West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) in collaboration with the Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire (BIPC), are proud to announce the thirteen winners of the second round of start-up grants through the Build Your Business programme.This initiative, supported by £600,000 from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) over two years, aims to empower small businesses, local entrepreneurs, and aspiring business owners across the county.The Build Your Business programme consists of five comprehensive modules covering key areas of running a business. These modules, delivered by specialist partners, include marketing, business growth, financial planning and personal development for...

North Northamptonshire Council has launched two grant schemes to help businesses increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.The NNDecarb business grant scheme is offering grants of up to £5,000 to support businesses and funds are to cover up to 50% of project costs for the installation of low carbon and energy efficient measures. Applications for this scheme can be made online via the NNC website.Also available are capital grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 to help businesses become more resilient and support growth, under the NN2NZ Green Transition Grant scheme. A particular target for this scheme is decarbonisation or green...

The Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire are launching a programme of business support in Northamptonshire.​Build Your Business is a new programme aimed at small businesses, entrepreneurs and anyone thinking of starting their own business.The programme consists of:1:1s webinars workshops access to specialist business databases mentoring networking start-up grants of up to £2,000​Start-up business grantsPart of the Build Your Business programme is the opportunity to apply for a grant. Successful applicants will receive a £2,000 grant for business expenses and ongoing support from the BIPC Northamptonshire team.The eligibility criteria and terms and conditions include:The business must be registered in...

Grants of £5,000 and £50,000 are now available for rural businesses across North Northamptonshire.Using monies received from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, North Northamptonshire Council has re-launched a grant scheme to support existing rural businesses, with applications now open.Following on from earlier rounds of the grant schemes, applications are now being accepted for projects that can start quickly and be delivered in full by 28 February 2025. A particular target for this round is rural diversification, including business diversification and projects which support the visitor economy.Examples of projects supported in earlier rounds include:New Lodge Farm in Bulwick who extended...

Several grant schemes are now available for registered charities, not-for-profit and Voluntary Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE) organisations in West Northamptonshire, or who are prepared to operate within West Northants, to apply for funding to support vulnerable households most in need with the cost of living.Using funds from the fifth tranche of the Household Support Fund for West Northants, £ 583,216.77 has been allocated for grant funding to support those in financial hardship, with funding being available until the end of September 2024.To ensure funding can support as many residents as needed, three grant schemes are available for organisations to...

North Northamptonshire Council has relaunched the Rural Business Grant Scheme, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). This scheme offers capital grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 to support businesses in diversification or growth, with a particular focus on the visitor economy. They have already supported several businesses in the first three rounds, including:New Lodge Farm café extension Refurbishment of Wallis Mill for B&B accommodation New farm shop at Rushton Extension at White Hills Marina New café in Kings Cliffe A rural swimming facilityThe deadline for applications is 26th July, and they have additional promotion planned post-election.For more...

Voluntary and community organisations across North Northamptonshire are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to £25,000 to improve energy efficiency and upgrade facilities in community buildings.The grants are funded by the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund which aims to increase life chances across the UK, investing in communities and place, supporting local business, as well as people and skills.If an organisation can effectively demonstrate that the funding will be used to support any of the following priorities, they can apply for a grant of up to £25,000:Community facility building upgrades to improve energy efficiency (e.g.,...

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has launched a new grant scheme which aims to support local people to develop their learning and skills and help them get into work.The Skills for Communities grant scheme is open to community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations that operate, or are prepared to operate, within the geographical area of West Northamptonshire and must be used to provide support to residents aged 16+ who are no longer in full-time education and who would like to develop existing or learn new skills.Local voluntary and community organisations including registered charities, community interest companies and social enterprises are invited...

Businesses in West Northamptonshire can now access a new decarbonisation support programme aimed at helping them to reach net zero and achieve their sustainability goals, including free business support, tailored energy audits and match funding up to £20,000 to implement energy efficiency measures.The programme is specifically tailored to help small and medium sized businesses make the transition to net zero and implement their sustainability plans and has received £630,854 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a central part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.The Net Zero West Northants project combines technical advice and diagnostic work with access...

Grants of up to £20,000 are available from the University of Bedfordshire to local businesses as part of a new programme launched by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to deliver business support, growth and innovation in the region.The initiative seeks to forge pathways to innovation while fostering a dynamic business ecosystem that fuels local pride, skill enhancement, and the expansion of employment opportunities, with £325,000 in funding available as part of the support package.As part of this comprehensive programme, the University will deliver business growth initiatives, including activities designed to empower businesses with innovation and technological support, enhancing their productivity and...

North Northamptonshire Council have launched the latest round of a grant scheme to help local businesses to increase energy efficiency, move to a lower carbon economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Small or medium sized businesses can now apply for grants up to £5,000 towards 50% of project costs, with the remaining amount to be match funded by the business.The funding can be used for:lighting and lighting controls heating and heating controls insulation energy efficient machinery and equipment (e.g. air compressors) solar panels heat pumps biomass boilers energy storage building energy management systemsCllr David Brackenbury, the council’s Executive Member for Growth...