If you are starting or growing a business and need business support and financial assistance, Leicester City Council’s Enterprising Leicester Business Grants Scheme can help.
New businesses, registered for less than 12 months but not trading, can apply for a grant of between £1,000-£5,000. Applicants must be aged 30 years or over. Existing businesses, registered and trading, can apply for between £2,000-£15,000 and applicants of any age may apply.
The grant can be used for both capital and revenue items. This could include IT equipment and software, premises improvement, production equipment, marketing materials, consultancy services and other one-off items.
To access a grant, businesses must currebntly employ no more than 250 staff, show commitment to creating new jobs and increasing turnover, and be prepared to match the amount of grant provided with private sector investment.
To apply, please visit the Enterprising Leicester website, www.leicester.gov.uk/enterprsingleicestergrants and contact one of the business support organisations listed there, or contact Chris Morgan, Leicester City Council’s Business Grants Manager on 0116 454 2953. Applications are assessed by an investment panel.
Enterprising Leicester is a key priority of the City Mayor’s Economic Action Plan. It will run until 31st March, 2015. It is supported by the European Regional Development Fund
Due to EU regulations, grants are not currently available to retail businesses, businesses that deal only with consumers, sports and leisure, parks, libraries and other public facilities, vehicles, banking, insurance and anything you’re required to do by law.