Grants and Finance
In this section, you will find information on grants, loans and other related support. If you need
any further information or help in identifying appropriate grants,
finance or other support for your business, call the Economic
Development Team on 01684 862151 or email
ecodev@malvernhills.gov.uk
Grants
Malvern Hills Business Start Up Grant
The aim of the scheme is to support new Malvern Hills District
based businesses. The scheme will encourage the occupation of
vacant commercial premises, help regenerate town centres, stimulate
entrepreneurship, create new jobs, and enhance the sustainability
of new businesses.
Start-ups can apply for a grant of up to £500, or up to £750 if
they are moving into business premises that are liable to business
rates. The grant must be match-funded, pound for pound (at least),
from the business’s own resources.
For more information and to apply, download the
Malvern Hills Business Start Up Grant Application Pack.
Malvern Hills Business Booster Grant
The aim of the scheme is to support growing Malvern Hills
District based businesses and enable them to make a step change in
their development. Successful applicants will be offered a grant of
up to £2,000 which must be match-funded, pound for pound (at
least), from the business’s own resources.
The scheme will be delivered in rounds; the 1st round
has a deadline of 30th November 2011 – 5pm. There will be
at least one further round in 2012 – date TBC.
For more information and to apply, download the
Malvern Hills Business Booster Grant Application Pack.
Rural Enterprise Grant
The Rural Enterprise Grant has now closed for new
applications.
As a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review in 2010, Defra
has recently announced that there will be funding reductions to
elements of the RDPE programme. The Rural Enterprise Grant Scheme's
budget, which is funded under RDPE, has therefore been reduced and
applications are no longer being accepted.
It is understood that Defra will be developing a new range
of nationally consistent small grant schemes from April 2012. If
you have a proposal or, wish to find out more about the new schemes
please contact Advantage West Midlands RDPE Team on 0121 503
3220.
RE:think Energy
The RE:think Energy scheme is on hold until further notice.
Significant developments which affect the delivery as planned or
otherwise will be announced on the RE:think Energy website www.rethinkenergy.co.uk in
due course.
Grant for Business Investment
Grant for Business Investment provides capital
grants to businesses to support sustainable investment in
England.
The scheme closed for new applications from 1
February 2011, except for large exceptional projects and
applications to
DECC from offshore wind equipment manufacturers.
For more information, visit the
BIS website.
New Grant for Research and Development to Support
Innovative SMEs
A new Technology Strategy Board scheme is offering funding to
small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to engage in R&D
projects in the strategically important areas of science,
engineering and technology, from which successful new products,
processes and services could emerge that could stimulate UK
economic growth.
Three types of grant are available:
- Proof of market
- Proof of concept
- Development of prototype
The maximum funding available will be £25,000 for
proof-of-market grants, £100,000 for proof-of-concept grants and
£250,000 for development of prototype grants.
Pre start-ups, start-ups, and small and medium-sized businesses
from all sectors across the UK may apply; applications are accepted
on a rolling basis for assessment by independent experts.
You can find more information and apply here.
New Help for Identifying and Funding Development
Opportunities
The government has set up a new Leadership and Management
Advisory Service to help eligible employers identify and fund
development opportunities for their senior leaders. The aim of the
service is to foster the leadership and management skills of senior
staff so they can make full use of their workforce and accelerate
the growth of their business.
To be eligible, your business must be in England and have:
- 2 to 249 full-time equivalent employees
- the potential for high or fast growth
If eligible, you will receive:
- A free skills diagnostic from a skills adviser. This will
identify the leadership and management development required by the
nominated leader. This is so they can optimise the contribution of
staff and grow the business. The adviser will then agree on a
development plan with the leader.
- A government grant of up to £1,000 for use on management and
leadership development activity, such as any training agreed with
the skills adviser. You will have to match-fund this grant – e.g.
to receive a grant of £500 your business will have to contribute
£500 of its own money.
When the development activity is complete, the skills adviser
will discuss the impact with you and see if there are opportunities
for further skills development that would benefit your
business.
EMB Ltd deliver the service in the West Midlands on behalf of
the Skills Funding Agency, visit their website for more information and
to download the brochure and application form.
The Eurostars Programme – Research
Funding for SMEs
The Eurostars Programme, which is the first European funding and
support programme to be specifically dedicated to Small and Medium
sized Enterprises (SMEs) has announced that the next deadline for
applications is the 22nd of September 2011.
Under Eurostars, funding is available to SMEs to undertake research
and development in any technological area, but it must have a
civilian purpose and be aimed at the development of a new product,
process or service.
