createNow is the time to boost your business, and there are loads of grants available to help you do just that.
*16 June 2020 update on Discretionary Grant Funds:
Herefordshire Council have now launched their discretionary grant funds, with Government funding.
These grants are aimed at small businesses who missed out on the initial Business Grants.
Closing date for applications is midnight 28 June 2020.
Eligible organisations include:
- Businesses that operate from a shared workspace where they do not have their own business rates assessment.
- Market/street traders with fixed building costs, such as rent or licence fees, who do not have their own business rates assessment. Regular market traders must trade most weeks of the year.
- Bed & Breakfasts paying Council Tax instead of business rates. Must accept guests for most weeks of the year.
- Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief, which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief.
More info and to apply:
The following grants are mainly for Herefordshire businesses, not-for-profits and charities.
If you’re outside of Herefordshire, you should also have similar grants available, so please get in touch with your local council.
Grants are mainly for B2B businesses, and always have your grant approved before committing to any contracts or costs. If you’ve already started a project, or started spending, you won’t be eligible.
We can help with grant applications, and the supporting documents including cashflows, forecasts and business plans.
Grants Available:
- Business Growth Programme
- Small Equipment Grant
- Manufacturing Growth Programme
- Capital Grant
- Consultancy Grant
- Marches Building Investment Grant Scheme
- Marches Renewable Energy Grant Programme
- Business Energy Efficiency Programme
Let’s go through each in turn:
1. Business Growth Programme
- Grants for start-ups: £2,500 to £10,000
- Grants for existing SMEs: £10,000 to £1,000,000
- Funding is usually 50% of your total cost
- Limited to £10,000 per job created.
- Jobs created need to be permanent, at least minimum wage, and a minimum 36 hours per week
Eligible costs:
- Machinery/Tooling
- CRM/ERP systems
- Office furniture
- Relocation costs
- Computer hardware
- Rebranding and website development
What you need to apply:
- 2 years accounts
- cashflow forecast
- evidence of quotes/tender
How to apply:
- marchesgrowthhub.co.uk
2. Small Equipment Grant
- Grants available: £1,000 to £10,000
- Funding is usually 50% of your total cost
- Minimum cost per item is £500
- The project needs to create at least one part time job or new product/service
Eligible costs:
- Computer equipment
- Machinery
What you need to apply:
- 1 year accounts
- cashflow forecast (if you’re a start up)
- evidence of 2 quotes/tender (3 if cost is over £25,000)
How to apply:
3.1. Manufacturing Growth Programme – Capital Grant
- Grants available 33% – 43% of the cost of projects between £2,000 to £24,999
- Application must be related to specific productivity improvement
Eligible costs:
- Equipment/machinery
- Tooling
- NPD kit
- Cherry picker/listing equipment
- Racking
- Production line equipment
- Mezzanine floors
- Forklift
What you need to apply:
- Application form
- Quotes/tenders
How to apply:
3.2. Manufacturing Growth Programme – Consultancy Grant
- Grants available 33% – 43% of the cost of projects between £2,000 to £10,000
- Application must be related to specific productivity improvement
Eligible costs:
- Marketing
- ISO standards
- LEAN manufacturing
- Strategy and planning*
- New product development
- Access to finance*
*our fees for these projects would be eligible
What you need to apply:
- Application form
- Quotes/tenders
How to apply:
4. Marches Building Investment Grant Scheme
- Grants available 50% of the cost of projects between £5,000 to £150,000
- Must create at least one job, and:
- Jobs created need to be permanent, at least minimum wage, and minimum 36 hours per week
Eligible costs:
- New build
- Reconfiguration or extension of buildings for commercial use
- Fixed equipment (if this is a minor element of the project)
What you need to apply:
- Application form
- Business plan
- 2 year cashflow
- 3 years accounts
- Quotes/tenders
How to apply:
5. Marches Renewable Energy Grant Programme
- Grants available 50% of the cost of the project
- Projects from 4kWp up to 200kWp
- Renewable energy generated must be for the applicants own use and not for sale to the grid
Eligible technologies:
- Wind
- Solar
- Aerothermal
- Hydropower
- Biomass
- Biogas
How to apply:
6. Business Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP)
Programme includes
- Grants available 40% of the cost of projects between £2,500 to £50,000
- Free energy efficiency review
- Advice and business support
Eligible costs:
- Energy efficient solutions
What you need to apply:
- Application form
- 3 quotes/tenders
How to apply:
Support from Kinder Pocock:
We can support you with your grant application, including cashflows, forecasts and business plans. Get in touch to start the ball rolling.
Support from Marches Growth Hub:
https://www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk/
This is your central point of contact for:
- Support for businesses of any size, any sector, any stage
- Funding and finance for business
- Advice and signposting
- Employability and skills
- Commercial property search
- Business events and training
- Business networks
We’re here for you during this challenging time:
Check out our new COVID19 Resource page for loads of info.
Join our private Facebook page for Small Business Owners.
Book a 30 minute discovery call with me.
Sign up to our Survive and Thrive webinar to help you get back up and running.
Stay safe. Stay strong.
Sharon x
