By Janet Brown, Grant Services Manager
In my role I get to see the direct, positive impact that grants have on businesses.
It’s really rewarding from my perspective, but for our clients the rewards are more than just monetary – they see the way grants help their businesses grow.
It’s hard for some business owners, however, to work out which grants suit their business model, goals and sector-specific aspects.
That’s why, the team at Moore Thompson have found several great opportunities and broken down their eligibility criteria below.
North Kesteven Rural England Prosperity Fund
This grant supports new and improved community infrastructure, aiming to provide essential services and assets that benefit the local economy and strengthen community social fabric.
The goal is to enhance local infrastructure, foster social connections, and build community pride.
Funding must be used on capital projects, such as buildings or equipment, that create long-lasting community assets.
Eligible projects must be located in rural areas, including towns, villages, and hamlets with populations below 10,000, or market and ‘hub towns’ with populations up to 30,000 that serve surrounding rural areas as centres of employment and services.
*Deadline for applications is 14 September 2024
VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme
The £25.5 million VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme aims to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in England to improve their energy efficiency.
This scheme is part of over £100 million of support designed to assist frontline delivery organisations facing increased costs of living.
Led by Groundwork UK and supported by various partners including Energy Saving Trust and Centre for Sustainable Energy, the scheme has two main elements.
The first element provides eligible organisations with an independent energy assessment to identify potential energy-saving measures.
Applications for this part of the scheme are open until 20 June 2024, with decisions made on a rolling basis.
Organisations that complete an independent energy assessment may apply for a capital grant to implement the recommended energy efficiency measures.
Applications for capital grants are open until 14 August 2024, with all funds needing to be spent by 31 March 2025.
Eligible organisations must meet specific criteria, such as being based in England, operating for a minimum of two years, and demonstrating financial sustainability.
Priority will be given to organisations for whom energy costs are a significant concern, those supporting individuals and communities with critical needs, and those with a turnover of less than £1 million per year.
Micro, small, and medium enterprises in the creative sector
The DCMS Create Growth Programme Competition 3, administered by Innovate UK as part of UK Research and Innovation, offers funding between £10,000 and £30,000 to registered micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the creative sector.
This initiative aims to support innovation projects that foster business growth.
With a total investment of approximately £3 million, the programme targets high-growth creative businesses in twelve regions, including:
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
- Hull & East Yorkshire
- Leicestershire
- Derbyshire
- Greater Lincolnshire
The programme provides a comprehensive support package comprising business support targeted at the creative industries, finance, and investor capacity building activities.
Eligible businesses must be from the creative industries, registered in a DCMS Create Growth Programme region, and focused on a clear growth opportunity through innovative projects.
Your proposal must demonstrate the potential impact of funding and support on the business’s growth plan and engage with regional support if successful.
The competition, which runs from 7 May 2024 to 19 June 2024, operates on a competitive basis with limited funding.
*The deadline for applying for this grant is 19 June 2024.
Further grants and opportunities
As the Grant Services Manager, I see numerous grants come and go throughout the year – many of which are open to businesses that we could help apply.
By not taking advantage of these opportunities, your business is missing out on vital funding that could give you a real advantage in the market.
There are plenty of grants out there, the above-mentioned being just a few, and the team at Moore Thompson would be happy to discuss these with you.
Please get in touch with the grants team and we can begin looking into grant opportunities that suit your business.