North Shropshire Business Grant Scheme

North Shropshire District Council's Business Grant Scheme offers assistance to incoming and start up businesses and businesses looking to grow within the district. Its aim is to help develop a diverse and dynamic business base in North Shropshire District with the following objectives:

• creating new and substantial job opportunities;
• encouraging the creation of new businesses;
• encouraging investment from businesses in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector;
• encouraging inward investment;
• encouraging energy conservation, environmental improvements and crime prevention.

The Grant

• The grant is available for any business or individual either currently operating or intending to operate in the district of North Shropshire
• Applicants must demonstrate a need for grant assistance, which must be for a specific activity that will provide benefits based on the scheme's objectives
• Grants are available from £1,000 to £5,000 per business. In exceptional cases where high value jobs are to be created, a higher level of grant may be considered 
• Grants will be provided for up to 50% of the total cost of the project
• The grant element of the project is for capital investment only. ICT investments are encouraged

Eligibility

• Applicants must operate or be intending to operate a business in the district of North Shropshire
• Applicants will be required to provide details of the activity to be grant aided including timescales, costs and project management arrangements
• Applicants must demonstrate a need for support and likely outputs in return for grant assistance, such as the creation of a new business or jobs 
• Start up businesses must be able to provide a viable Business Plan
• Grants will not be awarded for expenditure already incurred
• Grants will be for capital expenditure only and will exclude renewal of existing equipment or facilities
• Grants will not be approved for businesses where there are arrears on either Council Tax or Business Rates accounts
• Applicants must comply with any legal regulations affecting them
• Priority will be given to applicants who take measures to support energy conservation, crime prevention and environmental improvements

General conditions

• A grant may be offered subject to the availability of funds and will be awarded at the discretion of the Council
• The decision of the Council to offer a grant is final and not subject to appeal
• The Council reserves the right to withdraw and recover funds if conditions attached to the award are not met
• The Council will require applicants to participate in a feedback questionnaire up to one year after the date that the grant was received
• The applicant is responsible for all payments in full for products/services purchased as part of the project including any applicable VAT
• All project costs must be based on net value unless the business is not VAT registered, in which case the business may calculate total spend on gross values
• Invoices for grant claims must be VAT free
• Grants will be paid in arrears following evidence of spend on agreed activity
• Grants must be paid within 6 months of approval
• No payments will be made after 31 March 2009 due to impending change to local authority unitary status

Application

For further information about the North Shropshire Business Grant Scheme and / or an application form, please contact: PCG Associates, Thornicombe, Badger Road, Beckbury, Shropshire, TF11 9DQ; telephone 01952 750293 or email: peter@pcgassociates.plus.com.

Achievements of the Grant Scheme

If you are interested in finding out more about how the Grant Scheme has already assisted businesses in North Shropshire, click here to download an article reproduced with the kind permission of Taste Shropshire and The Marches.

This page was last updated on 30 April 2008.