Finance, Funding and Grants in Chorley

Shop Front Improvement Grant - for new and existing businesses and landlords with vacant properties in designated areas of Chorley. The scheme offers a grant of up to £10,000 for improvements to shop fronts to bring the shop back into use.

Chorley Business Investment for Growth (BIG) Grant
The Chorley BIG grant can be used to support eligible, expanding Chorley businesses making capital expenditure and creating new jobs. Businesses can apply for 50% of the total eligible project costs, with a maximum grant of up to £10,000

Choose Chorley Relocation Grant - up to £25,000 for established businesses looking to relocate to the Borough and create at least 5 jobs. Grant amounts are based on jobs relocated, jobs created and level of investment. This grant is not available retrospectively and retail businesses are not eligible.

Business Energy & Road Net Zero Support Scheme - a fund for capital expenditure on specified equipment that has been identified by an energy audit as reducing energy use/costs and delivering a contribution to carbon reduction. The grants will fund a contribution of up to 100%, of the approved costs of measures up to the maximum grant of £2000.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.

Website: https://chorley.gov.uk/businessgrants

Council Grants Tel: 01257 515300

Grant support of up to £10,000 is available if you have an existing business that has been trading for 6 months and over. This grant is to assist you with investment in the construction of new buildings, refurbishment of existing premises, and the purchase of plant machinery and other business capital investment plans, which will lead to the creation of new jobs. Guidance notes and application forms for the Chorley BIG grant are available to download.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.

Website: https://chorley.gov.uk/businessgrants

Council Grants Tel: 01257 515 300

Email: edu@chorley.gov.uk 

Rosebud offers flexible loan finance, from £25,000 to over £300,000 for high-growth businesses in Lancashire County Council's administration area.

Eligibility: Available for trading businesses who are growing and scaling up.  Not available in Blackpool and Blackburn and Darwen. Support available In the following sectors: Advanced manufacturing, Aerospace, Creative & Digital, Energy & Environment, Health and Professional services. 

Website: https://www.rosebudfinance.co.uk/ 

E-mail: Rosebud@growthco.uk

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund 2 offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans and debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. 

The loans they currently provide are listed below:

Smaller loans - Small business loans from £25,000 - £100,000

Debt finance - Business loans from £100,000 - £2,000,000

Equity finance - Early stage or late stage equity funding up to £5,000,000

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading (with growth potential).

Website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/nations-and-regions-investment-funds/northern-powerhouse-investment-fund-ii-npif-ii/

If you are looking for funding then Key Fund may be able to help.

Providing tailored grants and loans to support the development and growth of new and existing social enterprise activity in the North of England. Funding can be used to support revenue or capital costs, including bridging facilities, capital purchases, cashflow, refurbishment costs, running costs, set-up costs, and wages.

They also deliver bespoke workshops and one-to-one support.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading but you must be a registered/incorporated company providing positive social or environmental impact. The fund can not support sole traders or partnerships of individuals. Applicants must have already approached a commercial lender and been refused, prior to submitting a proposal.

Website: https://thekeyfund.co.uk/

Tel: 0330 202 0559

Email: info@thekeyfund.co.uk 

Provides loan finance up to £500,000 aimed at driving business growth and creating employment.

Loans can support projects such as but are not limited to:

- growth capital
- working capital
- new asset purchase
- property development 
- additional employment

Loan terms range from 6 months to 5 year terms. With no early repayment charges.

Eligibility: Established: with at least 2 years' filed accounts with Companies House, a good credit history, Directors: UK resident with a good credit history, No CCJs over £250. 

Website: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/business/finance-and-funding/peer-to-peer-lending/

Tel: 0800 242 5090 

Online application: https://www.fundingcircle.com/businesses/apply

E-mail: credit@fundingcircle.com

A UK-wide, government-backed initiative financed through British Business Bank, providing loans for people starting a new business or have been trading for less than 3 years. Loans range from £500 to £25,000 with a fixed interest rate of 6% over 1-5 years. The scheme also offers 12 months of mentoring for successful loan applicants.

- The scheme is open to those over the age of 18 at the time of application

- Applicants must live in the UK. They must also have the right to remain in the UK for the duration of the loan term and the right to be self-employed.

- Applicants should be unable to access alternative finance for starting a business elsewhere.

- As part of the application process, a credit check will take place. Applicants with recent defaults or poor credit histories should check with a credit reference agency to ensure their records are up to date before applying.

Eligibility: https://www.startuploans.co.uk/faqs-2/eligibility/

Tel: 0344 264 2600
E-mail: hello@startuploans.co.uk 
Website: https://www.startuploans.co.uk/


Start Up Loans also offers the below products through the listed dedicated providers.

