An A-Z of current funding opportunities.
Pitman Training Derby is offering the Age Grant subject to eligibility to SME’s who are looking to employ an apprentice (aged 18-24 years old) in either Business & Administration or Customer Service roles. If you employ an Apprentice through Pitman Training you can access the Age Grant which pays up to £2500 towards their salary. For further details please call 01332 295588 and ask for Lindsay or Catherine.
Derbyshire County Council have recently announced that they will be awarding funding to 200 SME's across Derbyshire who are looking to employ an apprentice (aged 18-24 years old). The scheme is currently being developed but employers can register to receive updates on this issue. www.derbyshire.gov.uk.
From April 2012, the Government has announced £1500 for small firms (up to 49 existing employees) that don’t currently hire apprentices to take on a young apprentice aged 16 to 24. Funding is available for up to 20,000 new Apprenticeships in 2012/13. An initial payment will be made two months after the individual has started their Apprenticeship; the balance will be paid after the Apprenticeship has been completed and the trainee has progressed into sustainable employment. Full details of the scheme have not yet been announced but employers will need to register with the National Apprenticeship Service. This will also enable firms to register for updates on grants available.
The Aspire Fund is an investment fund for women-led businesses, which is jointly funded by the Government and private sector. Established in 2008, the £12.5m Aspire Fund is able to make equity investments of between £100k and £1m, on a co-investment basis, in order to help strong businesses grow. The Fund is managed by Capital for Enterprise Limited. The Fund will provide up to 50% of funding for any one investment, alongside other private investors.
For further information view the PDF document or contact CfEL aspire@capitalforenterprise.gov.uk Tel: 0114 206 2131
The Biotechnology Industry Interchange Programme (external website**) aims to support short-term exchanges that provide strategic advantage to the UK science base and industry arising from reciprocal access to facilities, expertise and/or knowledge, and an increased understanding of scientific issues of common concern. Awards are typically up to £50k. The interchange may be full - or part-time, or taken in tranches.
Contact Anuj Bhatt, industry.interchange@bbsrc.ac.uk or telephone 01793 413390.
Certain commercial historic buildings in High Peak may be eligible for restoration and improvement grants. For further information,
The Business Growth Fund (external website**) is a £2.5 billion, government sponsored equity investment programme established to meet the growth finance needs of UK companies which will offer investment of between £2 million and £10 million in return for an equity stake of between 10% and 50% in the business and a seat on the board. To qualify companies must be UK established with sales of approximately £5-100 million pa. Funding is offered over 5-7 year period or longer.
The Carbon Trust Venture Capital (external website**) finances emerging clean energy technology businesses that demonstrate commercial potential. They differ from other venture capital investors partly because they are clean energy experts but also because their focus is on reducing carbon emissions as well as earning financial return. Invest up to 50% in a transaction, typically between £250k - £4m.
Online investment enquiry form
Green Equipment Finance (external website**) The Carbon Trust and Siemens is now working together as part of 3 year £550m scheme (April 2011 - March 2014) to offer leases, loans and other financing options from £1,000 upwards with no maximum to all types of organisations to enable UK businesses to invest in cost effective energy efficiency equipment or low carbon technologies ranging from building technologies, heating, insulation as well as process controls and motors. Further details from 0800 988 3718.
Entrepreneurs Fast Track (external website**) provide a customised package of expert commercial advice, networking opportunities and grant funding to small enterprises that are developing low carbon technologies in Great Britain. The commercial and technical consultancy services worth up to £70k is available and can be fully funded. It can include:
Entrepreneurs Fast Track also provides range of networking opportunities with investors and industry partners and grant funding for research and development projects of up to 60% of project costs. For further information contact 01789 200 306
The CO2sense - Environment Voucher Scheme (external website**)offers 2 days of free consultancy and up to £8,000 funding for new equipment that will help your business cut costs and carbon emissions. The funding can be put towards:
You will receive an on-site visit from their Environmental Management consultant, who will identify how you could make savings and you can then apply for funding to invest in new equipment that will help your business to make these savings. They will pay for up to half of the cost of this equipment, up to £8,000.
