By Ben Lobel on Small Business UK - Advice and Ideas for UK Small Businesses and SMEs
A business grant from the council means non-repayable funding from your local authority. Usually these are aimed at start-ups or, increasingly, ways to insulate your business and make green improvements.
Until this year, many local authority or council grants were funded by the EU’s European Regional Development Fund but nearly every ERDF scheme was wound up by early 2023.
There are grants issued through local authorities and councils that are available. Below is a list of business grant schemes offered by possibly the council in your area.
Where to find a council business grant
Low Carbon Workspaces
What is it?
Match-funded grants of between £1,000 to £6,750 for SMEs in Bedfordshire that want to reduce their carbon emissions, covering up to one third of low-carbon project costs.
How to apply
Download the application form here and you will get a decision from the grant panel within five days. Once your application is approved and your chosen supplier has completed the work your grant will be paid within 30 days.
Low Carbon Workspaces
What is it?
Match-funded grants of between £1,000 to £6,750 for SMEs in Berkshire that want to reduce their carbon emissions, covering up to one third of low-carbon project costs.
How to apply
Download the application form here and you will get a decision from the grant panel within five days. Once your application is approved and your chosen supplier has completed the work your grant will be paid within 30 days.
Low Carbon Workspaces
What is it?
Match-funded grants of between £1,000 to £6,750 for SMEs in Buckinghamshire that want to reduce their carbon emissions, covering up to one third of low-carbon project costs.
How to apply
Download the application form here and you will get a decision from the grant panel within five days. Once your application is approved and your chosen supplier has completed the work your grant will be paid within 30 days.
Coventry Duplex Investment Fund
What is it?
Duplex Investment Fund is a combination of grant and loan for SMEs based in Coventry and Warwickshire for at least two years.
Eligible businesses can apply for between £30,000-£100,000, up to 40 per cent of which can be a grant (£12,000-£40,000).
– 3-month repayment holiday.
– Interest rate 15.95%
– Arrangement fee 6.5%
– Loan term of around 60 months with monthly repayments
– No early repayment in first 12 months, fees apply thereafter
How to apply
You can register your interest here
Eden Tourism Grant
What is it?
A £500 tourism grant for tourism-related projects in the Eden district.
How to apply
To apply complete the application form and email to tourism@eden.gov.uk
DRIVEN – ESF high-level skills programme
What is it?
The DRIVEN programme provides funding and support to eligible small and medium-sized businesses to help recruit graduates and students.
Funding of £1,000 per graduated for 400 hours or more and/or circa £1,000 for fully funded 80-hour internship. No limits on multiple recruits.
To qualify for the DRIVEN programme, your organisation must:
– Have fewer than 250 employees
– Be based in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire (D2N2 area)
– Have not received more than €200,000 in aid over the last three years
– Not be more than 25% owned by an enterprise that in itself is not an SME
– Not have an annual turnover that exceeds €50 million or an annual balance sheet – that exceeds €43 million
How to apply
To apply for the DRIVEN scheme, which has been extended until the end of 2023, email driven@derby.ac.uk
Mobile Boost Scheme
What is it?
Businesses in Devon, Somerset, Torbay and Plymouth seeking improved outdoor mobile coverage and connectivity can apply for a voucher of up to £1,200 towards the cost of a choice of mobile signal booster options from a registered supplier. The value of the voucher will be dependent on the type of technology most suitable for the premises.
There are three options of equipment available – a 4G booster and two models of “signal repeaters” which repeat the outdoor signal indoors. Suppliers will be able to advise on the most appropriate option.
Businesses will be required to make a contribution however to cover the cost of installation. Depending on the option chosen, this will range from a one-off fee from around £250 to a monthly fee for a SIM card (averaging around £30 a month)
How to apply
You can find out more about the Mobile Boost Voucher Scheme here.
Invest to Grow
What is it?
The Invest to Grow programme provides grants and loans of between £15,000 and £250,000 to support private-sector businesses across the East Midlands to innovate, grow and create jobs. Most awards are a mixture of grants and loans.
