Grant funding support for businesses in the borough
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, visit the GOV.UK website.
During 2023/24 and 2024/25, the council used its £1M allocation of UK Shared Prosperity Fund to provide financial assistance to community and voluntary sector organisations and businesses in the borough to establish the following range of grant schemes.
All schemes under this allocation are now closed for applications.
The Fund supported high street businesses and landlords to make improvements to their premises. Grants were provided to new and existing businesses to make upgrades to shop fronts and building facades, undertake internal fit outs and to create outdoor seating areas. The Fund was set up as part of the council’s Town Centre Strategy and improvement plans for the Top of the Town area as well as supporting the vibrancy of towns and villages in rural parts of the borough.
Town and Village Centre Fund - Round 1 Award Summary(PDF) [174 kb]
The Fund supported local rural micro and small businesses, including local not-for-profit organisations to deliver new and innovative capital projects to support the diversification of the rural economy, improve the visitor infrastructure and experience and help mitigate the impacts of climate change
Rural England Prosperity Fund - Round 1 Award Summary(PDF) [172 kb]
The Fund supported local micro businesses and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to access and nurture local talent through an apprenticeship. Grants were provided to cover the costs of recruiting and retaining a new apprentice, helping to diversify the company’s workforce and supporting business growth.
Apprenticeships - Award Summary(PDF) [177 kb]
The Fund supported local micro businesses and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to invest in their workforce, equipping employees with new skills and knowledge to support business growth, organisational resilience and to support the professional development of employees.
Workforce Development Fund - Award Summary(PDF) [168 kb]
