One of the first new schemes supported by the government's Shared Prosperity Fund, is Derbyshire Dales' Business Growth Grant. Businesses in manufacturing or engineering sectors trading for 3years or more, with 1-249 employees and based in Derbyshire Dales are eligible to apply. Grants of 40% of a project costing between £40k-100k are on offer. Projects must result in at least two of the following: * increased business turnover * improved business productivity * business adopting new-to-the-firm technologies or processes * decrease in CO2 emissions. More details on the Invest in Derbyshire Dales web pages.   Support from PHMC will improve your prospects of success. Call now for a no-obligation discussion and advice.

Business Development Grants are now available to small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) in Derbyshire Dales. Businesses in these sectors are eligible: Manufacturing; Engineering; Knowledge Based and Digital sector, Hospitality & Tourism (inc. accommodation, visitor attractions and activity providers) and Farm Diversification. Service and Construction sector businesses may be eligible to apply if 50% or more of their turnover is derived from business to business transactions. If you have a project in mind that would stimulate enterprise and innovation; enhance business resilience; improve business productivity, encourage green business growth/carbon reduction; and/or enable the creation of higher paid / higher skilled roles you may be eligible to apply. Grants are from £5,000 to £25,000 at a rate of 50% of eligible costs.  Eligible costs include new equipment or technology required to adapt/develop/diversify the business inc. new to the firm technologies or processes, more efficient production processes and capital expenditure to enhance energy efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of the business. Digital adoption inc. investment in e-commerce and on-line booking systems. Capital expenditure to enable premise adaptations to support business expansion where the occupier is the applicant business. No funding is available for capital improvements to property which is subsequently let to other users.

Eligible costs also include up to £8,000 for buying in specialist consultancy services to adapt/develop/diversify the business (such as PHMC support), buying-in bespoke training necessary to upskill the workforce and address skills shortages inc. training for business owners, employers, managers or employees.

Bolsover Rural Fund was launched on 5 May, and uses funds from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.  If you are based anywhere in Bolsover District you are in the eligible area. It's now too late to apply, but further calls for funding might be announced later in the year.

Bolsover Growth Fund provides revenue-based grants (ie not to fund capital investment, but to fund costs such as marketing, consultancy, training etc) but potentially with some element of capital expenditure. Two schemes are now open:

Business Growth Grant Scheme provides grants from £1000 to £10,000, capped at 80% of proejcct costs, to support growth and job creation, diversification or carbon efficiency . Businesses trading for 18months or more are eligible, based in Bolsover District. 

Business Start-Up Scheme is open to pre-start and new businesses trading in Bolsover District (less than 18months), with grants of up to £500/ 80% of elgible costs. Unusually, the Start-Up Grant is paid to you in advance of incurring costs (almost all other grants are paid only after you evidence that you have paid for agreed costs).

If you are the landlord or occupier of a shop in Stavely town centre you can apply for a grant of up to £50k to improve the shop front. A wide range of improvements are covered by the grants including new signage, window replacements, repairs to brickwork, improving lighting or the addition of new security measures.

Smaller businesses (up to 250 employees) will receive grants covering 80% of project costs, while larger national firms would receive 60%. 

Take a look on Chesterfield Borough Council's webpage to see full details. Scheme closes March 2025. 

Further announcements of other funding schemes are expected in July.

New grant schemes funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund have been launched for small businesses in the High Peak. These schemes close for new applications on 31 January 2024,  and might re-open again in April if there are any funds left. 

The High Street Capital Grant offers up to 80% towards the costs of improving accessibility, appearance of retail and hospitality premises, so increasing footfall and turnover. Only a small number of grants will be available, with priority given to projects that also create new jobs and/or reduce carbon emmissions. Grants are from £1000 to £6000. Covers Buxton, Glossop, Castleton, New MIlls, Whaley and Chapel.

The Peak Innovation Micro Grant can support 80% of the costs of a project that creates new jobs. The scheme is open to "micro businesses" of fewer than 10 employees, and can include start-ups, existing businesses and farms. Registered company or sole trader, both are accepted. Grants from £1,000 to £10,000 for projects that involve growth, improved productivity, new processes, technology that's new to the business. A dedicated fund is specifically available to tourism sector from the Peak Innovation Micro Tourism Grant same criteria but with the objective of boosting visitor economy and leisure opportunities.

Peak Innovation SME Innovation Grant is for Small and Medium Enterprises- up to 250 employees- and also covers 80% of a project's costs with grants from £1000 to £10,000 (larger grants a possibility by exception). This grant supports projects involving new-to-firm innovation; adopting productivity-enhancing, energy efficient and low carbon technologies and techniques; and start or grow exports. Projects must result in new job creation or safeguarding of existing jobs.

Support is also available for community enterprises (community businesses, cooperatives, not for profit and social enterprises) from the Peak Innovation Community Enterprise Grant. Grants are from £2,000 to £40,000 at a rate of 80% of project costs.  Any applicants will be expected to work with an Oxford-based company to help them prepare applications(!).

The Workplace Charging Scheme issues vouchers to eligible business projects that can be used to subsidise the costs of installing EV charging points at places of work. The voucher is worth £350 / 75% of the cost of purchase and installation per charge point, and can cover up to 40 charge points.  This grant can cover costs of providing charge points for staff, not for customers. Details including a list of authorised installers are included in official Guidance. Vouchers must be spent with authorised installers only. Apply here.

The Business Productivity and Digitalisation Grant scheme is available across the four local authorities of South Yorkshire (Sheffield City, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster).  The scheme is in effect a refresh of the earlier Business Productivity Grant scheme, and that element will be familiar to some: centred around improving productivity to effect business growth  and job creation, aimed at projects between £5k and £25k spend with applicants contributing 50% towards eligible project costs . The minimum grant  is £2,500  and maximum £12,499. It is a competitive scheme as there are limited funds, and a strong business case will need to be made in the application.  New in this incarnation is a secondary focus which incentivises businesses to implement new technologies (at least, new to the business). Technology implementation that can be supported ranges from BIg Data to AI to more familiar applications such as remote machine and process monitoring to CRM to cloud storage. This scheme is being managed by the four local authorities, and they will allocate a Business Adviser to guide you through your appliction, with whom you will need to engage in carrying out a business diagnostic review to identify what machinery and/or digital solutions would be appropriate for you. See more information here. The official contact points are 

• Enterprising Barnsley - 01226 773003
• Business Doncaster - 01302 735555
• Rotherham Investment and Development Office - 01709 331133 
• Business Sheffield - 0114 2245000
• Sheffield City Region Growth Hub - 03330 000 039

PHMC is an approved supplier for the Skills Bank programme. In this scheme, your business can apply for government funding towards training that will help your business grow. You could be awarded up to 70% of the costs of a PHMC course depending on the size of your business, and the strength of a business case. PHMC's training offer includes eligible topics such as managing growth, planning and managing business improvements and leadership & management. Refreshingly, eligible training is not restricted to regulated qualifications. It could even be one-to-one. Skills Bank can fund training that is bespoke to your business and to your management team, so lets have a discussion to get the ball rolling. PHMC will meet you and help you identify your specific needs, and prepare a bespoke training course for you. No obligation, but it will cost you a coffee.  The scheme is due to close in March 2022.

The Small Business Grant Scheme in Stoke and Staffs is still open and provides businesses with fewer than 250 employees grants of up to 50% of costs of revenue or capital growth projects. This could include expansion projects, purchase of capital equipment and associated revenue costs. Grants range from £1,500 to £10,000.