Funding schemes available to eligible businesses based in Stafford Borough or those looking to relocate into the area are listed below.
Whatever your plans (such as 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.
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent businesses that have been turned down by other lenders can now apply for the above loan fund, to support their business to grow through affordable, unsecured loans from £10,000 to £50,000
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund - BCRS Business Loans
Made Smarter
Manufacturing and engineering SMEs in the West Midlands can access tailored support through this programme, helping them adopt new digital technologies to boost productivity and efficiency.
The scheme offers specialist advice, a personalised digital action plan, and up to 50% match funding (up to £20,000) for equipment or expert support. It also includes Digital Transformation Workshops and an exclusive Leadership Development Course.
Designed to accelerate digital adoption, Made Smarter connects businesses with experts who can help them modernise operations, strengthen competitiveness, and plan long term digital transformation.
Boosting manufacturing in the West Midlands – Made Smarter
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.
Green Loan Scheme (sben.co.uk)
Electric vehicle charging infrastructure grants for businesses, workplaces and landlords
The government offers grants to support the installation of electric vehicle charge points via the Office of Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV).
- electric vehicle infrastructure grant for staff and fleets - for SMEs grants of up to £15,000 per site are available towards the costs of installing chargepoints, associated infrastructure and preparing parking spaces for future installations. The grant is based on £350 per charge point socket installed and up to £500 per parking space enabled with supporting infrastructure.
- electric vehicle chargepoint and infrastructure grants for landlords - provides grants of up to £350 per socket for 100 grants for commercial properties and 200 grants for residential properties.
- workplace charging scheme - provides up to 75% of the total costs of purchasing and installing EV chargepoints capped at a maximum of £350 per socket and 40 sockets across all sites per applicant.
The closing date for all grants is 31 March 2026.
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 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 for micro businesses (2-10 employees) who have been trading for over five years and are identified as ready to scale up. Achieve and Grow provides fully funded support for up to six hours in the following areas:
- Website Development
- Marketing and Graphic Design (such as social media support, logos, press releases)
- AI Tools and Support (currently full due to high demand)
British Business Bank Start Up Loan
A 6% fixed interest rate loan of up to £25,000 to help start up or grow a business. This is aimed at those experiencing difficulty in obtaining funding from more traditional sources.
Loans repayments are between one and five years.
All start up loan recipients will be offered up to 12 months free business mentoring.
Government Loans UK - Start Up Loans - British Business Bank
Midlands Engine Investment Fund ll (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:
- £30 million of small (SME) business loans ranging from £25,000 to £100,000 available including for start-up firms - Midlands Engine Investment Fund ll (MEIF ll)- BCRS Business Loans
- £90 million of debt finance available from £100,000 to £2million - Midlands Engine Investment Fund ll - Debt Finance West Midlands
- equity funding up to £5 million - Midlands Engine Investment Fund ll - Equity Finance West Midlands
Horizon Europe Funding
To help UK businesses develop ideas, innovations and further their research to power commercial opportunities and growth.
The fund aims to help equip businesses to turn ideas, early-stage developments, new research, and all forms of innovation into tangible opportunities to grow their business.
Average grants are £530,000 and are open to businesses of all types and sizes needing financial support in these areas.
Horizon Europe - Innovate UK Business Connect
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.
SWEF Enterprise Fund
Grants of up to £2,000 for young people in Staffordshire who need support with business start-up costs (pre start up and those trading under 2 years) that they would otherwise not be able to afford, and particularly those who are not in education, employment, or training.
Applicants need to be between the age of 18-30.
SWEF Enterprise Fund - Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire
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
The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme
Funding is available to farmers and land managers within an AONB, National Park in England or the Broads.
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
Contact Us
For further information on how we can help.
Mary Timmis
Growth and Investment Officer
01785 619000