Funding schemes available to eligible businesses based in Stafford Borough or those looking to relocate into the area are listed below.
Whatever your plans (e.g. adapting premises, purchasing capital equipment, up-skilling your staff, undertaking product innovation or introducing more efficient manufacturing techniques) the Business Growth Team is here to help you every step of the way.
For further information simply complete our enquiry form providing us with information about your business expansion plans.
Alternatively feel free to contact us direct on 01785 61900 asking for Mary Timmis or email economy@staffordbc.gov.uk.
Green Solutions Programme
A package of support to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint. This package includes free carbon literacy training and free energy reviews including recommendations to increase energy efficiency.
In addition to this, Low Carbon Grants are also available between £1,000 and £100,000 up to 50% of eligible costs, to help businesses implement the energy review recommendations such as installing LED lighting, energy efficient boilers and other energy efficiency equipment.
Green Solutions in affiliation with BEAS - Staffordshire County Council
Green Loan Scheme
For businesses based in Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire who wish to spread the cost of implementing energy efficient measures to their premises.
A Green Loan of 100% (ranging from £5,000 - £200,000) interest free is available to eligible businesses who have had or are undergoing an energy assessment.
Workplace Charging Scheme
This is a voucher-based scheme that provides eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) charge points.
The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs capped at a maximum of
- £350 per socket
- 40 sockets across all sites per applicant e.g. if you would like to install them in 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site
Workplace Charging Scheme Guidance for Applicants (gov.uk)
Gigabit Broadband Voucher
Small and medium sized businesses as well as homes based in selected rural areas, when part of a group can apply for a voucher of up to £4,500 each, to claim against the installation cost of a gigabit capable connection for broadband.
This scheme has been designed to help people experiencing slow broadband speeds in rural areas.
Gigabit Vouchers (culture.gov.uk)
Michelin Development Fund
Unsecured loans and business expertise for businesses based in the north part of Stafford Borough who can demonstrate potential to create jobs.
Michelin Development Business Loan Scheme - Michelin Development
Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Business Loan Fund
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent businesses that have been turned down by other lenders can apply to the Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund, supporting businesses to grow through affordable, unsecured loans from £10,000 to £50,000
BCRS Business Loans work in partnership with Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to deliver the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund - BCRS Business Loans
Staffordshire Get Started and Grow
A referral for free of charge professional services for new business up to five years in business covering, website support, branding and logos, social media support, accountancy support, HR support and legal support.
Get Started and Grow - Staffordshire County Council
Achieve and Grow
Designed specifically for business over five years with more than two employees who wish to take the next step of growth. Achieve and Grow provides fully funded limited hours of support as follows:
- Up to four hours of digital marketing consultation/support on a range of topics from social media to SEO
- Up to five hours of support in areas such as contracts of employment, recruitment processes or HR policies
- Up to four hours of support in areas such as updates and improvements to a current website and general marketing
For further information contact Chloe.Kelly@staffordshire.gov.uk
Staffordshire Start Up Loan
For brand-new businesses or businesses less than five years old, interest-free loans are available between £3,000 to £5,000.
The Staffordshire Start Up Loan can be used for most purposes to allow a business to fund those key purchases to get the business off the ground.
0% Start-up loans - Staffordshire County Council
British Business Bank Start Up Loan
A 6% fixed interest rate loan and advice and mentoring for businesses who have been trading for up to 36 months.
Loans should be repayable from between one and five years and are aimed at those who are experiencing difficulty in obtaining funding from more traditional sources.
Government Loans UK - Start Up Loans - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)
Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF)
MEIF has been designed to provide greater support to the region's smaller businesses, accelerate economic growth and promote job creation in line with the Government's Midlands Engine Strategy.
Through MEIF businesses can have access to:
- £30million of small (SME) business loans ranging from £25,000 to £150,000 available including for start-up firms
- £90million of debt finance available from £100,000 to £1.5million.
- Equity funding up to £2 million - closes 31 December 2023 for new opportunities, however approved/successful businesses will continue to be managed.
- Proof of Concept early stage equity finance of up to £750,000
Midlands Engine Investment Fund (meif.co.uk)
King's Trust
Helps support young people (18 to 30 years old) to start their own business.
Applicants who are on the Trust’s ‘Enterprise Programme’, can apply for a ‘Test My Business Idea’ grant of up to £500 to help try a new business idea, via market research.
Other grants are available through the Trust as well as loans.
King's Trust (kingstrust.org.uk)
BCRS Business Loans
For bank marginal declines, small business loans are available through BCRS, ranging between £10,000 to £150,000 on 5 year terms with no early repayment fees. A 12 month trade history is required to apply.
Business loans from £10,000- £150,000 - BCRS Business Loans
Funding for Social Ventures Available Through UnLtd
Funding and support are available to help businesses who are delivering a social venture to get started or grow.
Depending on the stage of your development you can apply for one of the following:
Starting up - You have an idea or have started to make a difference to people's lives, your community, or have ambitions to create change at a national level. Up to £8,000
Scaling up - You are already running a social venture that is making a positive difference, and you have compelling evidence of your impact. Up to £18,000
Application windows vary.
Social Entrepreneurs Awards from UnLtd
Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants
Grants ranging between £1,000 and £100,000 are available to individual artists and practitioners, community and cultural organisations, museums and libraries.
Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants | Arts Council England
Landscape Recovery Fund
Applications are open until 21 September 2023 for long term and large scale projects that support net zero, protected sites and habit creation.
Farmers and land managers can apply to e.g. create, improve or sustainably manage woodland; restore and maintain peatland; improve the conditions of protected sites and link them so they’re better connected.
Landscape Recovery: apply for funding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme
Funding is available to farmers and land managers within an AONB, National Park in England or the Broads.
Farmers on land outside of protected landscapes can also apply.
Whilst this is not an agri-environment scheme, it can help fund projects that:
- Support nature recovery
- Mitigate the impacts of climate change
- Provide opportunities for people to discover enjoy and understand the landscape and its cultural heritage
- Project of improve the quality and character of the landscape or place
This is a competitive programme which will now run until March 2026. Applications will close sooner if all funding is allocated.
Get funding for farming in protected landscapes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Farming Investment Fund
Through this scheme different funds are open for applications at different times to support farmers, foresters, growers and contractors with grants to invest in new technology, equipment and infrastructure.
Farming Investment Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2024
Through this fund, 3 grants are available on a competitive basis to help eligible applicants buy items to:
- Improve productivity (gov.uk) (grants from £1,000 to £50,000)
- Manage slurry (gov.uk) (grants from £1,000 to £50,000)
- Improve animal health and welfare services (gov.uk) (grants from £1,000 to £25,000)
Contact Us
For further information on how we can help.
Mary Timmis
Growth and Investment Officer
01785 619000