Invest to Grow does not support any companies which are business to consumer (B2C) focused, or in the professional services, farm-based agriculture and retail sectors.
How to apply
To register your interest, use this application form here.
The Marches Business Growth Programme
What is it?
BGP2 offers grants of £2,500 to £1,000,000 and is designed to strengthen supply chains, stimulate innovation and help businesses grow. The programme is available to:
– Start-Up B2B Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) moving into or located in The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area only
– Existing B2B SMEs moving into or located in The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area.
How to apply
You can find out more about the programme and documentation needed here. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 22 2023.
Get Growing 2
What is it?
Grants of up to £3,000 for SMEs based in Hertfordshire that have five or more full-time equivalent employees.
Eligible businesses will collaborate with a growth account manager who will carry out an analysis of your business and put in place an action plan including:
– Recruitment
– Accessing new markets
– Developing a digital strategy
– Product development
How to apply
For more information, email enquiries@hertsgrowthhub.com
Low Carbon Workspaces
What is it?
Match-funded grants of between £1,000 to £6,750 for SMEs in Hertfordshire that want to reduce their carbon emissions, covering up to one third of low-carbon project costs.
How to apply
Download the application form here and you will get a decision from the grant panel within five days. Once your application is approved and your chosen supplier has completed the work your grant will be paid within 30 days.
Start-Up Programme
What is it?
Match-funded grants of between £500 and £3,000 for Hertfordshire residents looking to start a business.
The grant can be used towards any start-up or development costs such as:
– Marketing and promotional support
– Website development
– Professional/legal advice
– Financial planning/advice
– Intellectual property advice (trademarks, patents, design registration, copyright, etc.)
In addition, Hertfordshire Start-up Programme offers 12 hours of free business advice worth £1,400.
How to apply
You can find out more about the Hertfordshire Start-up Programme here.
Low Carbon Workspaces
What is it?
Match-funded grants of between £1,000 to £6,750 for SMEs in Milton Keynes that want to reduce their carbon emissions, covering up to one third of low-carbon project costs.
How to apply
Download the application form here and you will get a decision from the grant panel within five days. Once your application is approved and your chosen supplier has completed the work your grant will be paid within 30 days.
North of Tyne Growth Fund
What is it?
The North of Tyne Growth Fund is a £4.6m programme of investment that supports SME growth in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
You could be eligible for a grant of between £20,000 and £20,000 to cover up to 30 per cent of expenditure of at least £67,000.
How to apply
You can apply for funding here.
Low Carbon Workspaces
What is it?
Match-funded grants of between £1,000 to £6,750 for SMEs in Northamptonshire that want to reduce their carbon emissions, covering up to one third of low-carbon project costs.
How to apply
Download the application form here and you will get a decision from the grant panel within five days. Once your application is approved and your chosen supplier has completed the work your grant will be paid within 30 days.
DRIVEN – ESF high-level skills programme
What is it?
The DRIVEN programme provides funding and support to eligible small and medium-sized businesses to help recruit graduates and students.
Funding of £1,000 per graduated for 400 hours or more and/or circa £1,000 for fully funded 80-hour internship. No limits on multiple recruits.
To qualify for the DRIVEN programme, your organisation must:
– Have fewer than 250 employees
– Be based in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire (D2N2 area)
– Have not received more than €200,000 in aid over the last three years
– Not be more than 25% owned by an enterprise that in itself is not an SME
– Not have an annual turnover that exceeds €50 million or an annual balance sheet – that exceeds €43 million
How to apply
To apply for the DRIVEN scheme, which has been extended until the end of 2023, email driven@derby.ac.uk
Mansfield business grants schemes
What is it?
Business Start-Up Grant
The Business Start-Up Grant (up to £2,500) is available to individuals looking to start a business in the Mansfield district. The grant can be used towards start-up costs including the purchase of machinery and equipment, business stationery and marketing costs such as advertising and web design.
Business Growth Grant
The Business Growth Grant (up to £2,500) is available to established businesses based in the Mansfield district and which produce a viable growth plan that demonstrates potential job creation.
