Business grants and funding

There are several organisations that provide help and information about grants and other funding for your businesses.

Finance and support for your business

GOV.UK - Finance and support for your business, provides information on government-backed support and finance for business, including:

• Grants
• Finance and loans
• Business support, such as mentoring, consultancy
• Funding for small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups

Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE)

The LoCASE programme is supported by the European Regional Development Fund to provide a free business support programme. It offers focused, individual support to small and medium sized enterprises (including social enterprises) improving competitiveness and creating jobs through increased energy efficiency and new low carbon business.

LoCASE provides grants for businesses of up to £10,000 as well as an environmental training scheme and events. Targeted business support is on offer for companies who offer 'green' or low carbon goods and services.

All eligible small or medium sized businesses in Rushmoor will be given equal opportunity to apply for a grant or support. Grant funding can be awarded to an SME to improve business performance and profitability. The grant will form up to 40% of the cost of the eligible project, with the remainder matched by the business:

• Any business can use this money toward having energy efficiency measures installed for the business. The grant can contribute to both the cost of materials or equipment and any installation. Projects which save on fuel/mileage are also acceptable.
• If the business offers 'green' or low carbon goods or services, a business development grant is also available. Claims can be made against costs such as marketing, consultancy, equipment, IT software, product/process development, accreditation and certification.

For more information contact business@rushmoor.gov.uk

Manufacturing Growth Programme

If your manufacturing business has the potential to grow, and you need external expertise or additional equipment to help you achieve this, the programme could provide grants to help pay for consultancy services or capital expenditure.

For more information visit the Manufacturing Growth Programme website.

British Business Bank

British Business Bank works with private sector partners to enable small businesses to access more finance. The British Business Bank brings expertise and government money to the smaller business finance markets.

For more information visit the British Business Bank website.

Start Up Loans

If you have (or plan to start) a UK-based business that’s been fully trading for less than 36 months, Start Up Loans are government-backed and charge a fixed interest rate of 6% per year. You can borrow between £1,000 and 25,000.

Funding Circle

Funding Circle is the UK's leading small business loans platform, where people and organisations can lend directly to small businesses. To date they have facilitated £4.2 billion worth of loans to UK businesses.

Escalator fund - helping companies to grow

The Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership and The FSE Group has announced a new £5.5 million escalator fund, aimed at early stage, high growth potential companies in the Enterprise M3 geographic area covered by parts of Surrey and Hampshire. The fund will help companies access the finance they need to grow and create at least 150 jobs in the region.

This announcement follows the news on 7 July that the government had awarded Enterprise M3 £118m of Local Growth Fund to stimulate economic growth. These funds will be matched by public and private sector money and will be aimed at supporting projects in enterprise and innovation, training, infrastructure improvements and housing.

The Enterprise M3 area consists of agile, high growth knowledge-based businesses that have contributed to the growth of the local economy, which is currently three times the national average.

Enterprise M3, working with The FSE Group, wants to support high growth companies which have the capacity to deliver significant growth and jobs by providing finance. This finance will be awarded to a range of businesses, from those making their first sales to the more established, who have found it difficult to get funding from more traditional sources.

For more information, visit the Enterprise M3 website.

Enterprise M3 Funding Finder

If you are looking for funding, take a look at Enterprise M3's interactive Funding Finder for all of the latest government funding distilled into a single, searchable tool.

Innovate UK

If you’re a UK-based business or research organisation, you may be able to compete for government-backed funding to:

• research and develop a process, product or service
• test your innovation ideas
• collaborate with other organisations.

For more information visit the Innovate UK website.

Enterprise South

Offers free, confidential and impartial one-to-one advice for small businesses. For more information, visit the Business South Funding website.

Grant Finder

Has information on latest European grants, UK government grants and other sources of funding to help start and grow your business. For more information, visit the Grant Finder website.

Fredericks Foundation

A charity that provides help and small business loans to disadvantaged people who want to set up, or expand, their business. For more information visit the Fredericks Foundation website.

Startups

Provides help and support for new businesses, including advice on funding and grant opportunities. For more information, visit the Startups website.