Capital grants and revenue vouchers are now open for application through Cumbria Business Growth Hub.

On offer to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the whole of the Westmorland & Furness Council area are:

• 16 capital grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 (based on an average of £12,500) with a maximum grant contribution of 50% of eligible project value. These can be used for purchase of new equipment/machinery (including green/low carbon) and small scale capital improvements to help with growth, diversification, innovation and improved productivity
• 75 £500 consultancy vouchers and 50 £1,000 vouchers which can be used with a consultant of your choice on activity such as marketing, websites, accountancy, legal, agricultural, planning support and more, including to help towards the costs of our mentoring and export consultancy programmes

Adviser support is available to support grant applications at Expression of Interest and Full Application stage. To request this email info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk.

Grant applications are a competitive process with decisions made by a grant panel. The first stage is submission of an Expression of Interest. The deadline for submission to the first panel is 12noon on Thursday 15^th May, by email to info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk. Successful Expressions of Interest will be invited to submit a Full Application.

Vouchers will be allocated on a first come first served basis, subject to eligibility. Vouchers of either £500 or £1000 (excluding VAT if applicable) are available, with no need for match funding from the business. 

You can see some great examples of projects we supported last year here.

This year the scheme also incorporates funding to undertake carbon reduction measures. However please note that because of the limited funding available we are unable to offer funding for solar panels unless use of panels is a limited element fundamental to a wider business growth project.

Priority will be given to businesses who didn’t received grant funding through the Rural Business Grants & Support and Westmorland and Furness Green Enterprise Hub, which ran from December 2023 to February 2024. But if you were awarded a grant you’re still welcome to apply as we’re keen to use the grant funding to support good projects, which will have real impact on the business and the local economy.

To download application paperwork and relevant guidance notes please visit here.

Work will need to be completed and claimed for by 31^st January 2026 at the latest. 

This isn’t long to apply and complete your project so please don’t delay!

The project has been supported by Westmorland & Furness Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and has received £459,035 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.