Supporting Local Business funding
Supporting Local Business funding allocation: £899,752
Local businesses are the lifeblood of the economy and with over 19,000 in West Northamptonshire, of which over 98% are small or micro businesses.
We are dedicated to delivering initiatives and activities that improve business survival, enable sustainable and inclusive business growth and establish West Northants as a place where businesses can thrive.
The ambitions for this allocation include:
- nurturing entrepreneurs and improving business survival, particularly in start-ups
- enabling innovation and growth, allowing businesses to implement creative initiatives to enhance and improve
- delivering activities related to decarbonisation to strive towards a net zero future
- providing funding and guidance to charge resilience and growth in local employers
As set out in the UK Shared Prosperity Fund prospectus, the Supporting Local Business investment priority seeks to address these challenges by investing in projects with the following objectives
- creating jobs by building on existing industries
- boosting community cohesion and promote collaborations by bringing together businesses leaders across sectors to share knowledge and expertise, stimulating innovation and growth
- increasing private sector investment in growth-enhancing activities, such as providing business with targeted support to assist with innovations, energy efficiency and the journey to net-zero
Our projects
Business and IP Centre (BIPC)
Dedicated business support focused on start-up and early-stage business. This support includes webinars, workshops, one-to-one advice sessions plus grants of £2,000.
Find out more about Build Your Business.
Support for rural businesses
The initiative provided non-financial support through workshops, mentoring, and networking, helping enterprises strengthen operations, foster innovation, and build long-term resilience.
Driving Innovation Grants
Several enterprises received tailored non-financial support. This support included expert advice, training, and resources that strengthened strategic planning, operational efficiency, and networking, contributing to their growth and resilience in a competitive market.
Careers & Enterprise Hub
A range of enterprises benefited from tailored non-financial support, including expert advice, training, and strategic guidance that enhanced their growth, resilience, and innovation, contributing to a more dynamic enterprise ecosystem.
Invest in West Northants
A variety of local events, including festivals, workshops, sports, and educational programs, were supported to foster community engagement, cultural enrichment, social inclusion, and strengthen local networks.
Find out more about Invest in West Northants.
Economic Growth studies
The support helped create studies to check if the projects were practical. These studies gave useful information to help make decisions and plan for long-term success by showing possible risks, benefits, and what resources would be needed.
Rural Grant business support
Non-financial support were provided for rural businesses looking to apply for capital grants through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), including a range of workshops and support with grant applications.
Find out more about the West Northamptonshire Rural Business Grant.
Last updated 20 August 2025