Get your new business off the ground with a grant of up to £10,000

The grants are available to people who have a plan but have not yet launched their business and to those who have been operating for less than 12 months.

The grants come with a package of free support for start-up businesses under the Fenland Start-Up Business Support Programme.

The programme has been opened to applications again by Fenland District Council's economic growth team Fenland for Business.

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The grants are being delivered by Fenland District Council's economic growth team Fenland for Business thanks to funding awarded in a joint bid with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

"We have some incredible business people and entrepreneurs in Fenland"

Cllr Ian Benney, Fenland District Council's portfolio holder for economic growth, said: "We know we have some incredible business people and entrepreneurs in Fenland that have the power to further increase the economy, prosperity and employment opportunities of the area.

"We want to work with people who have new businesses or plans for a new business to help them thrive.

"This is an incredible opportunity to get funds to help in that journey and vital free support too.

"We've already allocated funds to several start-up businesses following the launch of a first application window at the end of last year."

How to apply

Completing a simple expression of interest form is the first step to securing support from the programme. Grants of £1,000 to £10,000 are available. The grant can cover up to 75 per cent of a specified expenditure. The remaining 25 per cent must be funded by the business.

People have until 23.59pm on Sunday, October 13, to lodge an expression of interest.

Expressions of interest will be assessed using a standardised scoring process and those applicants that exceed the scoring threshold will be invited to complete the full application.

Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said: "Support at the start-up stage of business is absolutely vital and this package of funding supports our aim to improve Fenland as a place to launch and grow a new enterprise."

For an informal chat and guidance about the grants available contact Fenland for Business.

More information and expression of interest forms can be found at: 

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September 2024