What is the Warwickshire County Council Growth Fund?
The Warwickshire County Council Growth Fund offers small capital grants to small businesses with growth plans. The funding is part of a package of business loans and grants agreed by the County Council to support Warwickshire’s businesses. Grants of £5,000 to £35,000 are available to micro and small businesses for capital projects.
Who can Apply:
The small business grant programme is designed to help businesses access investment that will help them diversify or modernise their operations, leading to economic growth and job creation. Micro and small enterprises can apply. A micro-enterprise is defined as an enterprise with fewer than 10 employees whose annual turnover OR balance sheet does not exceed €2 million (about £1.6 million). Relationships with other enterprises are also taken into account when determining whether or not you meet these criteria. A small business is defined as a business with fewer than 50 employees whose annual turnover OR balance sheet does not exceed €10 million (about £7.9 million). Again, relationships with other enterprises are also taken into account.
Applications accepted from these sectors in Warwickshire:
- Advanced manufacturing and engineering;
- Creative industries;
- Digital media and gaming;
- Intelligent transport systems;
- Low carbon technologies;
- Professional services;
- Tourism and culture.
Grants are not available towards the costs of buying land or property. The scheme will provide support for eligible projects requesting between £5,000 and up to £35,000 of grant. Grant support up to a maximum of 40% of the total eligible costs is available.
Ineligible costs
The following costs also cannot be claimed:
• Expenditure incurred before the start date in the grant offer letter;
• The costs of getting any permissions or consents;
• Working capital;
• Business as usual activities including salaries and marketing;
• Mobile infrastructure such as vehicles, mobile plant;
• Project management costs;
• Overheads allocated or apportioned at rates materially in excess of those used for any similar work carried out by the applicant;