To apply – email kristina.lomas@co2sense.co.uk with your contact details and email address. They will send you an email letting you know what to do next.
Community Development Finance (external website**) Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) lend money to businesses, social enterprises and individuals who struggle to get finance from high street banks and loan companies. They provide loans and support to:
Micro, small and medium businesses often have difficulty accessing the finance they need to help them to start trading or grow. This is because mainstream financial institutions could refuse to invest in businesses having little or no official track record, or no collateral. CDFIs provide business support, loans and occasionally other types of investments so that these businesses can realise their potential. In addition to serving conventional businesses many of these CDFIs also provide social enterprises.
£60 Million of Funding Available 2011-2014 - Nationally, the association that supports CDFI has just been awarded (in April 2011) £30 million from the Regional Growth Fund and £30 million of bank finance over the next three years. The funding will be used to support the financing and growth of CDFIs, and this money will be used to provide loans to businesses, social enterprises and individuals who are unable access financing through traditional sources.
There are a number of CDFI's covering the High Peak - and some work nationally. To find CDFI appropriate to your needs - Community Development Finance (external website**)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (External website**) provides information on a range of rural support and funding initiatives for farmers, rural organisations and businesses, voluntary organisations, nature conservation organisations, and forestry. For further information,
There is a new Farm and Forestry Improvement Scheme (FFIS) (external website**) to help farmers, foresters and horticultural businesses in England to increase profits and reduce their impact on the environment. To be eligible for funding projects must fall within one of the following key areas of activity:
The deadline for the first round of the scheme is 17 January 2012. For future deadlines see website.
The Lincolnshire Community Bank has a Regional Loan fund of £197k. Applications are invited for loans between £5k and £50k capital and/or revenue from start up or emerging community businesses. To qualify you should be able to demonstrate that you have social aims, you have community involvement or ownership and that you are not-for-profit (surplus is reinvested back into the enterprise). You should be able to demonstrate that your realistic target is to become self-sufficient through generated income or secure contracts rather than unpredictable grants. Interest will be 3% with reduction incentives for early repayment.
In the first instance contact the Community Bank Development Manager ian.pepperdine@btinternet.com.
You should produce a narrative proposal plus evidence that you are a bona fide organisation (constitution or rules; proof of bank account; accounts or budget).
Your submission should be sent to The Secretariat, Lincolnshire Community Foundation, 4 Mill House, Carre Street, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW or by email to gordonhunter@email.com.
Applications will be considered on a quarterly programme basis throughout the year. Applications to be received by end of March, June, September and December.
The ECA Scheme (external website**) provides businesses with 100% first year tax relief on their qualifying capital expenditure.
The ETL specifies the energy-saving technologies (external website**) that are included in the ECA scheme. The scheme allows businesses to write off the whole cost of the equipment against taxable profits in the year of purchase. ECA claims should be submitted as part of your normal corporate or income tax return.
If you have an idea for a business and need a bit of cash to get started or you’re running a small business and need up to £500 to buy equipment, promotion flyers, hardware etc, you can apply here (external website**)
Apply for between £50 and £500 and agree to be profiled on the Enterprise Nation website (external website**). See website for other eligibility.
The Future Factory project can advise on marketing, materials, production etc and also offers up to 90% of the funding needed to realise a collaborative project. It can also help with funding a 25% subsidy of the cost of employing a recent graduate for up to one year. Tel: Nottingham Trent University 0115 848 8675. Email: futurefactory@ntu.ac.uk
The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge (external website**) is an annual contest with £440,000 (€500,000) prize money and a further £175,000 (€200,000) is available to runners up . They're looking for products and services that contribute to an eco-friendly lifestyle, directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and score highly on convenience, quality and design. The prizes, together with the assistance from leading professionals, will enable the winners to develop their inventions and present them to the world within the next two years. Would-be entrepreneurs aged 18 years or older with a well-thought-out idea are invited to apply. There are five categories: Energy; Lifestyle; IT; Design; Mobility. It has been launched to give employers access to grant funded graduate recruitment for both permanent positions and placements.
