There are many environmental and sustainability grants and support schemes available to help businesses improve their green credentials and we have provided details on just a few of those that we think may be of interest to you right now.

The Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) supports the growth of existing small and medium sized enterprises (businesses) in the Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire LEP area.

The Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund (WRIF) has been developed with the aim of distributing £140m over the next five years, offering loans and other financial investments to existing and new businesses.

The fund is part of the UK government’s strategic plan to grow its exports by providing additional financial support to SMEs to help them intensify their international trade and stabilise their business operations.

Young people can apply for an award to make their business idea a reality, which includes a grant for £5,000, a living allowance, and tailored business support.

Manufacturing businesses are being offered support and funding to grow and become more competitive through a sector-specific programme.

Organisations can apply for a share of up to £40 million for grants to improve the energy efficiency of industrial processes, reducing energy bills and cutting carbon emissions.

Small and medium-sized UK businesses needing support on customs duties and VAT can apply to the SME Brexit Fund for a grant of up £2,000 to pay for professional advice or training.

A new Recovery Loan Scheme will launch on 6 April until 31 December to make available loans between £25,001 and £10 million, and asset and invoice finance between £1,000 and £10 million.

The Restart Grant is a new fund for business owners, helping them through what is hoped will be the final stages of Covid-19 restrictions.
It will replace the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) and Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) – these will both close at the end of March.

The government has launched a £520m Help to Grow scheme, providing a boost to small businesses as the country attempts to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

View a comprehensive list of the current grants and support available for businesses in North Worcestershire.

Businesses that took out government-backed Bounce Back Loans to get through Covid-19 will now have greater flexibility to repay their loans.

The Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment (CBLP) supports businesses that have been required to close due to the national restrictions that began on 5 January 2021.
Eligible businesses may be entitled to a one-off cash grant of up to £9,000 from their local council.

Local councils will pay the same businesses that are eligible to receive the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum for the national lockdown period that began on 5 January.

The Government has announced £4.6 billion in new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs. 

• Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors are to receive a one-off grant worth up to £9,000
• A £594 million discretionary fund made available to support other impacted businesses
• In addition to £1.1 billion further discretionary grant funding for Local Authorities, Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to £3,000 a month and extension of furlough scheme

The government’s three Coronavirus business interruption loan schemes – the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) – and the Future Fund will be extended to the end of March 2021. Eligible businesses will be able to ‘top up’ existing Bounce Back Loans should they need additional finance.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) is now open for applications. This is a government grant administered by local authorities.  It is available to businesses that were impacted by the restrictions in place between 2 and 29 December 2020. 

You may receive a grant of up to £1,500 at the discretion of your local council if:

• your business is required to close but you do not pay business rates
• if your business is not required to close, but has been severely affected, for example as a result of customer businesses being closed
• Your local council will publish details of discretionary funding on their website

The Low Carbon Growth Support Project provides free energy efficiency audits and grants for new equipment and/or consultancy to help reduce your energy bills.

Innovate UK are offering a new investment readiness programme – Pitchfest.

Pitchfest supports innovative and ambitious UK SMEs to get investment ready and develop their investor pitch in order to raise finance.

You no longer need a minimum of 30 job placements to apply directly for a grant. You can use the Kickstart Scheme to create new job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The grant is designed to help businesses to improve their commercial premises by providing financial support towards the cost of building improvement works. The primary purpose of the scheme is to increase and/or improve business accommodation and to help create new employment opportunities. Funding is targeted at eligible Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) located in GBSLEP area and delivering activities within the B1 and B2 planning categories (manufacturing and processing, office uses, business-to-business activities).

HMRC has extended the deadline for customs training funding, helping business upskill staff in making customs declarations. Applications are open until 30 June 2021 (or until all funding is allocated).

Business Growth Programme 2 offers grants of £2,500 to £1,000,000 and is designed to strengthen supply chains, stimulate innovation and help businesses grow. The programme is available to:

• Start-Up B2B Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) moving into or located in The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area only
• Existing B2B SMEs moving into or located in The Greater Birmingham & Solihull and The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership areas