Through UKSPF, Stafford Borough Council has launched a new fund to support various sectors who can apply such as:

• Micro, Small and Medium Sized Independent Businesses (SMEs)
• CIC: Community Interest Companies who are profit seeking
• Charities who must be registered with the Charities Commission
• Social Enterprises who are investing the profit back into the business
• Sole Traders, evidence of their unique tax reference number will be requested

The business needs to have been trading 12 months or more to be eligible to apply for this grant and based in commercial premises.

You need to be actively trading and located within the local authority area of Stafford Borough.

£160,000 has been allocated to this funding stream to support energy efficiency projects and no job creation is required for this grant.

Matched funded grants at an intervention rate of 80% (from SBC) and 20% from the applicant of the total project costs are available. Grants will range from a minimum of £5,000 to a maximum of £30,000 to support businesses to become more sustainable by implementing energy efficiency saving measures.

Eligible businesses will be funded where there is clear evidence of projected energy savings as a direct result of the project.

Hear how some of our businesses have used grant funding to cut down on energy costs: Sustainable Stafford

Applying for a Resilient Stafford Grant

Applications are open until 30 November 2025, subject to funds still being available, and will be assessed on a first come first served basis in terms of those who provide all supporting documentation required.

Before completing your online application, download and read the following documentation:

1. Resilient Stafford Policy (pdf 157kb)
2. Resilient Stafford Application Guidance Notes (pdf 186kb)
3. Resilient Stafford Subsidy Control Declaration Form (pdf 143kb) - you can download this form, fill it in and use your electronic signature or print a copy and fill it in manually. Or, you can download and fill in the Word version of the Subsidy Control Declaration Form and sign using your electronic signature. The declaration form is to be uploaded to your online application form.

Complete the Resilient Stafford Grant application online.

Eligible businesses will be funded where there is clear evidence of energy savings as a direct result of the project.

Your project must be completed within 13 weeks of receiving the Funding Agreement or by 31 March 2026, whichever is sooner.

Examples of eligible projects:

• energy-efficient lighting (LED, controls, sensors)
• electric kitchens and equipment
• EV charging points
• heating upgrades (replacement boilers, burners, heat pumps)
• insulation enhancements
• refrigeration improvements
• solar panels
• ventilation systems (fans, distribution, destratification fans)

Applicant eligibility:

• must be an independent profit seeking business based in commercial premises, within the local authority area of Stafford Borough and have been trading for more than 12 months
• must not be controlled by a corporate entity

An independent business can be defined as:

• privately owned and not a public company (plc)
• operates autonomously and is not affiliated with larger corporations or chains

The applicant also:

• must be currently trading and can provide 12 months of certified or management accounts or for self-employed people their last 12 months of self-assessment tax returns
• must employ less than 250 full-time equivalent persons
• must have an annual turnover of less than or equal to £44 million or a balance sheet total of less than or equal to £38million
• must not have received more than £315,000 in public subsidies in the current and previous two financial years (financial year being 1 April to 31 March) including the expected level of grant they are applying for
• must not have already purchased the service/product prior to grant application approval and prior to receiving a fully signed funding agreement from the Borough Council