Grants for Fife businesses

Post Author:

Rona Burns

Date Posted:

April 3, 2023

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Fife Council’s SME Development Grant provides financial support to help Fife-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and grow.

The grant opens for applications on 1 April 2023. The deadline to apply is 31 January 2025.

The fund provides a non-repayable grant of up to £2,850, or 100% of the eligible costs (whichever is lower), to cover costs in 6 eligible areas:

  • trade development,
  • workforce upskilling,
  • transition to net zero,
  • research and development (R&D) and innovation support,
  • agriculture business diversification, and
  • support for studies.

Trade development

The trade development funding provides grants to:

  • assist businesses with the cost of exhibiting at trade shows in the UK or Europe;
  • assist businesses with the cost of participating in overseas trade missions; and
  • support other costs associated with accessing new markets, such as exporting.

Workforce upskilling

The funding for workforce upskilling provides grants to help companies improve the productivity and profitability of their business by training and upskilling existing employees.

Transition to net zero

The transition to net zero funding helps businesses move towards achieving net zero emissions through a range of measures, including premises improvements, waste reduction or reuse, and the creation of green jobs.

Research and development (R&D) and innovation support

The R&D and innovation funding is primarily for micro-SMEs that are unable to access the R&D and innovation support provided by Scottish Enterprise.

Agriculture business diversification

The agriculture business diversification funding is to help agriculture businesses to develop agritourism and food and drink-focussed proposals, as well as to support the adoption of new approaches and technologies, including vertical farming.

Support for studies

The support for studies funding can help businesses that are required to undertake a study – for example, on ecological impact or noise assessment – as part of a project to develop new or existing premises.

The SME Development Grant is delivered by Business Gateway Fife on behalf of Fife Council and is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Applications are completed by a Business Gateway adviser, then checked, signed, and submitted by the business that’s applying. Therefore, you must be working with Business Gateway Fife to be considered.

See: Grants for Fife businesses (findbusinesssupport.gov.scot)

 

Fife Start-Up Grant

Fife Council’s Start-Up Grant can provide individuals who intend to start a business in Fife with up to £500 towards the costs involved in starting to trade. Eligible costs include things such as equipment, stock, and certification.

The Start-Up Grant opens for applications on 1 April 2023. The deadline to apply is 31 January 2025.

Grants are offered at the discretion of a Business Gateway adviser, so you must be working with Business Gateway Fife to be considered.

The grant is paid retrospectively, so applicants will need to cover the costs upfront and then submit a claim with evidence of their expenditure to receive their grant.

Applications are completed by a Business Gateway adviser, then checked, signed, and submitted by the business that’s applying.

The Start-Up Grant is delivered by Business Gateway Fife on behalf of Fife Council and is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

See: Fife Start-Up Grant (findbusinesssupport.gov.scot)

Photo by Ross Sneddon on Unsplash

 

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