Malvern Hills Growth Fund

You can apply for one of three grant bands. These differentiate between Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and whether they are not yet trading or have been trading for less or more than 12 months.

Grant Bands

All grants require at least 50% match funding, meaning your grant request cannot exceed half of your total project cost.

The Growth Fund can support projects that strengthen your business and create local economic benefit. Examples include:

• The purchase of a piece of kit, for example a CNC machine that will allow the business to expand into a new market, thus creating new jobs.
• The purchase of a machine, for example to enable onsite packaging that will improve the efficiency of the business thus increasing productivity and in turn turnover.
• The creation or expansion of a workspace to accommodate new activity/employees.  Note that any building work projects must be discussed with the team before an application is submitted.
• Purchase of equipment; for example, freezers to support a dairy farm diversifying into ice cream production, resulting in increased turnover and job creation. Please note that projects aimed at increasing agricultural output (e.g., boosting raw milk production) are not eligible.
• The creation of facilities to enable a fishing lake to become a swimming lake. Note that any building work projects must be discussed with the team before an application is submitted.
• Projects which develop the local experiential tourism/immersive travel offer (focused on showcasing local history, people, culture, food and environment), for example the purchase of new machinery and/or equipment necessary to delivering the experience.
• Accessibility enhancements to tourist attractions, for example the installation of a Changing Places facility.
• Adding something new to the tourism business and/or area, for example an outdoor shelter to develop/improve the out of season offer.
• Enhancement of hospitality businesses, such as restaurants, pubs, cafés and hotels, including investment in specialist equipment or improved facilities that support business expansion, increased capacity, improved customer experience, or the introduction of new food and drink services.

If you're unsure whether your project meets the criteria, feel free to contact us.

To apply, your business must:

• Be an SME based in Malvern Hills. This includes micro, small and medium sized enterprises which have fewer than 250 employees and either a turnover of £44 million or less, or a balance sheet total of £38 million or less.
• Show that your project supports business growth.
• Provide 50% or more match funding.
• Contact us before applying if your project involves building works or planning considerations.

When assessing whether your business or organisation is an SME, you should consider any affiliated businesses or organisations. These are entities connected through ownership, control, or significant shared interest.

Start‑ups (operating under a new legal entity and not yet trading or trading less than 12 months) must also:

• Have completed recognised business start‑up training, or demonstrate equivalent experience
• Provide a business plan

If you cannot confirm all eligibility criteria, unfortunately you will not be able to apply.

The Growth Fund cannot support:

• Solar panels or related equipment
• Marketing, promotional and branding activities, including website development, unless undertaken by a start‑up, in which case all of these activities are eligible where they support business growth.
• Vehicles
• Legal/statutory obligations
• Insurance
• Staffing costs
• Running costs (rent, utilities, subscriptions etc.)
• Mandatory skills training
• Debt repayment
• Items purchased before the grant offer letter
• Tourist accommodation units (pods, lodges, glamping units)
• Purchases made using finance or hire purchase
• Projects that enhance the productive capacity of farms or primary agricultural producers, including machinery, equipment, or activities that directly increase on-farm agricultural output.
• Activities that may bring the Council into disrepute

A list of other ineligible costs is included in the application form and guidance.

• Applications are completed online.
• You’ll confirm eligibility, then provide details about your business, finances, project and match funding.
• You will need 1–3 quotes depending on the value of each costed item.
• Existing businesses upload accounts; start‑ups upload a business plan.
• Projects must not begin until funding has been approved.

When completing your application, you will need to upload several supporting documents. These will vary depending on your business status and the amount of funding you are requesting. The list below gives an indication of what may be required, but please refer to the Application Guidance for full details.

• Full set of accounts or a business plan
• Lease or tenancy agreement (if applicable)
• Planning permission or other required consents (if applicable)
• Quotations for all costed items
• Photographs, diagrams or site plans (optional but encouraged)

Your application will undergo a three stage assessment process.

• Stage 1: Initial review to check all required information and documents are provided. Applicants may be contacted for more details.
• Stage 2: Eligibility and due‑diligence checks covering financial health, compliance, and alignment with programme aims.
• Stage 3: Independent scoring by experienced officers against key criteria, including:
• Need for the project
• Value for money and procurement
• Market need
• Financial viability
• Return on investment
• Project deliverability and sustainability
• For grants £5,001–£15,000: Two independent appraisers and a senior‑level appraisal panel review the application.
• Conflicts of interest are declared, and an audit trail ensures fairness and transparency.

Unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback and can request a review in specific circumstances.

• Decisions for grants up to £5,000 are made by the Economic Development Programme Manager or Head of Economic Development.
• Larger grants (£5,001–£15,000) are decided by the Director of Economy & Environment and the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Tourism.
• All applicants are notified of the outcome.
• Unsuccessful applicants can request a review under specific circumstances:
• the decision was based on an error of fact;
• the decision was wrong in law; or
• a procedural error has been made.

If approved:

• We will confirm whether the award counts as a subsidy under MFA rules
• You may need to sign an MFA declaration
• A Grant Funding Agreement (GFA) will be issued
• You must not start the project until the GFA is signed
• Claims are paid in arrears once invoices and proof of payment are submitted

Please note: Work completed before the GFA is signed may not be eligible for funding.