Shropshire business grants, loans and incentives 8 Jul 2015 Visit for updates

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1 Shropshire business grants, loans and incentives 8 Jul 2015 Visit for updates metnet marches environmental technologies network Free events and networking Marches and Worcestershire Redundant Building Grants Grants 3k - 100k Green Bridge Supply Chain Programme Grants 20k - 500k Green Shoots Plus Grants 10k - 150k Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE 16 to 24) Grant of 1,500 New Enterprise Allowance For recipients of qualifying benefits. Broadband Connection Vouchers Free events including sector-specific business briefings for SMEs in the environmental and workshops on marketing and general business topics. Networking opportunities to encourage supply chain development for environmental products and services. We can now welcome businesses from outside the environmental sector to our events. Call to check eligibility to attend. Tel: info@met-net.co.uk Website: Capital grants of up to 45% of eligible project costs to convert or refurbish redundant buildings. Projects must create new and sustainable job opportunities. Tel: Alison Rogers on VERY LIMITED FUNDS rbgscheme@herefordshire.gov.uk Website: Support for SME supply chain companies that are operating within the green sector or seeking to diversify into the sector. Grants are available to develop new markets, new products, skills development and purchase capital equipment. Round 22 has been opened for a very limited period and closes at 5pm on Thursday 23 July. It is recommended that you do not wait until the competition closing date, but submit your application as a matter of urgency. Claims must be made within two months following acceptance of the funding agreement. greenbridge@birmingham.gov.uk Website: For SMEs from eligible sectors that are proposing to carry out a capital project. Grants will range between 20% and 30% of the total project cost. To be eligible for funding SMEs must have been operating for at least 18 months and the required funding must have been declined by its bank. Eligible sectors are - advanced manufacturing; building technologies; transport technologies, including aerospace; environmental technologies; business services. Tel: enquiries@bcgrowthhub.com Website: Businesses with fewer than 50 employees that haven t started an apprentice in the previous 12-month period can apply to receive 1,500 per apprentice for up to five full-time apprentices. They must be new recruits (unless previously contracted to work fewer than 20 hours per week), aged 16 to 24, live in England and not in full-time education. The apprentice must be enrolled on a programme recognised by the Skills Funding Agency. Grants are issued on a first-come, first-served basis within a local training organisation s allocation. Website: Find a local training organisation: Up to 12 weeks of mentoring support to help complete a full business plan with a weekly allowance paid for up to 26 weeks (up to a total of 1,274) on start up. A loan of up to 3,000 can be arranged through the Start Up Loans Company. Tel: Jobcentre Plus on Website: Registered businesses, social enterprises, sole traders and charities can get a connection voucher of up to 3,000 for faster, better broadband through this Government scheme. Vouchers can be pooled with neighbouring businesses. Website: 1

2 Skills support for the workforce Free training Prince s Trust Enterprise Programme Free training & loans Marches Investment Fund Capital loan funding minimum of 250k Final stage feasibility study loan 20k- 100k Shropshire Business Investment Fund Loans 5k - 150k Impetus start up loan Loans 5k - 10k The Start Up Hub Start up loans FAIRshare Credit Union Loans from 1k to 15k Free training of intermediate to higher level to meet the skills gaps for employers across the Marches region of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Telford and Wrekin. Tel: or claire.wills@tcat.ac.uk Website: A programme for year olds who are either unemployed or working fewer than 16 hours per week to develop a business plan. Once the plan is approved, 2 years of support of a business mentor and a range of free and discounted business services support. Low interest loans of up to 4,000 for a sole trader or 5,000 for partnerships are available through the Start Up Loan Company. Tel: Website: The Marches Investment Fund will provide capital loan funding for stalled projects that will then be able to quickly start and create economic growth. The minimum capital loan request will be set at 250,000 and should not exceed 60% of the value of the completed project. The fund will also provide loan assistance to projects to complete final stage feasibility studies, these studies must be completed within 8 months from the date of funding approval and should not exceed 50% of the cost of the study. The minimum loan is set at 20,000 and the upper limit is capped at 100,000. Funded studies do not guarantee loan funding for subsequent capital projects. Visit and complete the Preliminary Project Assessment form and then request an Expression of Interest form as follows. Tel: Caroline Cattle on enquiries@ marcheslep.org.uk Website: Business loans with flexible terms for businesses in the Shropshire area that have encountered difficulties in securing loan finance via traditional sources. Tel: Barry Jones on or info@impetus-marches.co.uk Website: Impetus is a delivery partner to the Start Up Loans Company. Loans are available for start-up and new businesses (up to 2 years trading). Loans are available over 3 years, and come with 1 year s free business advice and support. Tel: Sarah Powell on info@impetus-marches.co.uk Website: The Start Up Hub works with Virgin Start Up to offer Government financed start up loans to applicants in The Marches area. Applicants need to be over 18 and loan amounts are available between 500 and 25,000 with 6% apr interest repayable over a maximum of 5 years. The Start Up Hub support the applicant with a business advisor and free places at workshops to complete the business plan preparation and the loan application. Once approved, 12 months mentoring is provided along with corporate benefits. Tel: Website: Offers business loans to businesses and community groups based in Shropshire. Competitive, fixed rates ranging between 1% and 2% per month on the reducing balance, no penalties or fees if loan paid off early. Loans to be repaid over a maximum of 5 years. Applications for most business purposes will be considered on the basis of sound business practice, affordability. Businesses must have been trading successfully for at least 18 months. 2

