Open Call: Small Business Grant Scheme (United Kingdom)

The South Cambridgeshire District Council is seeking applications for the Small Business Grant Scheme to provide support to new and existing businesses operating in South Cambridgeshire. This scheme aims to help startups and support established businesses with ambitions to grow.

Category

Grant

Free Business Support

Free Business Support is offered for those looking to start up a new business. Through South Cambridgeshire District Council's partner relationships with Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) and The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) Growth Hub, resources will be available to help support a new startup business. This support includes advice on creating a business plan, marketing a business, and ensuring viability. Only when a new business is registered as trading will they become eligible to apply for funding.

Funding Information

The maximum grant available to any successful applicant is £5,000. The Council reserves the right to award funding depending on the merit of the supporting details provided with each application. As funds deplete, awards will be apportioned based on the remaining funds available. The Council reserves the right to close the scheme at any time, immediately upon full fund allocation.

What the Scheme Can Support

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to fund:

• Website development
• Brand development
• Marketing campaigns
• Training for upskilling existing staff
• Commissioning of research
• Purchase of machinery and associated tooling
• Purchase of office or technical equipment
• Electric vehicles for solely business use
• Purchase of IT hardware
• Renovating buildings or business premises including furnishings (subject to any planning consent required)

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is open to applications from businesses with 0–9 employees who are in South Cambridgeshire and have a business plan demonstrating:

• An innovative and ambitious business plan for growth over the next two years with evidence of the business's ability to grow.
• Evidence of how any funding received will be used.
• Where applicable, evidence of how any funding received may be used to adopt new technologies and changing market conditions.
• Number of jobs safeguarded.
• Number of new jobs created.
• Benefit to the local economy.
• Steps your business is taking towards achieving net zero carbon and decarbonisation of your business activity and supply chain.

Exclusions

The following are ineligible for the programme:

• Businesses that have already received grant payments equaling the maximum permitted levels for Subsidy Control.
• Business intermediaries acting on behalf of other businesses.
• Partnerships that only exist to operate investment or where a striking off notice has been made.
• Those intending to use funding as a wage support mechanism.

For more information, visit South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Donor Name: South Cambridgeshire District Council
Grant Size: £1,000 to £5,000
Publish Date: September 6, 2024
Deadline Date: October 31, 2024
Country: United Kingdom