Innovation Grant (business grant)
Summary
The Innovation Grant is designed to help existing businesses expand their operation. Applicants must clearly demonstrate how the grant will be used specifically to develop or introduce a new aspect of their business operations. Up to £1,500 is available through the scheme. Find out if you qualify for the grant, and how to apply for it, from this page.
How to apply for the Innovation Grant
- First find out if you're eligible - read the guidance notes below (or download the PDF from 'Downloads');
- Download the application form - Word version if you want to save it and fill it out 'offline', PDF if you prefer to print it and fill it out by hand;
- Complete the form, which asks for:
- Your contact details and details of your business;
- Detailed information on how you will use the grant; - Return the form to:
Regeneration Team
South Norfolk Council
South Norfolk House
Swan Lane
Long Stratton
Norwich NR15 2XE - Make sure you include:
- A Business Plan
- A copy of your business accounts for the last two years (if possible);
- quotes for the services/products you're seeking help with.
Printable forms
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Downloads
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Further information
Purpose of the grant
We are offering this help because:
- One of the main reasons small businesses do not develop is the lack of access to professional advice or the failure to produce a detailed Business Plan.
- When you are developing a business, it is important to concentrate on core activities, and not to be distracted by tasks which could be undertaken more quickly, effectively and possibly more efficiently by others.
- Businesses need to continually develop their staff to improve business performance.
How the scheme works
A Grant of up to £1500 is available for those applicants who are seeking to develop their business in South Norfolk.
However the business must ‘match’ the grant with an equal amount of its own funding. For example, if the conversion of a redundant bar to a village shop will cost £3000 the business must clearly demonstrate it’s own contribution of £1500.
Equally if a new piece of equipment is required to develop a new service the business will need to match 50% of the capital cost from its own resources.
Conditions
- The Scheme is for South Norfolk businesses intending to carry out their business from within the district.
- Businesses must not have been in receipt of other grants or funding from SNC during the last 5 years and should have between 1 and 10 employees.
- Applicants will need to show that the service, training or product requested is necessary at the time.
- Twoquotes are required when applying for any part of the Innovation Grant.
- A detailed Business Plan, (with full cost and revenue projections), is required for all applications.
- Businesses must be able to demonstrate a successful period of trading from within South Norfolk, (Minimum 12 months). Your latest set of accounts must accompany the application although ideally we would like to see 2 years of audited accounts.
- The business must use the Grant to research, introduce or develop a new aspect of it’s trading operations. Grant funding cannot be used to maintain the existing operations of a business.
- The scheme will not cover cost incurred prior to an application being approved.
What can the grant be used for?
The grant can be used to help with the cost of:
- Developing premises which will offer a new service or function which are in addition to the existing operations of the business;
- Buyingequipment to be used in the development of new products or services which are in addition to the existing operations of the business;
- Specialist ICT advice or services;
- Sourcing long term development capital;
- Patenting and other specialist legal advice/services;
- Technical planning/leasing/property advice;
- Website design and development;
- Interactive website design and development;
- Specialist marketing advice/long term planning, and;
- Training of any kind to assist with the development of a business
Training might include employees requiring training on new equipment/software, Craft skills, Basic Skills, NVQs to level 3, communication, customer care and sales skills, Training for Managers And Administrators, Professional Occupations, Associate Professional & Technical Occupations and Personal & Protective Occupations.
What the grant CANNOT be used for
- Anything which you must do as part of running a business, such as end of year accounts, filing tax returns or general business advice;
- The cost of printing;
- Costs incurred prior to an application being approved.
The Innovation Grant will not cover general business advice. Applicants will also need to provide written confirmation that the service they are seeking assistance with is not available free of charge or at a subsidised rate from other business support services. Business Link East will be able to assist you with this.
The application process
Once your completed application form and all supporting information is received your application will be assessed. We aim to give you a decision within four weeks of receipt of the completed application form.
If your application is accepted, we will also let you know which quote has been accepted. You can then incur the approved costs, pay the bill and send the receipted original invoice to the above address. The appropriate amount will then be refunded to you.
Related pages on this website
Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Assistant Economic Development Officer |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | prosper@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| telephone: | 01508 533666 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk Council South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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If you need information in large print, audio cassette, braille, translation (written or verbal) or signed interpretation, let us know when you contact us.
