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retail business & shop front grant schemes
Grant to help with the costs of renovating business and shop fronts. For businesses in the Taunton and Deane Borough Council area. 50% of costs to a maximum of £1,000.
The aim of this scheme is to encourage new retail businesses and to refurbish or re-instate traditional shop fronts thereby encouraging the economic development of the Borough. The areas eligible for the scheme are Taunton (East Reach, Station Road, Bridge Street and the secondary shopping fringes of those streets), Wellington and Wiveliscombe.
More info: Taunton Deane Borough Council
small business rental support scheme
To help small business by providing subsidised work space costs. (Up to 45% of rental costs).
Small Businesses in Taunton and Deane Borough Council area can apply. The scheme provides funding to support rent and service charge payments for up to the first two years of occupation to new businesses renting commercial premises at:
• Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton providing space for office users, the maximum starting support is 40% of rental costs, reducing by 10% every six months thereafter;
• Trinity Business Centre, Trinity Street, Taunton providing space for industrial users, the maximum starting support up to 25% of the payment made reducing by 5% every 6 months thereafter.
More Info: Taunton Deane Borough Council
the business growth fund
Small businesses in Devon and West Somerset can get help 35% of project cost to a maximum of £50,000 loan. It can help with most capital costs and, in some cases, one-off revenue costs.
The scheme is open to manufacturing businesses and service businesses trading outside of the region. The loan is interest free, and an administration fee of 10% is charged. There is a flexible repayment period up to 5 years.
More Info: South West Investment Group
rural enterprise fund
Help with capital costs - 60% of project costs to a maximum of £25,000 for small businesses in Devon and West Somerset.
This loan scheme can provide assistance of up to 60% of project costs up to a maximum loan of £25,000. It can help with most capital costs and, in some cases, one-off revenue costs.
The scheme is open to manufacturing businesses and service businesses trading outside of the region. The loan is interest free, and an administration fee of 5% is charged. There is a flexible repayment period up to 5 years.
More Info: South West Investment Group
the cornwall business enterprise fund
Help with capital costs for small businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 60% of project costs to a maximum of £25,000.
This scheme is targeted at businesses with less than 5 employees. It can provide assistance of up to 60% of project cost up to a maximum loan of £25,000. It can help with most capital costs, and in some cases, one-off revenue costs.
Manufacturing businesses and service businesses are eligible for funding. Priority is given to the following sectors:
• Life Sciences;
• Marine Engineering;
• Renewable Energy;
• Food;
• Environmental and Earth Technology;
• Multi-media.
The loan finance is interest free and an administration fee of 5% is charged.
More Info: South West Investment Group
rural somerset business chest
Grant for business development for small businesses in rural Somerset. 50% of costs to a maximum of £750. This scheme offers grant assistance towards the purchase of equipment or the cost of producing marketing brochure/leaflet. Vehicles and advertising costs are not eligible. Eligible businesses need to be based within rural Somerset, employ 5 people or less and be trading for less than 5 years.
More Info: Business Link Somerset
the plymouth small business fund
Small businesses (less than 25 employees) in Plymouth can apply for £1,000. grant and loans up to £5,000. Grants available for various business activities including: product development, market Research/ Test Marketing business Start-up Expenses (excluding equipment); short term rent assistance exhibition attendance, crime prevention in specific geographical locations.
Loans are available for: start-up Businesses, existing businesses, expansion/development, capital equipment, business relocation.
More Info: Enterprise Plymouth Limited
shepton mallet business start-up grant
Start up grant for new businesses which will increase the range and quality of goods and services in Shepton Mallet town centre. Maximum £1,000. Discretionary grant aid also available for expansion of small businesses within town centre - £500 is available towards an item of capital expenditure, £300 for public relations and marketing advice, and £200 towards initial advertising.
More Info: Mendip District Council
wellington small business start-up scheme
50% of costs to a maximum of £750. The aim of this scheme is to provide grants for new businesses in Wellington, towards the costs of marketing or equipment purchase.
This scheme is funded by Taunton Deane Borough Council, but administered by Business Link Somerset. Grants are limited to 50% of project expenditure, with a maximum of £750 per business or group of businesses.
More Info Business Link Somerset
somerset skills support project
Support for the costs of staff training for SMEs based in Somerset. Up to £250 per trainee - minimum 25% contribution of total cost of training required.
This project undertakes generic skills training across all industry sectors using training vouchers, an enquiry system, careers advice, flexibility (laptops offer on-site training) and innovation (use of the 6 UFI Learning Centres in Somerset and promotion of LearnDirect courses).
The project aims to:
• Work with key people within the target sectors in order to ensure that they are aware of training opportunities available;
• Deliver training in a flexible and innovative way;
• Provide advice to graduates and companies in order to develop a "return to Somerset" culture in graduates;
• Provide project information, advice and guidance.
More Info: South West RDA
exmoor sustainable development fund
Grants for green projects within Exmoor National Park available to individuals, businesses or groups.
50% of costs for businesses; 75% of costs for non profit groups. This fund provides grants for green projects on Exmoor. Grant aid is available to develop innovative and sustainable projects. The fund is available to anyone who has an idea which benefits greener living and working in the Exmoor National Park area meeting National Park purposes.
Anyone can apply to the fund – individuals, businesses or groups – and applicants do not even have to live in the area, as long as the idea benefits the National Park area in some way. Grants are 50% for businesses, 75% for non commercial applicants, and up to 100% in exceptional circumstances.
The grant will not only apply to new projects or businesses. Adding a sustainable development aspect to an existing project would also be eligible for funding.
More Info Exmoor National Park
environmental good practice grant
50% of costs to a maximum of £2,500 for small businesses planning to make an investment in their services, products or processes which will contribute to environmental good practice, with a particular emphasis upon the minimization and management of waste.
Eligible businesses are those that have been trading in Mendip District for at least two years and employ up to 30 people. Eligible costs are:
• Cost of introducing a new process / procedures;
• Acquisition of plant and equipment to improve environmental performance;
• Costs of developing new products, including testing, evaluation, cost of market research and promotional literature;
• Investment in processes required by regulation or enforcement action, or for works covered by other approved schemes will NOT be considered.
More Info: Mendip District Council
rural renaissance
Support for rural social and environmental projects. Organisations in South West England, with an interest in developing relevant projects can apply. Priorities include the development of a dynamic and sustainable economy in rural areas. to improve access to work, education, training and retraining opportunities and to encourage innovative service delivery through the development of multi-use facilities, support for social enterprise and improved access to, and use of, ICT.
Generally South West RDA will support social and environmental projects which demonstrate clear economic benefits, recognizing that environmental problems and social deprivation may need to be tackled in order not to become a disincentive for investment.
This includes:
• Community Buildings. Where the intended uses include provision for child care, after school care, vocational training, accommodating social enterprises, e.g. community shop. Buildings used solely for community meetings and recreational facilities.
• Transport. Making effective use of existing transport resources, for example through providing timetabling information for public transport information in public places, or research to influence transport policy. Support will not be available for providing transport.
Interpretation of environmental assets. Providing facilities and products which realize the potential of the environment and create a commercial return, for example:
• Visitor/interpretation centres;
• Information for visitors;
• Facilities for cycle hire;
• Refreshments for walkers/cyclists;
More Info: South West RDA |