Sharia compliant finance
The Start Up Loans Company provides a Sharia compliant investment product. This is provided through the Financing Startup Enterprise Group.

Tel: 0330 056 2528 
Website: https://www.startuploans.co.uk/sharia-compliant-finance/

Creative Businesses
The Start Up Loans company provides loans specifically for the creative sector. This is provided through Creative England.
https://www.wearecreative.uk/investment/
Tel: 03330235240
Email: info@wearecreative.uk 


Ex-service personnel
For military spouses & partners, reservists, cadets and children of forces personnel with entrepreneurial ambition.

Tel: 0800 368 9533
E-mail: info@x-forces.com 
Website: https://www.x-forces.com/

Is your business over 12 months old and looking to grow? The Government's new Help to Grow programme could help.

The scheme offers decision-makers and senior managers access to a 12 week programme, designed to be manageable alongside full-time work. It combines a practical curriculum with 1:1 mentoring, peer-learning and alumni networking. Participants are enabled to develop their skills in areas such as financial management, innovation and digital adoption, working towards a tailored business growth plan to lead their business to its full potential.

Delivered by leading business schools across the UK, the programme is 90% subsidised by the government, with participants contributing £750. Some business schools delivering the Help to Grow Management programme are providing bursaries of £750 - more information is available directly from the business schools.

Eligibility: Available for limited companies who have been trading over 12 months with between 5-249 employees. If your business employs between 10 and 249 people, you can send up to two participants on the course. For more information, please read the FAQs.

Tel: 020 7236 7678

Management Course enquiry Tel: 020 3006 0751

Email: enquiries@smallbusinesscharter.org 

Website: https://smallbusinesscharter.org/help-to-grow-management/

As well as this scheme, you can find more information and support resources for starting and growing a business on the Government's Help to Grow campaign website: https://helptogrow.campaign.gov.uk/

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme is an equity scheme aimed at small riskier, early stage UK companies willing to hand over equity in their business in exchange for capital funding. It is designed to boost economic growth in the UK by promoting new enterprise and entrepreneurship. You can raise a maximum of £250,000 through SEIS.

The following criteria must be met by the company in order to be eligible and remain SEIS compliant:

- Must be established in the UK
- Must be fully independent (has not been controlled by another company since their date of incorporation)
- Must not be a member of a partnership
- Does not control another company unless that company is a qualifying subsidiary
- Must be unquoted before beginning SEIS (not listed on any major stock exchange)
- Has no arrangements to become a quoted company or a subsidiary of one at the time of the share issue
- Must be operating in a qualifying trade
- Must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees when the shares are issued
- Must not have gross assets over £350,000 when the shares are issued

Tel: 3000 588907

E-mail: enterprise.centre@hmrc.gov.uk 

Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-apply-to-use-the-seed-enterprise-investment-scheme 

Advanced Learner Loan helps with the costs of a college or training course. Funding is available for Level 3, 4, 5, or 6 courses, e.g. A-Levels or graduate certificate. Information about how to apply can be found here. The loan, which must be paid back, doesn't depend on income and there are no credit checks.

If you’re studying a Level 3 qualification, you might be eligible for an ‘Adult Education Budget’ grant instead of an Advanced Learner Loan. If you get a grant, you do not need to repay it. Ask your college or training provider about grants before you apply for a loan.

There is also a bursary fund; you may be eligible for support from the Advanced Learner Loan Bursary Fund for help with learning or living costs, e.g. childcare, accommodation expenses, course materials, a support assistant for learners with a disability or learning difficulty.

Applications for the bursary are made directly to the college or training provider and can be applied for as soon as you have received your confirmation letter of the Advanced Learner Loan. In some cases, money from the fund may have to be paid back.

In regards to making repayments if you are an employee, your employer will work out the repayments due and deduct them from your salary (with prior agreement). If you are self-employed you can make repayments as part of your self-assessment tax return. Additional repayments can be made at any time without an extra charge.

To support employees who wish to undertake professional development, employers can elect to make voluntary payments for part or the whole of the loan amount, on behalf of their employees. Employers can also make individual agreements with their employees about loan repayments. In either case, employers are urged to take their own independent advice on how the tax rules apply to them and their employees and any consequences of potential payments that they may make for their employees.

There are no upfront fees for this facility and you will only have to start repaying the loan the April after your course ends - details of Plans and income thresholds can be found here (though you can choose to start paying before this without any penalties). Speak to your preferred college for information on whether the course that you will be studying is eligible and which Plan you will be on when you start repayments.