Annual awards which celebrate the achievements of the UK's innovative businesses. Category winners will be presented with an award and benefit from the publicity, media promotion and brand exposure associated with the event. Award categories are: Company of the Year; Young Company of the Year; International Business of the Year; "Young Star of Enterprise"; Best Venture Investment; Digital Elite: Innovator of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year; Young Entrepreneur of the Year; The "Made in Britain" Award; "Local Hero"; and Digital Elite: Best use of Social Media.
The Growing Business Awards (external website**) are open to any business that is independently owned, employs fewer than 1,000 people and is based in the UK.
J4b Information (external website**) provides businesses with a signposting service to help them find out about grants, financial assistance, subsides and in-kind help. The J4b website is updated continuously, free to use and provides an excellent starting place for finding out about the financial assistance available.
The Peak District Leader Programme "Raising the Game - Enhancing rural productivity and improving quality of life in the Peak District through Sustainable Micro-Enterprise Development", brings a range of grants to new and existing micro businesses (under 10 employees) across the High Peak, excluding the central wards of Glossop (Hadfield) and Buxton.
Grants from £3,500 upwards are available, and to be eligible you must fit one of the criteria:
Applications are currently not being accepted, however it is worth contacting Amanda Brown to find out if and when future applications will be accepted for projects that could deliver schemes from April 2012 to December 2013.
You can view some of the projects LEADER has already funded on the Derbyshire Economic Partnership website. (external website**)
Further details and support is available from the Amanda Brown, LEADER Co-ordinator, Derbyshire Economic Partnership, c/o County Hall, Room 1, County Hall, Matlock. DE4 3AG Email amandabrown2@derbyshire.gov.uk 01629 538475 .
EMB Ltd EMB Ltd provide leadership training and coaching grants value up to £1000 (match funding required) to help organisations grow, improve their productivity and competitiveness. Also includes a free consultation with an expert Advisor before the training commences, as well as free follow-up support to discuss the impact of training and to identify any further skills needs The fund is available to both social enterprises and SME businesses For more information, call 0845 894 8969, email lmas@embltd.co.uk or apply online. (link as above) Live & Work Rural (external website**) - is a Programme to help new and existing small & medium sized businesses or social enterprises in the High Peak benefit the special environment of the area of the Peak District. It runs until the end of March 2012. Open to anyone in High Peak including those in Buxton and Glossop. This project supports people to develop ideas for business and includes small grants. Tel: 01629 816338; e-mail: liveandworkrural@peakdistrict.gov.uk Lloyds TSB Graduate Enterprise Awards (external website**) - Offering students and graduates in England and Wales the chance to win up to £50,000 in cash and business mentoring to take their business through to the next phase of growth. Students and graduates in England and Wales who are looking to start up a new business venture may apply. The aim of this guide (external website**) is to help potential applicants for EU funding for research and innovation to find their way to relevant information on funding opportunities in order to identify the most suitable choices among the relevant EU programmes. The Prince's Trust (external website**) offers mentoring support and business loans to young people aged 18 to 30, who are unemployed or under-employed or working on a part time basis, and who wish to start a new business. The Trust provides help with completing a business plan, as well as offering ongoing advice from a volunteer business mentor. Low interest loans of up to £2000 can be obtained in some instances. For further information, telephone 0800 842 842. The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (external website**) Funding between £1000-£15,000 is available for craftspeople of all ages who live and work permanently in the UK for further training and development. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they already have a high level of skill and are firmly committed to their craft or trade. Previous scholarship winners have included antiques restorers, calligraphers, book conservators, potters, silversmiths and upholsterers. Deadline for applications 20th January 2012. The Government has given £95m of grants for small Business growth. The scheme is designed to support the purchase of assets by providing a supplementary deposit contribution - this will take the form of a grant which will match the customers deposit and a commercial loan. To be eligible businesses Applications are made via Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS); Natwest or HSBC which means that it is only currently open to existing business customers of these banks, or businesses who are happy to contemplate moving their entire business banking. Interested local companies should be aware that: Details of Natwest Scheme: High Peak: Natwest customers can contact David Owen tel 01625 665201 E-mail: d.owen@rbs.co.uk Please note – despite the RBS email address, this is the Natwest contact.
