involved.
Grants may be linked to business activity, employment creation or a specific industry sector. Some grants are linked to geographic areas, e.g., those in need of economic regeneration.
Grants are either available only in specific regions of Wales or are available across the entire country.
What is it: Aimed at unemployed and economically inactive people looking to start a self-employed business in Wales. The scheme offers mentorship and support alongside the grant.
How much: up to £2,000
Who can apply: Unemployed and economically inactive entrepreneurs 25-years-old or older who want to start their own business.
How to apply:
Applicants will need to complete an expression of interest (EOI) document to begin the application process, once completed the document must be returned to Barriers2SUG@BusinessWales.org
Full details and guidance regarding the grant can be found here.
What is it: Help for those who are in the early stages of start-ups in the Blaenau Gwent area.
How much: Up to £1,000 to cover 80 per cent of costs
Who can apply: Start-ups that are six months to three years old based, in Blaenau Gwent.
How to apply: More details about the BG Effect Business Fund can be found here. Email: business@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
What is it: The grant is aimed at supporting new businesses from six months up to three years old to develop and expand.
How much: Up to £1,000 to cover up to 50 per cent of costs
Who can apply: Help for those who are in the early stages of start-ups in the Blaenau Gwent area.
How to apply: More details about the Blaenau Gwent Kick Start Plus can be found here. Email: business@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk
What is it: Designed to help businesses to grow and develop. This grant can fund various expenditures including:
– Capital equipment purchases
– Specialist software
– Website development
– Premises improvements
How much: £1,000 to £5,000 to cover up to 40 per cent of costs
Who can apply: Start-ups and existing businesses, primarily business-to-business (B2B), which are located, or planning to locate, in Bridgend County Borough.
How to apply: All businesses will be required to submit an application form and a business plan. New businesses will also need to provide at least 12 months’ cash flow and profit and loss forecasts. Existing companies will need to provide at least two years’ historic certified accounts. Alternatively, they can submit up-to-date management accounts if certified accounts are over six months old.
Email: ieuan.sherwood@bridgend.gov.uk
What is it: Funding is available from Caerphilly County Borough Council to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Caerphilly to help them develop and grow.
How much? £ 10,000
Funding is to be used for costs such as:
– Business planning
– Feasibility studies
– One-off marketing costs
– Websites and e-commerce sites
– Capital equipment
– IT hardware and software
– Property and infrastructure improvements to commercial, industrial and retail premises
Who can apply: The fund is aimed at sole trader start-ups and small and medium sized enterprises with fewer than 250 employees.
How to apply: Start-up businesses will need to submit a business plan and application form here. Existing businesses will also need to submit trading accounts.
What is it: Grants for businesses in Carmarthenshire towards the purchase of renewable energy systems for business premises.
How much: Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available, covering a maximum of 50 per cent of total project costs.
Who can apply: The funding is intended to support local businesses to be sustainable and to help them to grow and prosper while helping them on their net zero carbon journey.
Support is aimed primarily at existing businesses, operating in, or servicing the following sectors:
– Advanced materials and manufacturing
– Construction
– Creative industries
– Energy and environment
– Finance and professional services
– Information technology and telecoms
– Life sciences
– Food & drink
– Tourism
– Retail
– Care
Applicants must either own the freehold or hold a lease with a seven-year minimum period remaining after the final grant payment date. Applicants must secure their landlord’s written consent for the proposed works.
How to apply: Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the fund is fully allocated. Guidance notes and the expression of interest form can be found here.
What is it: Funding is intended to support Denbighshire entrepreneurs to test viability of business concepts while evaluating the positive impact they could have on the local economy.
How much: Grants of £5,000 are available with a total of 25 awards on offer totalling £600,000.
Who can apply: Grants are available to micro-firms to trial new products, systems and services as part of business development which will contribute to regional and environmental benefits.
How to apply: Further information can be found on the Cadwyn Clwyd website.