Different funding is available if you want to study in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales. Check Below:

- Funding for students in Scotland
- Funding for students in Northern Ireland
- Funding for students in Wales

Website: https://www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan

BGF invests in a range of companies, from earlier stage SMEs of £1m revenues, to those with £100m+ revenues, and across all sectors. Investments provided range  are a mix of equity and loan notes for growth and/or cash out to existing shareholders. Initial investments are between £1m and £20m.

The BGF works with companies that have realistic expansion plans, offering a collaborative approach to financing growth, working closely with the companies in which they invest.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCHtHuW1EXpEbNdoHmDtM3w

Website: https://www.bgf.co.uk/

Regional telephone numbers and online contact form: https://www.bgf.co.uk/contact/

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency. It is like a government bank or insurer specifically for exports, and helps businesses of all sizes access the finance and insurance they need to export their products to overseas customers.  They offer:

• free and independent guidance on sources of export finance

• working capital with bank guarantees for contract bonds or credit facilities

• export credit insurance, which businesses can apply for using an online portal

• competitive finance for overseas buyers with buyer credit guarantees or direct loans

The amounts and terms of support available depend on the risk involved. UKEF works with exporters, project sponsors, banks and buyers.

General Tel: +44 (0)20 7271 8010

E-mail: customer.service@ukexportfinance.gov.uk 

Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance

Find an Export Finance Manager website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-an-export-finance-manager

Overseas Investment Insurance guide: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/overseas-investment-insurance

Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency and works with companies and partner organisations to find and drive the science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy.

They do this by offering loans, grants, competitions, and access to academic resources and support via Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Innovate UK Business Connect, and Catapult Centres.

Businesses can learn about all the public funding and innovation support available, on their UK Innovation Hub.

They have also produced the good application guide to help you prepare your best funding application.

Tel: 0300 321 4357

E-mail: support@innovateuk.ukri.org 

Website: https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/

Funding website: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search

The data analytics innovation vouchers are provided by the Business and Local Government Data Research Centre. This grant-funded scheme enables organisations to work with international data analytics researchers in order to address the key challenges faced.

In addition to grant-funded research projects, the Centre also provides funded data analytics training, workshops, networking events and webinars. To keep up to date on the latest opportunities please follow the Centre on their social media channels.

Eligibility: Micro, small or medium-sized businesses, local authorities and the wider public sector, charities or not-for-profit organisations.

Website: https://www.essex.ac.uk/centres-and-institutes/business-and-local-government-data/data-analytics-innovation-vouchers

Find out more via the website or contact the Outreach and Publicity Officer directly via email: BLGDataResearch@essex.ac.uk to arrange a consultation.

General - enquiries@essex.ac.uk

Undergraduate - admit@essex.ac.uk

Postgraduate - pgadmit@essex.ac.uk

Tel: 01206 873333

The Momentum Music Fund offers grants of £5k-£15k for artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for support include recording, touring and marketing. The fund is open to applications from artists and bands in the UK that are at a crucial point in their development, with the potential to significantly further their career within the next two years. Applications can be submitted by the artists themselves or those who are working on their behalf, e.g. a manager, an independent label or publisher.

Funding can be used for:

- Recording – new album, EP, single, producer, engineer, mixer fees, studio hire, session musician fees, etc.

- Touring (UK only) – travel, accommodation, musician fees, set/production design, tour management, equipment hire, etc.

- Marketing and promotions – online PR, radio plugger, digital marketing, music videos, merchandise production, etc.

Closing date: There are 4 application rounds per year, closing at 6pm on the dates listed here 

E-mail: info@prsformusicfoundation.com 

Website: https://prsfoundation.com/funding-support/funding-music-creators/next-steps/ppl-momentum-music-fund/

Are you looking to access finance for your business? You may want to consider Crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding is a method of getting finance by sourcing small amounts from a large number of people, rather than getting large amounts from one or a few. Its platforms host fundraisers’ pitches and allows the transfer of money directly from the funders to the fundraiser. 

Some level of vetting is usually made before allowing pitches on the platforms, and fees are charged to either the fundraiser, funder, or to both.

Not all crowdfunders are regulated by the FCA. Some are regulated by their association codes of conduct. There is an element of risk involved in dealing with any organisation that is not regulated by the FCA to offer finance products. To find out more go to https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/crowdfunding

There are several types of crowdfunding platforms that you can consider, which usually depend on the stage and the sector of your business. Take a look at the British Business Bank information on equity crowdfunding: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/finance-hub/equity-crowdfunding/, and peer-to-peer lending: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/finance-hub/peer-to-peer-lending/ for the pros and cons of using these platforms.