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Grants and Funding

In this section you will find the following information:
In this section
Grants and Funding

Use the links below to find the information you need:

Malvern Hills Rural Fund

Can you see a great opportunity to start or grow your business? Do you have a bright idea to make a difference to your local community? If so, then we may be able to help turn your vision into reality.

The Malvern Hills Rural und is now open and encouraging applications for up to £25,000 from businesses and communities throughout the rural Malvern district. We also welcome applications from organisations from outside Malvern but delivering projects to benefit the rural parts of our district.

For more information read the Malvern Hills Rural Fund

Enterprising Worcestershire Start-Up Grant

This grant is currently closed to new applicants.

Applicants who have expressed an interest during October have now been provided with a deadline by which they have to apply.

Potentially, if there are funds remaining after this application round, they will be reopened to further applicants.

Enterprising Worcestershire is one of the new business support programmes part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Malvern Hills District Council and Worcestershire County Council.

Find out more about the Enterprising Worcestershire Start-Up Grant(opens in a new window).

Elevate Worcestershire Growth Grant

Established Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) based in Worcestershire can access between £1,000 and £10,000 in grant funding to fund growth projects.

The grant scheme is a dedicated initiative aimed at empowering businesses to take their growth to the next level. Whether you are looking to expand your operations, invest in cutting edge technology, improve your marketing strategy, or expand into new markets, the Elevate Worcestershire Grant has got you covered.

Grants are awarded on a match-funded basis, meaning the SME will need to provide at least 60% of the total cost of the project. 

Find out more and apply for the Elevate Worcestershire Growth Grant(opens in a new window).

Elevate Worcestershire also offers Growth Support(opens in a new window) to help established businesses scale and grow. 

Net Zero Worcestershire Grants

Grant funding is available to help Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to implement energy saving initiatives including LED lighting, heating and insulation and renewables. The initiative aims to support SMEs to make the transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon future. Malvern Hills businesses can apply for between £1,000 and £8,000.

Grants are awarded on a match-funded basis, meaning the SME will need to provide at least 60% of the total cost of the project.

Find out more and apply for the Net Zero Worcestershire Grant(opens in a new window).

Net Zero Worcestershire also offers free Decarbonisation Reviews(opens in a new window).

Net Zero Worcestershire is one of the new business support programmes part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Malvern Hills District Council and Worcestershire County Council.

Innovation Worcestershire Grant

The Innovation Worcestershire Grant will offer funding to help Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) businesses develop innovative products and processes.

Malvern Hills businesses will be able to apply for between £1,000 and £15,000. Grants will be awarded on a match-funded basis, meaning the SME will need to provide at least 60% of the total cost of the project.

The Innovation Worcestershire Grant has not yet launched but businesses can express an interest by following the link below.

Find out more about the Innovation Worcestershire Grant(opens in a new window).

Innovation Worcestershire will also offer bespoke support to help Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) develop new innovative processes, products, technologies and services(opens in a new window).

Innovation Worcestershire is one of the new business support programmes part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Malvern Hills District Council and Worcestershire County Council.

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 £1,000 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 the Elevate Worcestershire Growth Grant. 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

Apprentice Bursary 2023

The council recognises that trainees may struggle to cover the cost of travel or equipment to access their work or training and that this may prevent them from applying for certain jobs.

An Upskilling Bursary Scheme has therefore been agreed to support trainees where they are earning less than £220 per week and are Malvern Hills residents.

£500 is available to help cover the cost of travel, equipment, tools and clothing necessary to access training. For those interested in using active travel methods (walking/cycling) for their commute to work this may be put towards the cost of equipment such as purchase of a bicycle or e-bike.  These bursaries will be administered via Worcestershire Apprenticeships on behalf of MHDC.

Bursary Qualifying Criteria

 The applicant must:

  • Live in Malvern Hills District.
  • Earn less than £220 per week (Before deductions)
  • Attend a qualifying course and be employed for 12 months or however long it takes to complete the course (whichever is longer)
  • Be completing Ofqual registered training or approved Apprenticeship Standard Framework which leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
  • Be employed for more than 30 hours per week.

Please read the Malvern Hills District Council Upskilling Bursary Scheme before applying for the bursary.

Apprentice Bursary Form

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.

  • 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 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 30 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..