Funding is provided to either effect some change in the economy such as create more jobs, innovation, green working, etc. or to address a market failure such as a lack of social enterprises. For this reason, criteria and eligibility is often very specific and funding may often take the form of paid for advice, zero interest loans or small grants that require a match contribution from the business. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for any of the schemes below please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.
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- Learn About Grants And Finance
The business finance guide provides a comprehensive overview of the financing options available to growing businesses. Whatever the challenges faced, the right financing decisions are critical. For business owners and management, awareness of the choices available allows the business to make a well-informed financing decision.
This link takes you to a helpful tool that guides you through the various options for finance: Find the right finance for you
Search finance and support for your business, click here to go to the Government National Finance Finder Tool.
Local Grants & Funding
Small Business Boost
New boost for Kent and Medway businesses opens for applications
0% interest loans of between £26,000 and
£99,000 repayable over a period of five years.
Who can apply?
- Viable businesses not in financial difficulty
- Businesses that can provide 20% to 30% match funding
- Businesses with fewer than 250 employees
- Businesses seeking to protect or create jobs
Net Zero Grants
Thanks to funding from UK Government, Kent Invicta Chamber are offering SME businesses in Canterbury, Gravesham, Swale and Thanet grants of up to £2,000 to improve their businesses sustainability and energy use.
To qualify, you must take part in a Net Zero Audit of your business provided for free by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.
Access the Expression of Interest for the Audit via the following link
Expression of InterestNet Zero Pathway to Change Workshops
Thanks to UK Government funding the University of Kent are offering free workshops with opportunities for qualifying businesses in Canterbury, Gravesham, Swale and Thanet to receive up to £5k to access University expertise to achieve their net zero goals.
To qualify for the grant, attendance to one of the workshops at Canterbury Innovation Centre, University Rd, Canterbury CT2 7FG is mandatory.
Register here
Internationalisation Fund
Match-funded grants of between £1,000 and £9,000 will be available for future activity (subject to eligibility and availability).
To secure a grant, you’ll need to fund a proportion of your costs yourself. This varies according to where your business is based and will be either 40 or 50% of the total cost.
The fund can be used to support areas including (but not exclusively limited to):
- Market research
- IP (intellectual property) advice
- Translation services
- International social media/SEO
- Trade fairs (where no TAP funding is available)
- Independent market visits
- Consultancy and other international commercial services
Kent and Medway Business Fund
Offers 0% loans between £100,000 and £500,000 to fund capital investment for businesses in Kent and Medway
Applications from the following sectors are particularly encouraged:
• Manufacturing
• Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences
• Green Technology
• Digital, media, creative and cultural industries and tourism
• Food technology manufacturing
• Logistics and Construction.
Please note, applications from other sectors
are also eligible
South East Business Boost II (SEBBII)
The programme can fund up to 30% of the costs of qualifying projects, with the remaining 70% being met by the business.
- Funding available for capital items
- Grants between £1,000-£10,000
- Funding 30% of your project
Businesses who were supported with either a grant or a business support intervention on the South East Business Boost I (SEBB I) are not eligible to apply for SEBB II.
Tell me moreLOCASE (Low Carbon Across the South East)
The LOCASE fund has reopened.
- Funding available for carbon reduction and increase in sustainability.
- Funding available for businesses within the environmental and sustainability sector
- Grants between £1000-£10,000
- Funding 40% of your project
I-Construct
I-Construct works 1:1 with small and medium-sized enterprises to assess their business plan, agree tailored business support, and offer project- specific help with business development or grant-funding applications.
I-Construct also offers SMEs a choice of two additional routes to work on their business priorities:
- Business development support
- 30% Grant funding between £1,000 and £20,000
Start Up Loan - Creative England
Unlocking the UK’s creative potential
- 18+ years old
- Up to £25,000, 1-5 year terms, 6%
- Eligibility includes trading up to 24 months
- Criteria includes at least £300,000 ‘recent’ turnover and one year of accounts filed at Companies House.
Start Up Loan + 12 months Mentoring
Start or grow your own business
- 18+ years old
- Pre-start or trading less than 24 months
- UK-based business
- Up to £25,000 at 6% p.a. fixed for up to 5 years
The Manufacturing Growth Programme Grant Scheme
- For small to medium sized businesses
- For manufacturers who are able to demonstrate an intention to grow/improve
- To support the costs of working with an external expert
South East Business Boost New Enterprise Grant
This SEBB grant is for businesses under 12 months old who are showing good growth to help them grow faster, ideally with a view to creating a new job or process within the business.
-£1000-£2000
-100% funded
-Must be spent on capital items that will grow your business
-Basic IT equipment is excluded
To express interest follow the link to the standard SEBB grant page and fill in the EOI
Tell me moreGot questions? Ask Phil
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