Natwest application form (275KB) Details of HSBC scheme (External website**). Tel: 0845 607 6007 Details of RBS scheme (External website**). Research and development (R&D) tax credits are a company tax relief, which can either reduce a company’s tax bill, or, for some small or medium sized companies, provide a cash sum. Relief is available for small and medium sized enterprises (defined as under 500 employees in this instance) and large enterprises. Further information can be obtained from the HM Revenue and Customs website (External website**). RIBEN Business Vouchers (external website**) are aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who work in the retail sector who would like to take their first steps in engaging with University experts to address a business question. This could be in the form of a short term piece of market research, advice on business processes, or consultancy on branding and marketing. The expertise will come from academics working in the RIBEN cluster universities. Each voucher is worth £3000 and can be used to fund roughly a week of effort, depending on the skills required. If you're aged 16-30 and need funding to get your new business idea or project off the ground, the Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards (external website**) offer up to 6 x £1,000 prizes every month to the most innovative ideas submitted by new businesses (in their first 12 months of trading). Winners of the monthly Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Awards will also be offered a range of 'value-added prizes' throughout the year. Each month, the three Grand Ideas Award winners with the highest judges’ scores will automatically be put through to our ‘Hot 40’ shortlist for the £10,000 Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, with the remaining winners added to a pool of ‘sift entries’. Apply online at www.shell-livewire.org/awards (external website**). Social enterprise funding - UnLtd (external website**) is a charity which supports social entrepreneurs by providing a complete package of funding and support to help individuals make their ideas a reality. The Charity was awarded significant funding from the Millennium Commission when they closed and this funding has been invested to create long term funding for both start up and growth of social enterprises across the UK. Tel: 0207 566 1100 The Shell Springboard Awards (external website**) programme is an annual programme that provides a financial boost to innovative, low carbon business ideas from across the UK. £40,000 is awarded every year, no strings attached, to eight businesses with an innovative product or service that will lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions and is commercially viable. SFC is a business club formed by business angels to invest in internet and technology startups. The Club is expected to provide part-finance to help new e-commerce businesses get through the primary stage of the funding process. Submit your idea here. (external website**) Solutions for Business is the government’s streamlined portfolio of business support products – some of these are limited to advice and some include grants, loans or awards. Business Coaching for Growth (previously known as High Growth Coaching) - If you are an SME, with the potential for high growth, you can get up to 10 days of business coaching over 6 to 18 months It gives structured coaching and mentoring to help your company start and keep growing. What you receive will be designed to meet your needs, but you will typically go through four stages;
Coaches will also be able to identify other specialist help that your business may need. Not all businesses will be ready or able to make use of High Growth Coaching. To find out if your business is one that could, please visit Business Link (external website**) for an initial assessment. Helping Your Business Grow Internationally - Structured help to prepare your company to start exporting, to improve your company’s exporting capabilities and to help you enter new export markets. Funding (matched by your own funds) is available to:
Contact UK Trade and Investment (external website**) or contact UK Trade & Investment – Derbyshire Kerry Bailey Tel: 01332 826427 Mobile: 07769 235 308. E-mail: kerry.bailey:uktiem.co.uk Manufacturing Advisory Service - www.mas.bis.gov.uk (external website**) Manufacturing companies can get specialist support with manufacturing related issues such as: lean processes, supply chain performance, shop floor control and innovation in manufacturing. Information and basic advice; events and training programmes; problem analysis in the form of a ‘Manufacturing Review’ are generally free. Access to longer term assistance is offered to manufacturers at a very competitive market rate. SMEs can receive support at a discounted rate. Helpline 0845 658 9600. Designing Demand - www.designcouncil.org.uk. (external website**) If you are an SME, with the potential for high growth, you can get up to 10 days of design and innovation focussed mentoring over 6-18 months to help your company boost competitiveness, speed up growth and improve the bottom line by putting design at the centre of your business strategy. