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Supporting Local Business funding

Supporting Local Business funding allocation: £2,159,532

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

Growth and Innovation Scheme

Businesses in West Northamptonshire can now access a new support programme which will help to propel innovation and growth through a comprehensive support package.

Working in partnership with the University of Bedfordshire, grants of up to £20,000, along with business support advice and guidance are available from the University to local businesses to deliver growth & innovation.

As part of this comprehensive program, the University will deliver activities designed to empower businesses with innovation and technological support, enhancing their productivity and competitiveness. 

From fully funded participation in short courses to personalised 1-2-1 consultancy sessions with industry experts, subsidised graduate employment, as well as access to revenue grant funding, businesses will receive tailored support to address their unique needs and challenges.

Build Your Business

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.

Vulcan Creatives

A six month programme of intensive support to enable potential entrepreneurs to establish start-up companies within creative industries. The support includes workshops, training, one-to-one advice sessions and a £1,000 grant upon completion of the programme.

Find out more about Vulcan Creatives.

Towards a Net Zero West Northants

Further development of the existing sustainability offer, working with a range of partners to deliver a series of webinars.

Find out more about Towards a Net Zero Northants.

Decarbonisation Support Programme

Workshops and other support for businesses on decarbonisation, followed by capital and revenue grants of £20,000 to support their decarbonisation ambitions and contributing towards Sustainability in your business.

Find out more about how your business can take part by visiting the Net Zero West Northants website.

Careers Hub

Match fund a dedicated Careers Hub Enterprise Coordinator for West Northamptonshire. The scheme will support employers to engage with the future workforce, learn the benefits of offering different types of employment such as apprenticeships and bridge the gap between education and employment.

Find out more about the Careers Hub.

Growth Hub

Match fund a dedicated business adviser for West Northamptonshire, complementing the BIPC offer by focusing on higher growth/growing businesses who have progressed beyond the early stages.

Tourism Study

Funded review and assessment of tourism/the visitor economy offer in Northamptonshire as a whole and how West Northants can enhance the local visitor economy.

Rural Grant business support

Non-financial support for rural businesses looking to apply for capital grants through the REPF, including a range of workshops and support with grant applications.

You can find out more about the West Northamptonshire Rural Business Grant.

West Northamptonshire Social Enterprise Towns (WNSET)

WNSET is funded by Northampton Forward and supported by West Northamptonshire Council. It is a community-driven initiative that aims to provide funding and support for local social entrepreneurs to maximise the impact of Northampton’s diverse social enterprise sector.

The fund offers 2 types of investments:

Social Enterprise Start-up Investment - between £1,000 and £5,000

The Social Enterprise Business Start-up investment funding is designed to support the creation and initial trading model for social entrepreneurs. It’s targeted at individuals who have a business idea which addresses a social, environmental or community issue.

Social Enterprise Build It Up Investment - between £1,000 and £5,000

The Social Enterprise Build It Up Grant is targeted at social entrepreneurs who have an existing, tested social enterprise business and want to grow its trading opportunity and social impact.

Find out more about WNSET.

Last updated 15 May 2024