3 National Tooling Funding Programme Loans 50k - 1m Tel: or john.harrower@fairshare.uk.com Website: The 24m Tooling Funding Programme has been created to help toolmakers and component manufacturers fund the design, development and manufacture of tooling or the expansion of tooling capacity. It is open to manufacturing companies seeking a loan of 50,000 to 1m and it can be 90% of project costs. Key requirements for applicants are as follows: That they have had difficulty in securing the required level of funding That the final manufacture of the tooling and components will be located in England That new jobs will be created and or safeguarded by the toolmaker and component manufacturer Supported by confirmed tooling order(s) Tel: Website: National Insurance Employment allowance Business Growth Service Free training and access to finance Business Growth Service incorporating Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) Manufacturing review, and growth action plan. Workshops and events Eligible businesses and charities (including Community Amateur Sports Clubs) are entitled to an employment allowance that offsets up to 2,000 against their Class 1 secondary NICs liability on employees and directors earnings. Website: Employers who employ or engage staff under the age of 21 at or after 6 April 2015 will not be required to pay employer NICs on the earnings they pay to those employees up to the upper secondary threshold ( 815 per week in 15/16). Website: The Business Growth Service provides expert, tailored and on-going support to businesses in England with the potential to improve and grow. The service can help you to achieve your business goals by identifying your barriers to growth and providing tailored support that fits your needs. This support includes coaching, consultancy, mentoring, training, access to finance and export advice. Access to Finance options include: crowdfunding platforms, business angels, venture capitalists, large investment firms, peer lending platforms, alternative debt providers, banks and many other sources. Tel: Website: On-site assessment by an experienced Business Growth Manager who will be a manufacturing expert, to discuss the manufacturing issues and ideas for solving and improving these. Develop a detailed business diagnostic and growth action plan that highlights areas of opportunity or action to improve operational performance. A project covering business strategy, operational efficiency, development of new ideas or strengthening supply chains is typically 50% match funded by MAS but projects can vary in value, scope and depth. Website: Training and networking events to help improve awareness and skills related to manufacturing issues and best practice. Website: 3

4 Register your interest and/or join waiting lists for closed programmes Business Innovation Programme (BIP) Grants Aston Programme for Small Business Growth Free training For SMEs that have been trading for at least 6 months and are ready to invest in innovative production processes. This must lead to new products that are 'close to market'. There is a requirement to create and safeguard jobs that are sustainable for at least 1 year. The programme is closed, complete an expression of interest (EOI) form and join the waiting list in case more funds are made available. Harris.Khaliq@birmingham.gov.uk Website: The Aston Programme provides leadership and management education for small business leaders wanting to grow their businesses. In a series of workshops supplemented by one-to-one support the programme addresses a comprehensive range of issues faced by growing SMEs and culminates in the development of your own Plan for Growth for your business. Applications for this programme are currently closed. If you would like to register your interest please contact the team as follows. Tel: smallbusinessgrowth@aston.ac.uk Website: 4

5 Help for exporters Training and support Passport to Export (P2E) Gateway to Global Growth (G3) Medium-Sized Business Programme (MSB) Trade Missions Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) Market Visit Support (MVS) Export Marketing Research Scheme (EMRS) Export Communications Review (ECR) High Value Opportunities (HVO) Master Classes Business Opportunities Service Sales Leads Service Details of UK Trade & Investment's (UKTI) services and help available for UK companies looking to or already exporting may be found in this collection. Contact UKTI International Trade Advisers on Website: A 12 month programme of tailored support for SMEs that provides new or inexperienced exporters with training, planning and support to grow their business overseas. A 12 month programme of guidance and tailored support to help SMEs with 2 to 10 years of exporting experience to expand into new markets and grow their business overseas. This programme finished on 31 March Support for businesses with turnover of 25m- 500m. Helps businesses to assess their export capability and get started in international trade, or develop existing export operations further. Organised group visits to target markets (some sector specific). Limited visit support funding available to eligible SME s. Grant support for eligible SMEs exhibiting at an UKTI group supported event. Limited funding. Service for SMEs either new to exporting or new to the market. Limited funding. Advice on how to carry out marketing research, to help businesses to decide whether to export to a new market and how best to deliver products and services. Up to 50% funding for marketing research projects is available to SMEs with products and services that have a proven track record of at least two years and want to research a specific market for these products and services. An ECR will help businesses to develop an international communications strategy to help overcome language and cultural barriers. Written, spoken, and digital communications with export markets are considered, and the review will focus on a certain market or certain export activities. A programme to identify large scale overseas procurement opportunities. Series of training courses covering highly relevant topics for both new and experienced exports. Available to P2E and G3 companies only from 1 April. Access to hundreds of business opportunities across all sectors and in over 100 markets available on the UKTI website. A service offering free sales leads from UKTI offices worldwide published across all sectors and in over 100 markets. 5