Business Link is the main channel through which High Peak businesses can access government support. Pre-start, start-up and established businesses of all sizes and from any sector can access this free and impartial service. Dedicated Business Link advisers operate across the Borough with whom businesses can meet with locally to discuss their business support requirements. Business Link can assist you with all aspects of running a business, including regulations and business support. Contact the enquiry hub on 0845 058 6644 or 01246 212902.
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.
HM Revenue and Customs' Business Payment Support (external website**) supports viable businesses who are experiencing difficulties in meeting tax obligations as a result of the current economic circumstances and could help spread tax liabilities over a period of time. If you're worried about being able to meet tax, NI, VAT or other payments owed to HMRC, or you anticipate that payments coming due will cause you problems, contact helpline. In addition, if your business anticipates making a trading loss in the current year you should mention this when you call the help line. If your business is still viable, and they agree your estimate of the loss, you can have the anticipated loss taken into account as part of any rescheduling.
Tel: 0845 302 1435 Open Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm.
(Please note: The Support Line is intended for new enquiries only. If HM Revenue and Customs have already contacted you, please use this orginal office.)
The Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership has established an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) advice line (external website**) to assist businesses in the area to take full advantage of the opportunities that ICT can bring. Grant assistance may also be available for businesses looking to invest in new technology, develop e-commence capability, or develop online booking systems. To access the advice line, contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644.
Read the Derbyshire Well Connected leaflet (6.66MB) 
for further information.
Podcasts for disabled people seeking jobs (external website**) is aimed at helping people with disabilities, impairments and long term health conditions who would love to get back to work. This mini-series covers support for disabled people seeking jobs, advice from specialists on disability employment and the experiences of people with disabilities in the workplace. Developed by Disability Dynamics Ltd, with support from Seeda & Express FM radio station.
Live & Work Rural (external website**) - Open to anyone in High Peak including those in Buxton and Glossop. This project supports people to develop ideas for business and helps existing businesses explore ways in which they can 'green' their work. Ideas could range from home-based business, social enterprises, to early stages in traditional sectors. Some small grants available.
Tel: 01629 816338; e-mail: liveandworkrural@peakdistrict.gov.uk
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.
This aims to help smaller, credit-worthy companies which might otherwise fail to access the finance they need for working capital or investment finance, due to the current tight lending conditions. The Government will provide £1-billion of guarantees to support £1.3-billion of bank bending to smaller firms. The guarantee, available through High Street banks, will apply to loads and can also be used to convert existing overdrafts into loans to enable businesses to free up their current overdraft facilities to meet working capital demands. Business Link advisers can give further details and assist with business planning.
EMDA is the main provider of grant funds for businesses located in, or looking to locate, in the High Peak. EMDA offers a variety of business finance initiatives, including grants, equity funds and business load funds.
EMDA administers the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform‘s Grant for Business Investment (GBI) (external website**) - formerly known as Selective Finance for Investment in England or SFIE grants. These aim to encourage businesses to invest in land and buildings, plant and machinery to support expansion and modernisation. Within the High Peak, assistance is available for small and medium sized enterprises (maximum 249 employees). Grants are available between £10,00 and £140,00 at an intervention rate of 10% to 20%. However, higher awards may be considered for projects of exceptional quality.
Grants for Research and Development (GRD) are available, providing grants of up to £200,000 to help businesses carry out research and development work that will lead to technologically innovative products or processes.
Sustainable Construction iNet (external website**) - The iNet 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
Pathfinder Grants are available to companies to undertake market feasibility studies in a range of technology areas. Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 are designed to enable businesses to investigate the market potential of ideas they may have, to exploit a range of technologies. Money can be used to gather evidence of market validation, establish the commercial opportunity and demonstrate the regional benefit of supporting the proposed technology. For more details about Pathfinder Grants and to download application forms, visit www.eminnovation.org.uk (external website**), or telephone Dr Lisa Thomas, Innovation Strategy Manager at EMDA, on 0115 947 1736.
The full range of business finance initiatives, available through EMDA, can be found at www.emda.org.uk/funding/ (external website**).
Food and Drink Innovation Support Grant - This is open to small and medium-sized enterprises, with fewer than 250 employees. Up to £10,000 is available (with 50% match funding required, although this can include staff time) to help pay
For more information, contact the Food and Drink iNet on 0845 521 2066, or visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk. (external website**)
For more information on grants available to businesses from Derbyshire Economic Partnership, contact the Business and Skills Programme Manager at enquiries@ddep.co.uk or telephone 01773 514976.
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.
Composite Materials Grants - New initiatives to support the development of composite materials have been announced recently including £5 million for businesses to develop new composites manufacturing techniques, (to be won via the Technology Strategy Board's new 'Grand Challenge' competition), and £1m upfront funding to help develop bids for this. For further information see the EMDA website (external website**), contact EMDA on 0115 988 8300.
Applied Research Grant funding is available from the Carbon Trust (external website**) to businesses, research institutions and other organisations and aims to support the development and commercialisation of technologies which have the potential to reduce UK carbon emissions. As such the programme is endeavouring to encourage and support the progress of low carbon technologies towards large-scale deployment. Grant funding is offered up to £500,000 for applied research leading to low carbon products or services. The next call for proposals is in February and June 2010.