Eurostars supports collaborative projects involving at least two
participants (legal entities) from two different Eurostars
participating countries. In addition, the main participant must be
a research-performing SME. Eurostars will support projects that are
market-driven and that have a maximum duration of three years. In
addition, projects must be within two years of completion and ready
for launch onto the market. The exception of this rule applies to
biomedical or medical projects, where clinical trials must be
started within two years of project completion.
UK participants in a Eurostars project are eligible for up to 50%
funding on eligible costs up to a maximum grant level of €300,000
per UK partner.
For more information and to apply, visit the Eurostars website.
Shell Springboard
The Shell Springboard programme provides a financial
boost to innovative, low carbon business initiatives from across
the UK. The objective is to encourage businesses to see climate
change responsibilities as more than compliance and cost. Up
to eight awards of £40,000 are available through the programme in
each of the 3 UK regions, and up to 2 businesses from each of the 3
regions will then meet a national judging panel prior to the
announcement of an overall UK winner.
Applications are accepted from sole traders, partnerships, limited
companies or community interest companies (including government or
university spin-outs) that operate in the UK. Businesses must have
been established for a minimum of three months and have less than
250 employees.
The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 4th November
2011 at 5pm.
For more information and to apply, visit the Shell
Springboard website.
Innovation Networks
Innovation Networks offers grants of £10k (revenue or capital)
to networks comprising at least 3 West Midlands based SMEs working
together on an innovative new product, process or service.
For more information, visit the Innovation
Networks website. Download the project
guidance notes.
Woodland Enterprise Grant
The Woodland Enterprise Grant (WEG) is a capital grants
programme, (for grants £62,500 and below) funded under the Rural
Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is available to
Forestry Micro-businesses. The grant funding is managed by
Herefordshire Council in partnership with Heartwoods, which is
managed by the Small Woods Association.
The grant aims to improve the economic value of forests and
improve the overall performance of forestry enterprise by
supporting the production and processing of primary forestry
products e.g. woodfuel. The grant does not cover arboriculture.
For further information, and details on how to apply, download
the Woodland
Enterprise Grant brochure.
Loans
Impetus
Impetus is a Community Development Finance Institution that can
provide access to loan finance for new and emerging businesses and
social enterprises that have been unable to access sufficient funds
from mainstream lenders. They can provide funds of up to
£50,000.
Further information can be found on their website, www.impetus-marches.co.uk,
or by contacting them via telephone 01386 556000 or email info@impetus-marches.co.uk.
Other Related Support
Small Business Rate Relief
Are you aware that you could benefit from Small Business Rate
Relief? If your business property has a rateable value of less than
£18,000 you may qualify for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR). For
more information, visit the Small Business
Rate Relief page.
Business Debtline
Business Debtline is a national telephone helpline for the
self-employed and small businesses with debt problems. The service
is free, confidential and independent and provides self-help advice
to its callers and also produces written self-help packs and fact
sheets to back this up. Expert advice on the full range of debt
issues from dealing with tax arrears to avoiding repossession of
home and business is offered. Visit the Business Debtline website for
further information.
Business Payment Support Service
The Business Payment Support Service, introduced by HM Revenue
& Customs (HMRC), provides a dedicated helpline for customers
who are worried about being able to pay taxes owed to HMRC (e.g.
corporation tax, VAT, PAYE, income tax, National Insurance
contributions).
If you're worried about being able to meet tax, National
Insurance, VAT or other payments owed to HMRC, or you anticipate
that payments coming due will cause you problems, you can call
their Business Payment Support Line to discuss payment options to
help you deal with temporary cashflow difficulties.
HMRC Business Payment Support Line: 0845 302
1435. The helpline is open seven days a week.
For more information, visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/payinghmrc/problems/bpps.htm
Consumer Credit Counselling
Service
The Consumer Credit
Counselling Service (CCCS) is a national charity that
specialises in giving free advice to people in financial
difficulty. Perhaps all you need is some help to set a budget
or maybe you have a more serious problem - perhaps requiring
a debt management plan - CCCS will be able to help.
Unlike many debt management companies - CCCS do not charge
for their services - so you can be reassured that the advice they
provide has your interest at heart. CCCS also has a free
online debt counselling aid called CCCS Debt
Remedy.
Tax Help
For help in understanding what you need to do about tax, visit
www.businesslink.gov.uk/taxhelp.
Here you will find a series of bite-size videos providing a helpful
overview on a range of tax issues, including setting up in
business, income tax for the self-employed, corporation tax and
VAT. A free guide for new and small businesses entitled "Giving
your business the best start with tax" is also available.
