Grants of up to £10,000 now available to small businesses in Shropshire
Small businesses in the Shropshire local authority area will soon be able to access grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 to purchase new equipment or make improvements to their premises.

Small to medium sized businesses (1-49 employees) can now apply for a grant if their business is physically located in the Shropshire Council local authority area.

Applicants will need to demonstrate how the grant will help them create new employment opportunities, or develop new products, processes, or services within their business. They will also be expected to match-fund the amount of grant applied for by at least 50% of the total investment.

All applicants will need to complete a simple online Expression of Interest (EOI) form which will go forward for assessment. Projects successfully passing this initial stage will then be invited to submit a full application.

 

Type of business activity

All businesses are invited to apply providing they meet the standard grant requirements provided above unless any of the following exclusions apply.

Applications are not accepted from:

  • Public organisations such as town and parish councils
  • Voluntary and charitable organisations that do not derive an income from the supply of goods or services
  • Regulated or restricted sectors, including gambling, banking / insurance (and other financial services), pornography, mineral extraction and the manufacture of armaments and related systems
  • Businesses that are political in nature or which represent lobby or campaign groups
  • Businesses that act exclusively to promote or represent religious or faith-based groups
  • Any business that is in current financial distress or subject to a pending strike-off from Companies House
  • Any business that is in arrears with business or council tax payments or otherwise in legal dispute with Shropshire Council 

Ineligible activity:

  • Primary food / timber production or primary food / timber processing where the product remains unrefined (e.g. egg-grading machines or vegetable handling systems)
  • Tourism accommodation projects that are:
    • within properties that are not business-rated
    • converting existing private residential accommodation into holiday lets
    • only improving existing accommodation and not increasing the number of beds / camping berths available  

Ineligible expenditure:

  • Day-to-day running costs and any other costs not directly relating to the purchase of capital equipment or improvement to capital assets
  • The purchase of sample products or demonstrators
  • Software unless integral to the operation of machinery purchased as part of the grant
  • Road vehicles 
  • Expenditure relating to the fulfilment of statutory obligations
  • Replacement of old equipment on a like-for-like basis
  • The purchase of equipment that will be fully depreciated within three years, such as standard electrical appliances like monitors and computers
  • Leasing, hire purchase or similar arrangements where the equipment does not fall within the direct ownership of the business during the grant funding period, i.e. by 31 March 2025, unless by exception
  • Notional expenditure where the business has not incurred any actual expenditure, such as to cover items gifted by company directors.

 

Details about how to apply and the EOI form can be found at :https://orlo.uk/0waFd
Anyone with any questions or queries about applying should email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Unfortunately, queries cannot be dealt with over the telephone.

 

Further information

 

Picture1.jpg