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships - www.ktponline.org.uk. (external website**) enable businesses to source University expertise and employ a graduate for 10 weeks to 3 years for a specific project. Part funded by a government grant, SME's would be expected to contribute about a third of the costs which help cover salary and support. Tel: 0870 190 2829 or e-mail companies@ktponline.org.uk Grant for Research and Development - www.innovateuk.org. (external website**) Grant for Research and Development aims to help SMEs carry out research and development work on technologically innovative products and processes grant criteria, in the following areas:
Live & Work Rural
Lloyds TSB Graduate Enterprise Awards
Practical Guide to EU funding for Research and Innovation
The Prince's Trust
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust
Regional Growth Fund for SMEs
Research and development tax credits
Retail Industry Business Engagement Network (RIBEN) - Vouchers for Research
Shell LiveWIRE
Social Enterprise Funding
Shell Springboard Awards
Startup Funding Club (SFC)
Solutions for Business
Provides small grants from £10K up to the value of £500K (35% - 60% of the project costs) to assist pre-start and start-up SMEs, used for incentives and funding at a critical stage of development. It increases business involvement in a range of R&D activity, and helps overcome barriers where there is high risk and uncertainty around the expected results.
Applications for single business grants can be accessed directly www.innovateuk.org. (external website**) Pre start-ups, start-ups, and small and medium-sized businesses from all sectors across the UK may apply. The grant round is 'always open' ie there are no fixed deadlines. However, they have published the following dates when grants will be assessed in batches. 2012: 5th Jan; 1st March.
Understanding Finance for Business - Free advice and support (external website**) from specialist advisors to ensure that you understand your options for getting the money you need to start and grow a business.
iNet, (external website**) offers financial support through two schemes; the Innovation Support Grants offering up to £10,000 and the Higher Education Collaboration Grant, offering up to £50,000. To qualify for an Innovation Support Grant (ISG) the application must be operating commercially in construction or an associated industry sector such as mining, quarrying, waste management, energy or water. They must also require technical or consultancy assistance for their idea, product or process and expect to protect or create jobs in the East Midlands as a result. The Higher Education Collaboration Fund (HECF) provides grants for companies to access the support and expertise of the region’s universities. For more information contact Barrie Billinghay, Innovation Adviser (Derbyshire) tel: 07595 092 023 or email:Barrie.Billinghay@construction-inet.org.uk
The TeenBiz, (external website**) scheme aims to provide teenage entrepreneurs with the tools needed to start their own businesses. It is designed to ignite an entrepreneurial interest among students who want to take their ideas to the next step and require assistance to make this happen. The objective is to help 100 young people who have fresh ideas, hunger and drive, to commence business operations over the next three years. Every month one student will receive up to £500 of funding. The money can be used towards a range of start-up costs.
Transport iNet, (external website**) for aerospace, rail, marine, automotive and motorsport sectors - £2.5million worth of funding and consultancy to help small and medium sized businesses to innovate. Finance for research and development collaborations with universities, innovation support grants for specialist consultancy, as well as events and training. SME’s will be able to overcome barriers that come with developing novel products or services, with the assistance of the Innovation Support Grant. With up to £10,000 on offer, businesses can use this to source external expertise which will help deliver their innovative transport related projects.
For more information contact Carol Wright on 01509 635270
Offers loans to businesses to develop resource-efficient business models (REBMs) with a particular interest in supporting businesses to reuse electrical & electronic products; clothing and furniture.
The Waste Prevention Loan Fund (external website**) is now open to Expressions of Interest (EOI). Phase 1 deadline: 29 February 2012. Applicants may include businesses, social enterprises and local authorities.
This £10-billion Working capital scheme secures short term bank lending to companies with a turnover of up to £500m. The Government will provide banks with guarantees up to 50% of the risk. Speak to Business Link for further information.
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.