Natwest flagging the flag for female entrepreneurs
Are you a UK based female entrepreneur inspiring others and shaping the future of business? NatWest would love to hear from you.
You could feature in their list of 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch and potentially receive support, mentorship and grant funding.
Entries need to be in by midnight on Sunday 11th September – click here to apply.
The British Design Fund
Are you an innovative British start-up that’s looking for funding? The British Design Fund works with extraordinary entrepreneurs to scale their products, accelerate growth and build long term value. Alongside financial investment, investees receive mentoring and support.
To find out more and apply click here
Electric vehicle charge point pilot scheme
Electricity North West is setting up an electric vehicle charge point pilot scheme in Cumbria in collaboration with Cumbria Tourism and the OPE EV Charging Infrastructure Group.
The scheme will be looking for up to 30 tourism and hospitality pilot sites to install 7Kw charges with any cost of charge point and supply-side infrastructure covered. Businesses will just need to pay for connecting to their electricity meter.
Further details and eligibility criteria are available through Cumbria Tourism.
£30m in grants from Defra for farms to boost added-value produce
Government grants of between £25,000 to £300,000 are being made available to help farmers grow their businesses and add value to produce.
Under the scheme farms can apply for funding to acquire premises and equipment to process agricultural produce such as turning potatoes into crisps, milk into cheese or meat into sausages. Grants will also be available for retail equipment for selling food directly to consumers, including vending machines and display facilities.
Applications close on 21st July. To be eligible a business must be a grower or producer of agricultural products, including livestock, or a business processing agricultural or horticultural products which is at least 50% owned by agricultural or horticultural producers.
To check eligibility click here
Grant scheme for innovative businesses
Innovate UK is launching a new series of grants worth £30 million to support innovative UK businesses. The Fast Start: Innovation grants will provide funding to hundreds of small and micro-businesses to help them grow. The grants, of up to £50,000 each, will provide businesses with a way to boost cash flow to help them commercialise their ideas faster.
Red more about the funding at:
https://www.ukri.org/news/30-million-fast-start-boost-for-cutting-edge-start-ups/
Support to upskill your workforce
Cumbria County Council Adult Learning can offer free courses in English, Maths or Digital to help upskill your workforce.