UK Shared Prosperity Fund Business Grants

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF or the Fund) is a central pillar of the UK government’s ambitious Levelling Up agenda and a significant component of its support for places across the UK.

UKSPF Webinar

UKSPF Business Sustainability Grant

North Lincolnshire has been allocated funds through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the Levelling Up agenda. The fund will target where there is a need to create and build pride in place, support the business sector, and increase life chances through personal development and training to access employment. The fund will invest in three investment priorities: communities and place, support for local businesses, and people and skills.

North Lincolnshire Council is committed to delivering a clean, green economic future for the authority and the region and is looking to support our crucial economy to move towards this goal. We have launched our own commitment to a Green Future through our Green Futures plan and we are looking to ensure our businesses are able to join the journey and achieve a Net Zero economy by 2040. We recognise that the economic climate is a challenging one and support towards decarbonisation and de-risking investment needs to be made to achieve our collective goals which is the aim of this grant scheme.

The Business Sustainability Grants prime objective is to support businesses in reducing their energy related overheads whilst also seeking to reduce the regions CO2 emissions as a direct result. This will allow businesses to increase their profit margins, protect employment for residents of North Lincolnshire and our localised economy. Its aim is to support those businesses seeking to invest within the region; in technologies, products and services that will directly reduce their energy consumption, reducing their overheads and CO2 emissions by offering financial incentives directly to support and promote these investments. This grant scheme is designed to allow businesses to invest in the short term for their longer-term sustainability and support the UK government to achieve a Net Zero economy by 2040.

The fund is split between two distinct streams, covering capital investment and revenue costs. The revenue strand will enable businesses to access independent expert advice in understanding their own energy costs, assess/undertake feasibility studies into possible solutions and costs associated with installing equipment/technologies. The capital element of the grant will cover the investment in products/machinery deemed to help support the reduction in CO2 emissions.

The maximum grant per business will be £5,000 and the minimum grant per business will be £500. The investment ratio will be considered as part of the application process and is governed by the UK Subsidy Allowance Rules – for full details on what the intervention rate is for your business, please read the detailed guidance document.

Typical projects could be:

• Installation of LED lights throughout the business property
• Installations of solar panels on roofs for generation on behalf of the business
• Replacement of inefficient boiler to a modern, hydrogen ready boiler
• Feasibility studies into where a business could look to invest to reduce their CO2 emissions.

To be eligible, the business activity must be based within North Lincolnshire, the business must have been trading for a minimum of 12 months and prove that they have a UK based bank account in the name of the entity applying for funding.

You can read the full guidance and eligibility criteria below, to make an application click onto the apply here button below.

Due to the expected high volume of applications, any enquiries should be emailed to businessinfo@northlincs.gov.uk

UKSPF Digital and Marketing Grant

North Lincolnshire has been allocated funds through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the Levelling Up agenda. The fund will target where there is a need to create and build pride in place, support the business sector, and increase life chances through personal development and training to access employment. The fund will invest in three investment priorities: communities and place, support for local businesses, and people and skills.

North Lincolnshire Council is aiming to support our local economy to access funding to help them adapt their business to deliver further growth maximising the use of digital technologies and/or raising their profile through marketing campaigns. We recognise that we are facing unprecedented economic challenges to businesses and the need to be able to invest in new technologies to remain competitive across a global landscape remains a fundamental pillar within our Economic Growth Plan vision. We have previously launched digital schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic that enabled business to invest, and we are seeking to build on this with further support.

The scheme is also closely aligned with the Government’s own Digital Strategy which was launched last year, which highlights ‘The UK’s economic future, jobs, wage levels, prosperity, national security, cost of living, productivity, ability to compete globally and our geo-political standing in the world are all reliant on continued and growing success in digital technology’.

The proposed scheme will offer revenue aid to businesses to help them invest and safeguard existing jobs but also seek to create further growth leading to new skilled employment opportunities for residents. The capital strand will seek to support in the investment of new hardware, software or improving businesses digital connectivity through broadband vouchers. The scheme will not support general IT purchases (such as laptops, iPads, tablets etc.) unless these can be directly linked to wider elements of a project. The revenue element of the grant can cover businesses purchasing digital marketing campaigns, use of consultants to assess how to improve the reach of the business and/or the installation of new technologies as part of the wider project.

The maximum grant per business will be £10,000 for revenue projects and the minimum grant per business will be £500. The investment ratio will be considered as part of the application process and is governed by the UK Subsidy Allowance Rules – for full details on what the intervention rate is for your business, please read the detailed guidance document.

Typical projects could be:

• Purchase of new software to improve customer management journey
• Purchase of the installation of improved broadband to a business
• Purchase of bespoke IT equipment and software to deliver a new service/product
• Contribution towards a digital marketing campaign
• Procurement of marketing consultants to develop a new marketing strategy for a business looking at growing it’s clients reach
• Moving a current website from regional/national to an international marketing – to increase existing export potential

To be eligible, the business activity must be based within North Lincolnshire, the business must have been trading for a minimum of 12 months and prove that they have a UK based bank account in the name of the entity applying for funding.

You can read the full guidance and eligibility criteria below, to make an application click onto the apply here button below.

Due to the expected high volume of applications, any enquiries should be emailed to businessinfo@northlincs.gov.uk

UKSPF Capital Grant

North Lincolnshire has been allocated funds through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the Levelling Up agenda. The fund will target where there is a need to create and build pride in place, support the business sector, and increase life chances through personal development and training to access employment. The fund will invest in three investment priorities: communities and place, support for local businesses, and people and skills.

North Lincolnshire Council is aiming to support our local economy to access funding to help them adapt their business to deliver further growth the Scheme’s prime objective is the creation of new jobs. Its aim is to help support businesses to grow the economy through new investment, support the expansion and diversification of existing businesses located in North Lincolnshire.

