Grants and Funding

Use the links below to find the information you need:

Malvern Hills Town Centre Support Scheme Grant

Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the aim of the scheme is to support investment by independent traders within the five town centres of the Malvern Hills district (Great Malvern, Malvern Link incl. Link Top, Barnards Green, Upton and Tenbury).

Priority will be given to projects that enhance the area, are likely to attract business and where the improvement will be long lasting (e.g., 5 years and more).

Eligible businesses can apply for a 50% match-funded grant of up to £2500 towards one, or a combination, of the following grants:

  1. Shop front Improvements – Undertaking works to improve or refurbish the shop front or internal structural improvements.
  2. Empty Shop Support - Support to bring an empty shop back into commercial use including support for equipment, anything external or internal premises related
  3. Town Centre Boost - An additional £1000 grant is available to traders or community groups to deliver town centre wide projects and promotions to drive new footfall, investment, or sustainability (there is no match funding requirement associated with this grant).

Please read the Town Centre Support Scheme Application Pack before applying for the grant

Grant Application Form

If you would like to discuss this grant please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 07779 456448.

Malvern Hills Tourism Grant Scheme

Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the aim of the scheme is to help develop the local tourism industry within a number of specific areas to help increase visitor numbers and improve the visitor experience.

Eligible businesses can apply for a 50% match-funded grant.

  • Cultural/Heritage Attractions - Up to £5,000

For Cultural/Heritage Attractions which need repair or restoration and/or towards a feasibility study for improving the visitor experience.

  • Attractions – Up to £2,500

Attractions and event venues can apply for a grant for projects which will help to improve accessibility for visitors with disabilities helping to ensure The Malverns is a visitor destination suitable for all. They can also apply for funding towards projects which help to improve the visitor experience and increase visitor numbers to the district.

  • Sustainable Tourism – Up to £2,500

The grant scheme will allow for more grants to be provided towards projects enabling tourism and hospitality businesses to improve their green credentials across the Malvern Hills district.

  • Festivals and Events - Up to £1,000

Town Centre festival organisers can apply for a grant to assist with festival development activities.

Please read the Tourism Grant Scheme Application Pack before applying for the grant.

Grant Application Form

Malvern Hills Enterprise Scheme

The aim of the scheme is to support new and young businesses in the Malvern Hills district. 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.

Pre-start businesses and new businesses that have been trading less than 36 months can apply for a grant of up to £500, or up to £1,000 if they meet any of the following criteria:

  • The business is in or moving into premises that are liable to business rates
  • The business employs or will employ 2 or more FTE employees (in addition to the applicant)
  • The business operates in the low carbon economy
  • The grant will be used towards expenditure that supports the business’ environmental sustainability

The grant must be match-funded, pound for pound (at least), from the business’s own resources. Only capital expenditure on an approved project/investment is eligible.

Apply for the Malvern Hills Enterprise Scheme.

Malvern Hills Growth Grant

The aim of the scheme is to support growing businesses based in Malvern Hills district and enable them to make a step change in their development. Growing businesses that have been trading for at least 3 years can apply for a grant of up to £2,500 which must be match-funded, pound for pound (at least), from the business’s own resources. Only capital expenditure on an approved project/investment is eligible.

The scheme is aimed at businesses that are not able to receive support through other European funded schemes (these typically support businesses that predominantly trade with other businesses). Malvern Hills District Council reserves the right to refer the applicant to a more suitable scheme where appropriate.

Only businesses which show specific promise and clearly demonstrate how the award will make a measurable difference will be recommended for the grant.

Funding is limited, applications that demonstrate one or more of the following will be prioritised:

  • Job creation
  • Premises expansion
  • Farm diversification
  • The applicant business is a rural enterprise
  • The applicant business operates in the low carbon economy
  • The grant will be used towards expenditure that supports the business’ environmental sustainability

Apply for the Malvern Hills Growth Grant.

Malvern Hills Upskilling Grant

Malvern Hills District Council is helping local businesses create their workforce of the future through the Upskilling Grant Scheme. We will provide funding of up to £1,500 to help with the business cost of training new staff (i.e. apprenticeships, trainee or other).

In order to qualify the business must:

  • Be based in the Malvern Hills district postcode area.
  • Employ fewer than 250 people.
  • Pay at least the Minimum Wage to the trainee for a post of at least 20 hrs a week including training leading to a recognised qualification.
  • The apprentice/ trainee must have started their training after 1 October 2022 and have at least a 12 month signed employment contract.

You will also need to provide the following evidence:

  1. Proof of enrolment on a training course signed by the employer and training referrer/provider organisation
  2. Copy of the contract of employment
  3. Signed Grant Agreement between employer and Malvern Hills District Council
  4. Any additional evidence requested by Malvern Hills District Council

If you would like to discuss this grant please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01684 862185

Please read the full guidance and T&C’s before applying for the grant

View application form

Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

Rural businesses can claim up to £3,500 to upgrade their broadband to a Gigabit capable connection (without the need for a match funding contribution). Find out more about the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

Three Counties Agricultural Society Bursary Scheme

Three Counties Agricultural Society Bursary in Memory of Joe Henson MBE supports those within the three counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire venturing into further education in agriculture or related subjects.

Three Counties Agricultural Society Bursary

Farming in Protected Landscapes Funding

Defra is offering funding for projects in England’s Protected Landscapes through the Farming in Protected Landscapes programme including the Malvern Hills AONB. It is for one-off projects and is not an agri-environment scheme.

The programme is time limited: it opened in July 2021 and is due to end in March 2024. Funding is available for projects that reflect at least one of the four Farming in Protected Landscapes programme themes:

  • Support NATURE recovery
  • Mitigate the impacts of CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Provide opportunities for PEOPLE to discover, enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage
  • Protect or improve the quality and character of the PLACE

Help is available to discuss and complete applications. Please contact Sash Warden Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Officer Tel: 01905 844686 Mob: 07873 616395 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who can give 1:1 help with your application. Read from a selection of case studies on the MHAOB website.

Prince’s Trust Development Awards: Small Grants for Young People Aged 16 – 30

The Prince’s Trust Development Awards programme provides small grants for young people aged 16 - 30 to help them access education, training and employment. They can offer £150, which you do not have to pay back. And up to around £500.

Applying for a Development Award will involve:

  • Attending a 30–45-minute Assessment Meeting with a Prince’s Trust member of staff or volunteer
  • Providing The Prince’s Trust with some paperwork to support the application, such as quotes and confirmation letters
  • Taking part in the evaluation process, which involves filling in a Prince's Trust profile monitoring form and completing post programme surveys three and six months after receiving the Development Award.

If you are under 18 you will also need parental consent.

In relation to the Development Award you would need to do:

  1. Fill in the Profile Form on the Prince's Trust website
  2. Send a copy via email to Sarbjit Bentley This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with some form of legitimate ID (take a photo etc – Passport, Driving Licences etc)
  3. Send evidence of the course you want to do or the job interview you have
  4. Or any evidence of the outcome you hope to have from the DA (training/interview etc) so we know you are going to use the DA for a legitimate reason
  5. The interview/training/course evidence must be VALID and either on letterheaded paper or an email from the company providing the course or interview

Profile form and how to start it off:

View Online Profile Form on Prince's Trust website

  • To get you started it will ask you if you are applying for Development Award, tick YES
  • Are you on Achieve Programme, tick NO
  • Do you live in Scotland, tick NO
  • Where it asks for a unique ID number, leave it blank

If you have any questions contact: Sarbjit Bentley: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..