Financial restraints holding back your business progression? Over to Market Infra consultant, Bronwyn Linkhorn, to talk you through grant funding options
There’s a wealth of non-repayable grant funding available for businesses of all shapes and sizes. These range from nationwide schemes, to specialised opportunities, dedicated specifically for organisations based and operating in South Yorkshire. This means that your business could take advantage of funding, enabling you to undertake projects or access skills that might not otherwise be financially viable. The funding world can be a bit of a minefield, however, so we’ve put together a handy guide to help get you started.
Why do grant funds exist?
Grants are typically issued to organisations to assist with projects that will benefit wider society. This means that if your potential idea or project may result in the creation of local jobs, the development of skills within a workforce or advancements in technology that may have positive impacts on the environment, you will have a higher chance of being awarded the funding.
Who is eligible?
Grant funding is available to a range of SMEs and is generally categorised by size, sector or geographical location.
Funding can have a broad criterion, focusing on general advancements within research, development and technology or can be more focused, with the aim to improve within a specific sector or geographical location.
What grants are available to you?
There are multiple grant funding opportunities available in and around the Sheffield region. These include nation-wide schemes such as Innovate UK Smart Grants, to specialised opportunities dedicated specifically to organisations based and operating in South Yorkshire.
The grant market currently has a strong focus on environmental sustainability and ways in which businesses are able to reduce waste both internally and within wider society. Therefore, if you have a potential project you have been wanting to get off the ground that is sustainability based, now is the time to apply!
How can I apply?
Grant funding applications can be onerous and time consuming to complete, it’s rare your team is just sitting around waiting for something to do! We can help with your application, writing and managing the whole process for you. In addition, we can offer strategic business advice to better the quality of your application, our experience has shown that a slight project adjustment, or a complete change in project direction can be crucial in the success of your application. If successful, we are also able to offer further consultancy and project management services to assist with project completion, with the costs of these services often be covered by funding awarded.
To explore what grants your organisation may be eligible for, and for assistance with an application, contact us at: bronwyn.linkhorn@marketinfra.co.uk