We recognise that we are facing unprecedented economic challenges to businesses and the need to be able to invest in advanced equipment to remain competitive across a global landscape remains a fundamental pillar within our Economic Growth Plan vision. We have previously launched capital equipment schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic that enabled business to invest, and we are seeking to build on this with further support.

The proposed scheme will offer Capital aid to businesses to help them invest and safeguard existing jobs as well as seek to create further growth leading to new skilled employment opportunities for residents.

The minimum grant level that can be applied for is £2,500. The maximum grant level is £15,000 per applicant with applicants only able to make one application per fiscal year.

Typical projects could include the acquisition of plant and machinery, such as:

• CNC Machines & Laser Cutters
• Sewing & Embroidery Machines
• Industrial Printers and printing equipment
• Shot Blast units & Compressors
• Spray Paint Equipment
• Warehouse racking and Forklift trucks
• Drones & Specialist video equipment but not software

To be eligible, the business activity must be based within North Lincolnshire, the business must have been trading for a minimum of 12 months and prove that they have a UK based bank account in the name of the entity applying for funding.

You can read the full guidance and eligibility criteria below, to make an application click onto the apply here button below.

Due to the expected high volume of applications, any enquiries should be emailed to businessinfo@northlincs.gov.uk

UKSPF Business Supply Readiness Grant

North Lincolnshire has been allocated funds through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the Levelling Up agenda. The fund will target where there is a need to create and build pride in place, support the business sector, and increase life chances through personal development and training to access employment. The fund will invest in three investment priorities: communities and place, support for local businesses, and people and skills.

North Lincolnshire Council is aiming to support our local economy to access funding designed to enable businesses within the region to obtain the relevant accreditations (such as ISO) needed to be prepared to tender for local government or central government contracts and/or to support with new developments locally. In turn this fund supports businesses to diversify and access new business opportunities leading to economic growth.

The proposed scheme will offer Revenue aid to businesses to help them invest in the relevant accreditations to create further growth leading to safeguarding existing jobs as well as seek new skilled employment opportunities for residents.

The minimum grant level that can be applied for is £400. The maximum grant level is £2,000 per applicant with applicants only able to make one application per fiscal year. One application can include more than one accreditation/certificate if necessary.

The investment ratio for the grant is set at 50%.

Typical projects could include the acquisition accreditations, such as:

• ISO9001 Quality Management
• ISO45001 Health and Safety Management
• ISO14001 Environmental Management
• ISO22301 Business Continuity
• Cyber Essentials

To be eligible, the business activity must be based within North Lincolnshire, the business must have been trading for a minimum of 12 months and prove that they have a UK based bank account in the name of the entity applying for funding.

You can read the full guidance and eligibility criteria below, to make an application click onto the apply here button below.

Due to the expected high volume of applications, any enquiries should be emailed to businessinfo@northlincs.gov.uk

UKSPF Business Development Ready Grant

North Lincolnshire has been allocated funds through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) as part of the Levelling Up agenda. The fund will target where there is a need to create and build pride in place, support the business sector, and increase life chances through personal development and training to access employment. The fund will invest in three investment priorities: communities and place, support for local businesses, and people and skills.

North Lincolnshire Council is aiming to support our local economy to access funding designed to assist businesses with the associated cost of developments locally.  In turn this fund supports businesses to diversify and access new business opportunities leading to economic growth.

The proposed scheme will offer Revenue aid to businesses to help them unlock potential developments to create further economic growth leading to safeguarding existing jobs as well as seek new skilled employment opportunities for residents. 

The maximum grant level is £3,000 per applicant with applicants only able to make one application per fiscal year. One application can include more than one fee if necessary. The grant can not be used for resubmission and/or appeals associated with historic planning applications.

Eligible Activities

Subject to UK Subsidy Allowance Rules (influenced by company size/status and location), investment from the Development Ready Grant can be used to contribute to one or more of the following commercial activities:

• Planning Permission (full, change of use, prior approval or outline planning permission or reserved matters) – Fees
• Architect Fees
• Planning Consultants Fees
• Specialists’ advisors (Ecologists, Transport, Noise, Flood Risk etc.)
• Building Control associated fees
• Legal Fees associated with bringing new developments forward

To be eligible, the business activity must be based within North Lincolnshire, the business must have been trading for a minimum of 12 months and prove that they have a UK based bank account in the name of the entity applying for funding.

Application Timeframe

The grants will be subject to an application window starting at 10am on the 10th August 2023 and closing at 5pm on the 5th October 2023. Applications submitted after the close date will not be considered during this application window. Businesses will have until 5pm on the 9th October 2023 to submit any relevant documents relevant to the guidance above.

Please note that the UKSPF Business Supply Readiness Grant and UKSPF Business Development Ready Grant will not follow the above timetable as they are on a first come, first serve basis. The grants will be delivered strictly in the order in which we receive Expressions of Interest, starting at 10am on the 10th August 2023 and be open until the funds are fully allocated.

Approval Process

Subject to volume on applications North Lincolnshire Council intends to undertake the below process in regards reviewing and assessing those applications that come forward.

• 9th October 2023 – Initial assessment of applications to ensure they are compliant with the scheme.
• 10th - 27TH October 2023 – Due diligence to be undertaken on all applicants.
• 6th & 7th November 2023 – UK Shared Prosperity Fund Panel will meet to review all the applicants and award grants to those successful.
• 9th & 10th November 2023 – All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

All successful awards will be posted onto the Invest in Website detailing the business name and total award. Applicants who are unsuccessful will be offered the opportunity to obtain feedback and apply for any future rounds but there will be no right for appeal following the decision-making panel’s decision.