Chichester District Council’s Enabling Grant Scheme (UK)

Deadline: 29-Jun-23

The Chichester District Council has launched the Enabling Grant Scheme to improve the efficiency of independent local businesses, to maximise the potential for growth and to assist new businesses with start-up costs.

Funding Information

• Growth Projects Grant – up to a maximum of 50% match funded and a contribution of no more than £2000.
  • To enable small businesses to purchase, for example: –
    • items of capital equipment
    • training packages
    • additional marketing advice
    • developing digital content/digital marketing presence
    • fixtures and fittings to improve premises
• Start-up Grant Award –a maximum contribution of £500 from the Council (non-match funded)
  • To enable a new start–up business, for example: –
    • to purchase items of capital equipment
    • to purchase training packages
    • to improve premises, fixture and fittings
    • to develop their digital presence.

Eligibility Criteria

• Businesses who have received an enabling grant payment within the last 3 years will not be eligible to apply for this round of funding.
• Businesses applying for the start-up grant award must have only been trading for a maximum of 18 months. Evidence of this must be provided with the application form.
• Businesses must be based in the Chichester District and employ at least 1 paid member of staff (full-time equivalent) and no more than 15 paid employees (full time equivalents).
• Businesses that are registered separately at differing premises but share the same directors and are managed together will only be eligible to make one application and will also be subject to a maximum of two enabling grants within the last five-year period, from date of grant payment i.e., a group of businesses, managed by the same Director(s), will be seen as one business.
• A grant cannot be sought for retrospective projects or expenditure or for ongoing costs.
• A completed Grant Agreement must be signed and returned prior to any work being undertaken or expenditure being incurred.

Criteria

• Applications should demonstrate one or more of the following criteria:
  • Contribution to the local economy
    • Local supply chain – the use of local suppliers
    • Protecting local jobs/creating local jobs
  • Reducing Environmental impact
    • Protecting the environment
    • Reducing carbon footprint
  • Innovation
    • Improving productivity
    • New ways of working or offering your goods or services to your customer
  • Commercial viability – e.g.  the proposed expenditure will help to sustain the longer-term prospects for the business.

For more information, visit Enabling Grant Scheme.