Business Support and Development Grant Scheme
The Business Support and Development Grant is a scheme for new and existing businesses that have a maximum of ten employees and are based within the North West Devon LEADER+ area.
The grant will provide up to 30% of eligible costs up to a maximum of £5,000. Whilst businesses are welcome to apply for the maximum grant, it is expected that the average grant awarded by North West Devon LEADER+ will be in the region of £3,000.
What can I use the grant for?
The grant can be used for almost any activity that will help your business to take the next step to expand, or that will help to get a business off the ground.
You will need to demonstrate that the items in your application are necessary to develop the business and that they are additional to existing activity.
Some examples could be:
- Equipment purchase, but not replacement or upgrading of existing equipment
- Wage Subsidy
- Staff training
- Product Development and Testing
- Marketing
- Environmental Actions to develop business and improve profitability
- Professional Advice
There are some things that LEADER+ cannot fund, including:
- NVQ Qualifications, particularly those in Care
- New vehicles
- IT equipment, although there may be some exceptions
- Franchises or similar activities
- Wage subsidy is not available to assist with filling existing vacant posts
- Training must be related to new business activities
- LEADER+ cannot provide retrospective funding. Please do not purchase items the grant relates to prior to receiving a decision.
How do I apply?
Please contact the LEADER+ team to obtain an application form. The LEADER+ team will be able to advise you on whether your proposals will be eligible for the grant, and may be able to assist you with completing the application form. However, grants are allocated at the discretion of a panel and officers cannot guarantee the success of any application.
You will be required to submit a business plan to accompany your application, but need not produce a new one if there is an existing one for your business.
We recommend that you discuss your proposal with an accredited business adviser. Free advice is available from the North Devon Enterprise Agency (01237 426416), but other private sources are also available.
How long will the grant scheme last?
It is intended that the grant will be available until 31st December 2008. However, there is only a limited amount of available funding that will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that the grant scheme may be closed to applications before the above date.
When will I know if my application is successful?
We must receive your application at least two weeks before the grant panel meeting at which it will be considered. The whole application process can take up to two months. From time to time the panel may feel that it has insufficient information to allow it to reach a decision. In these cases it may defer the application to a future meeting to allow you to provide aditional details.
What are the LEADER+ Priorities?
- Business expansion
- Development of new products
- Creation of or accessing new markets
- Contribution to the wider LEADER+ Programme Objectives
