Who Are We Able to Support

Start- Up Grants 

• Applicants need to be between the age of 18-30
• UK Businesses only
• Pre-revenue or just started trading
• Has the potential to be profitable
• Has the potential to create a meaningful income for the applicant
• Has the potential to be the applicant’s sole work focus
• Applications solely for ‘business ideas’ will not be considered. Applicants must be able to give evidence of significant steps taken to get the business off the ground.
• Applications must demonstrate a financial need for the grant.
• Applications must detail a specific use for the grant, with quotes provided.
• Applicants must be based in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin

Business Grants 

• Applicants need to be between the age of 18-30
• UK Businesses only
• Applications can only be from sole traders/partnerships/limited companies/CICs limited by shares that have been trading less than 2 years.
• Applications must come from a majority shareholder
• A business must be an applicants sole work focus or the plan is that it will become so shortly
• Applications solely for ‘business ideas’ will not be considered. Applicants must be able to give evidence of significant steps taken to get your business off the ground.
• Applications must demonstrate a financial need for the grant.
• Applications can only come from businesses that have a business bank account.
• Applications must detail a specific use for the grant, with quotes provided.
• A contribution towards a grant item of over £2,000 may only be awarded of up to 25% of the total amount required by applicant.
• Applicants must be based in Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin

Projects 

Start – Up Grants

Start-up grants are awarded up to £500.

• The applicant should have the relevant experience / training to potentially succeed.
• Applications are for businesses at the pre-revenue stage, or within a month or two of starting to trade.
• Applicants will need to have and show some visibility on the business and the steps taken to get the business off the ground
• Applicants need to explain how a grant will transform the business and take it to the next stage
• Applicants must provide weblinks / quotes for items the applicant is looking to buy
• All grants must be paid to a business bank account
• Grants must be spent within one month of receipt of funds.

Business Grants 

Applications can be for grants up to the value of £2,000.

• “Business ideas” will not be considered
• Applicants must demonstrate that have made significant steps in their business
• Applicants need to explain how a grant will transform the business and take it to the next stage
• Applicants must provide weblinks / quotes for items the applicant is looking to buy
• All grants must be paid to a business bank account
• Grants must be spent within one month of the receipt of funds

Eligible Costs

(This is not an exhaustive list)

• Equipment that will help a business achieve increased revenues.
• Equipment that will help a business increase production where there is proven demand.
• Materials/stock.
• Website/booking system build.
• Training.
• Product development.

Ineligible Costs

• Salaries
• Debt repayment
• Software businesses/App development
• Rent and utilities
• Invasive beauty treatment
• Ongoing software subscriptions
• New computers, phones, tablets (second-hand versions may be considered)

NB on a match funded basis, SWEF will consider applications for refurbished technology.  However, in order to be successful, the applicant will need to explain why the laptop, tablet or phone will transform their business. A link to the refurbished item will also be required, with an explanation of why they need this piece of specific technology.

The Application Process

In the application, you will need to :

• Tell us about your business, and how a grant would help you to make it more successful or support start up costs.
• Provide a breakdown of specific costs to help us understand how you would use the grant.
• Avoid general terms like “marketing” that do not provide enough detail about how you will spend the grant.
• Provide a reference to support your application. Your referee should be a person who can tell us about your character or abilities and can confirm your circumstances. This could be a tutor, support worker or someone who you have worked for. Please include a letter of support with your supporting documents.

Once you have submitted your application:

• Initial Assessment – When we have received your application, we will check it is complete and eligible.
• Meeting – We may invite you to a meeting where you will be able to tell us more about your business. The meeting will usually take place online and will be with one of the SWEF team.
• Award – If you are awarded a grant, you will be asked to accept the terms and conditions of the award and the grant will be paid directly to your business bank account. Grants must be spent within one month of receipt of funds and feedback given after 12 months
• After the award – you will have the opportunity to take part in an online business forum with other businesses that have been awarded a grant. The forum offers a space to exchange ideas, experiences and learn. We will also request feedback, 12 months after you received the grant to find out how your business is progressing. Feedback will be gathered via a short online form.

Documents You Need to Send Us

• Copy of a recent bank statement –Bank details must match those detailed on the application. We can only pay grants into a business bank account, so if you don’t have a business bank account yet you will be asked to set one up
• Form of ID 

You are more than welcome to include any additional documents, which you think might be useful. Please email programmes@staffordshire.foundation 

Grantee Commitments 

All grantees are expected to do the following:

• Attend a SWEF meetup / network event
• Join the closed SWEF Facebook group
• Sign up for our monthly newsletter

We request feedback after 12 months

Submission Deadlines

Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. This is an open programme and will run until all funding has been distributed.