What is it: Funding is available to new and existing businesses in Conwy for projects that will meet one or more of the following objectives:
– Increase profitability
– Increase turnover
– Employ additional staff
How much: £200-£1,000 to fund up to 50 per cent of project costs.
Who can apply:
– New businesses (at least three months old)
– Established businesses
– Businesses with a trading address in the county of Conwy
Eligible businesses include manufacturing, retail, tourism and services.
Funding can be used to meet the following costs:
– Capital equipment including tools and IT hardware
– Marketing materials
– Staff or owner training
– Specialist professional fees to meet grant objectives above
How to apply: Apply through the Conwy Business Support website here.
What is it: Funding available towards costs of a consultant to work with businesses in order to achieve ISO accreditations. This is turn will help local businesses apply for tendering opportunities with Gwynedd Council, other local authorities, government organisations and the private sector.
How much: On application
Who can apply: Small and medium-sized businesses located in Gwynned.
How to apply: Further details of the Gwynned ISO Grant Scheme can be found here.
What is it: Funding, support and advice available to people aged 18 who are starting, developing or growing a business in Neath Port Talbot.
The funding can be used for all capital costs (excluding vehicles) as well as pre-start costs including stock, overheads and marketing.
How much: Up to 50 per cent of eligible start-up costs up tp £1,000
Who can apply: Young entrepreneurs based in Neath Port Talbot.
How to apply: More information can be found that at the Innov8 website.
What is it: Support for businesses to recruit someone who has recently been made redundant to cover some of the costs of their wages.
How much: Up to £3,000 in quarterly instalments for the first 12 months; up to £1,000 for job-related training. An additional £1,000 is available if you recruit a disabled person or a young person aged 18-to-24 years old. If you recruit a young disabled person, an additional £2,000 is available
Who can apply: The person you wish to recruit must be aged 18 or over and either:
– Be under formal Notice of Redundancy orBe within 12 months of the date of redundancy or
– Be within 12 months of becoming unemployed for reasons other than redundancy or
– Aged 18-24 years old and not in education, employment or training
How to apply: You can apply for an employer’s grant to recruit somebody out of work here.
What is it: Funding to support the sustainable economic growth of small and medium-sized businesses in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
How much: £1,500-£10,000
– Grants of £1,500-£10,000 for businesses in commercial premises
– Grants of £500-£1,500 for home-based businesses
Businesses must match 50 per cent of eligible project costs (excluding VAT).
Who can apply: Business based in Rhondda Cynon Taf that do not have annual turnover exceeding £40m or an annual balance sheet not exceeding £34m.
How to apply: More information on the Enterprise Investment Fund can be found here.
What is it: Grants to support established businesses in Swansea to improve their digital visibility and online presence through website development, training courses, etc.
How much: £500-£1,500
Who can apply: Established business in Swansea
How to apply: Email growthgrant@swansea.gov.uk
What is it: Grants to support businesses in Swansea to work towards net carbon zero with new systems or processes to reduce their carbon footprint and improve business energy efficiency.
How much: £500-£1,500
Who can apply: Businesses in Swansea can apply.
How to apply: Email growthgrant@swansea.gov.uk
What is it: Funding to help bring derelict or vacant properties by developing new and improved fronts for shops and buildings.
How much: Project dependent up to 40 per cent of the work that needs to be done.
Who can apply: Businesses in the Swansea area. To qualify for the grant, it must help generate new jobs. Items eligible for a grant include building facades, roofs, shop fronts, floors, ceilings, staircases, rewiring and signage.
How to apply: Email business@swansea.gov.uk
Related:
A complete list of Scottish business grants – Here, we provide information on the Scottish business grants that could help your company grow and flourish
150 UK small business grants to apply for right now – UPDATED – In need of some funding for your small business? These grants should give you a boost, wherever you’re based in the UK.
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Tim Adler, Khareem Sudlow