Shop Front Improvements
The Shop Front Improvements Grant (up to £2,500) is for independent retailers, already occupying premises in the Mansfield district, who want to make alterations or repairs to their shop front to enhance its appearance.
Vacant Shops Grant
The Vacant Shops Grant (up to £2,500) is open to independent retailers taking occupation of a vacant retail property in the Mansfield district. Eligible costs include improvements to premises, fixtures and fittings, rental payments, insurance premiums, advertising and marketing costs.
How to apply
Use the application form here
The Marches Business Growth Programme
What is it?
BGP2 offers grants of £2,500 to £1,000,000 and is designed to strengthen supply chains, stimulate innovation and help businesses grow. The programme is available to:
– Start-Up B2B Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) moving into or located in The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area only
– Existing B2B SMEs moving into or located in The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area.
How to apply
You can find out more about the programme and documentation needed here. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, March 22 2023.
Business Funding
What is it?
Grants of up to £5,000 available (covering 37 per cent of total costs) for businesses in Staffordshire to pay for external specialist advice to help develop or market a new product or service.
The grant can be used to pay for external specialist advice in areas such as IPR strategy, proof of concept, product design and development, IT support, software development, financial advice, testing and a marketing strategy for a new product, process or service.
How to apply
You can find the application form here.
Grants for Growth
Grants of £1,000 available for consultancy costs to cover website development, SEO, marketing plans, product development and growth planning in the Stoke-on-Trent area providing you spend a minimum of at least £1,667 in total.
For more information telephone 01782 231586 or email G4G@stoke.gov.uk
Small Business Grant scheme
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub has launched a fund offering business grants of £1,500-£10,000 of capital funding for small and medium-sized businesses within Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
The programme’s aim is to support:
· The growth of existing SMEs
· Specific projects or investments
· Purchase of capital equipment
For more details, please call Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub on 0300 111 8002
New Product Development Grant
Up to £9,000 is available for Staffordshire B2B businesses from the Business Innovation Centre to pay towards specialist external advice to help them research, develop or launch to market a new product or service. The grant is to assist with research & development fees; IPR fees; product design; ICT advice, legal and financial advice, market research, etc. The grant will support up to 37 per cent of the above costs.
For more information click here or email enquiries@thebic.co.uk
Elmbridge business boost grants
What is it?
The Elmbridge business boost grants help Elmbridge businesses, local high streets and support the local economy.
The business boost grants can help your business with:
– Up to £2,000 available in grant support to help businesses improve their shop fronts or signage
– Up to £2,000 available in grant support to help bring a shop that has been empty for at least three months back into commercial use
– Up to £1,000 to help town or village wide projects to drive new footfall, investment, street improvements or sustainability
All applications require at least 50 per cent match funding and three quotes for each element.
How to apply
Complete either the PDF or Word application form:
Application form (pdf)
Application form (Word)
If you require any more information, please contact us at business@elmbridge.gov.uk.
Made Smarter
What is it?
Match-funded grants worth up to £20,000 to help profitable manufacturing SMEs based in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire invest in digital technology, hardware or software to enable development and growth.
How to apply
To register your interest apply here
Business Energy Efficiency Programme
What is it?
The Business Efficiency Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP) provides grants of up to £20,000 for SME businesses within Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire who wish to use their energy more efficiently; reducing costs and improving environmental credentials and impacts.
However, there are only a limited number of free energy and efficiency assists left on the programme. Grant funding is running very low for Worcestershire, and has now been fully allocated in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
How to apply
To apply for an assessment and grant through the Business Energy Efficiency Programme, email sustainability@worcestershire.gov.uk or call Business Central on 01905 677888.
More on grants
Business grants for women – Female entrepreneurs face unique challenges in accessing funding, which is why we’ve listed these business grants for women
Where to find green small business grants – If you fancy making your business and its operations that bit greener, these eco grants will help you get there
Business grants in Wales – If you are looking to start your own business in Wales or already run one, you could be eligible for a range of Welsh business grants
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Ben Lobel, Khareem Sudlow