On-line applications for a grant of up to £500,000 towards the cost of your project. A minimum 40% match funding is required, subject to state aid legislation. To be successful your project must demonstrate:
General enquiries - Tel: 0800 085 2005 or customercentre@carbontrust.co.uk
Ethical entrepreneurs are invited to enter this year’s Ethical Business Advantage Awards, (external website**) a competition run as part of the Pledging For Change initiative- a community interest company looking to promote sustainable business practices. £5000 prize. The deadline is 11 December 2009.
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**).
Business mentoring advice is available through the Mentoring For All initiative (external website**). This offers established businesses with a programme of 10 sessions with a business mentor, who is matched according to your needs. The mentor can by used to discuss any issue relating to the management or operation of your business. For further information telephone 0115 970 5550
There is still room for additional companies to apply to the Growth Readiness Programme (external website**), that makes up part of HighGrowth East Midlands, the flagship business support scheme of EMDA.
Designed for companies that are poised to take off, it focuses on developing a strategic vision and plan. The core programme offers an initial diagnosis of a company's development potential, a one-day coaching module for chief executives and five days of individual coaching. For further information:
Peak Directions (External website**) is a comprehensive website that details more than 400 links to a range of organisations that provide support and information for businesses and social enterprises in the Peak District area.
Derbyshire Safeguard provides businesses within the County the ability to register their main key holders, access tailored business crime prevention advice and services in addition to information about local and national grant opportunities.
For more information,
The East Midlands New Technology Initiative (external website**) provides match funded grants of up to £10,000 to small and medium sized businesses to invest in state of the art technology and gain advanced technology skills through NTI approved courses. As part of the funding package, businesses commit to enrolling members of staff on NTI approved courses at local universities and colleges. Support available for businesses in the Creative Industries, High Performance Engineering, Food and Drink and Construction.
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.
Grants of between £250 and £1,000 are available to businesses with between 2 and 4,999 employees, and are available at a 50% rate for leadership and management training. Up to 12 individuals per business are eligible. For further information, or to make an appointment to discuss your needs, please
Details of the funding available, and how to apply, can be found in the following leaflet:
; orThe 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,
The European Union and Defra have devolved £58m to EMDA to deliver the socio-economic elements of the Rural Development Programme for England. Eligible activities include:
The Peak District Rural Action Zone (RAZ) has secured £1.9m RDPE funding from the EU and Defra through the East Midlands Development Agency and Advantage West Midlands until 2013.
The new programme, entitled 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 existing small and medium sized business and business start-ups 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:
You can view some of the projects LEADER has already funded on the Derbyshire Economic Partnership website. (external website**)
Application forms and further details are available from the Derbyshire Economic Partnership (external website**) or alternatively, please phone Amanda Brown at Derbyshire Economic Partnership (Rural Action Zone) on 01629 816268 or email amanda.brown@derbyshireeconomicpartnership.org.uk.
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.
Certain commercial historic buildings in High Peak may be eligible for restoration and improvement grants. For further information,
The Redundant Building Grant Scheme helps with the costs of the refurbishment or conversion of redundant buildings to bring them back into economic and business use or to enhance their current business use. The scheme is administered by Derbyshire County Council and provides funding of up to 25 percent to a maximum of £75,000 per applicant.
The first round of grants will be available for projects completing before March 2011, although funding is limited and early interest is encouraged.
For further information:
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.
Wheels to Work Derbyshire (external website**) provides short term transport solutions to people living in rural areas, who are experiencing difficulties in accessing training, employment and/or educational opportunities because of a lack of suitable public or private transport. Solutions offered include loan of mopeds for up to 12 months, with the possibility of purchasing the scooter at the end of the loan period, loan of power assisted bikes, and in some cases subsidised driving lessons. For further information, please
Natwest and RBS have launched a £250 million regional fund to support small and medium enterprises (SME) in East Midlands in 2009.
This further commitment to the SME sector in the East Midlands will be delivered through a comprehensive package of funding choices, effective from 5th February 2009. In addition to providing traditional debt finance, the new funds will offer businesses the opportunity to access other avenues available to help them manage their capital and cashflow through the current economic downturn.
Accessed via customers’ existing dedicated Business Relationship Managers, the fund will also offer SME customers lower priced loans from the £250m funding that the Bank has recently secured from the European Investment Bank.
A number of key public sector services for older people and disabled individuals will, in future, be able to be delivered by voluntary or private sector organisations rather than be delivered directly by Derbyshire County Council. As the number of older people in the population increases, so will the need for more extensive range of services and providers.
In preparation for this, Derbyshire County Council and Age Concern Derby & Derbyshire have a joint project to help people wanting to set up organisations or a 'new arm of a charity, group or business' that could deliver services. These 'social enterprises' could be led by voluntary organisations looking to work under contract and thus be more sustainable in the future, or could be for existing businesses that are already, in essence, servicing the needs of older people and feel that they could operate a salaried service and to deliver them. Examples of areas of work could be providing daycare for older people, providing household maintainance services, enabling people to live in their own home, even community laundry/garden maintenance etc. There is funding available to help people set up the right structures and help them gain get to a position where they can apply to deliver services.
For more information contact Sue Sheldon, Social Enterprise Development Worker, on 07779 680551 or email: socialenterprise@ageconcernderbyshire.org.uk.
Business Link Advisors can also help businesses looking to establish themselves as social enterprises.
**Please note: High Peak Borough Council is not responsible for the content of any external websites.