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Funding & Useful Resources

Digital Dairy Chain – Collaborative R&D and Growth Funding Competition

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £1.1 million for business focussed innovation in advanced and high value dairy production and manufacturing. This funding is from Digital Dairy Chain for Cumbria, South and West Scotland.

Your project can focus on one or more of the following:

  • novel and high value products from dairy systems
  • decarbonising dairy production and manufacturing
  • waste minimisation and resource recirculation
  • reduced environmental impact and increased sustainability, for example, biodiversity, soil, air and water quality
  • sensor development and digitisation to improve productivity, welfare of staff and animals and product quality, including nutritional characteristics
  • value addition in the dairy supply chain

Your project’s total grant funding request must be between £50,000 and £250,000. To apply click here – applications close 11am on Wednesday 19th June.

Kick Start Fund

Do you have an idea that will benefit local communities? Do you want to get a project off the ground?

Funded by Sellafield Ltd SiX Programme and delivered by BEC, the Kick Start Fund is available to any groups or individuals who have an idea or project they went to get off the ground and aligns itself with one of the community’s priorities:

  • Health and wellbeing
  • Training and employment
  • Activities for young people

The total funding pot is £20,000 for the 2024/2025 financial year.

  • Individuals and informal/non-constituted groups can apply for a maximum of £500.
  • Constituted groups can apply for a maximum of £1,000.

Find out more and fill out an application here, the deadline for applications is 20th June

Business Tourism tracker now live

Lamont Pridmore in partnership with Cumbria Tourism have launched their business tourism tracker for 2024.

In the latest tracker they look at how rising costs are continuing to impact local businesses as well as difficulties in retaining staff.

You can download a copy here

2024 Barclays Entrepreneur Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2024 Entrepreneur Awards – Nominate today

In their ninth year of the awards they continue to celebrate entrepreneurs who are committed to disrupting the status quo and driving innovation, who consistently support communities and the wider economy.

You can nominate your own business as well as others who’ve demonstrated the passion and skills that have turned unique visions into reality.

2024 categories are:

  • Start-up Award, sponsored by Barclays Business Banking – for entrepreneurs who have started new, fast-growing businesses.
  • High-growth Company Award, sponsored by Propel – for those who have achieved year-on-year growth and/or market traction.
  • Scale-up Company Award, sponsored by Propel – recognising entrepreneurs who have achieved notable growth and market success.
  • Innovation in Games Award, sponsored by Barclays Games – celebrating games companies that have not only embraced change in an industry that’s constantly evolving, but actively sought to revolutionise the entire landscape.
  • Innovation in Climate Tech Award, sponsored by Visa – recognising entrepreneurs which are innovating to address climate change and work towards net zero.
  • Innovation in Health and Sciences Award, sponsored by Eagle Labs – for those who have developed new and emerging technology that’s designed to solve some of society’s biggest healthcare challenges.
  • Innovation in AI Award, sponsored by Visa – recognising entrepreneurs who have fast-growing AI businesses.
  • Business Resilience Award, sponsored by Barclaycard Payments – celebrates the unstoppable spirit of entrepreneurs and businesses that have overcome a significant challenge, battled through setbacks, and pushed on to take their business to the next level.
  • Serial Entrepreneur Award, sponsored by Private Bank – for an individual who excels in launching and managing multiple ventures or business exits, and who embodies innovation, resilience, and leadership excellence.

Entries can be made across a maximum of two categories and nominations need to be submitted by 23:59 on Friday, 28 June – Terms and conditions apply

Webinars through the Department for Business & Trade

Boost your export potential with UK Export Finance – Monday 17 June, 2.00pm.

Unlock your potential with the British Business Bank! – Wednesday 19 June, 2.00pm.

How to upskill your team for overseas growth – Friday 21 June, 3.00pm

Export insurance with UK Export Finance – Monday 24 June, 2.00pm.

Opportunities to expand your business to Kazakhstan – Tuesday 25 June, 10.00am

How to achieve an effective Marketing Mix internationally – Wednesday 26 June, 10.30am 

Grantify’s guide to grant funding for innovators – Thursday 27 June, 10.00am.

AI funding for professional services sector

The Flexible AI Upskilling Fund will provide SMEs in certain sectors with funding of up to £10,000 to cover training costs. The sectors include law, design, accounting and human resources. The funding is being introduced alongside a new framework which will identify the skills and knowledge needed to use AI in the workplace.

Read more about the funding here

Self-employment tax guide

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group has published a self-employment tax guide aimed at voluntary sector advisers and other non-tax specialists who advise low-income self-employed individuals. The guide covers what needs to be done when starting self-employment, things to consider as the business grows and what happens when the business stops trading.

The guide is available here

Business journey planner for pre-starts and new businesses

Wednesday 19th June – 10am to 11.30am – online

This workshop is designed specifically for people thinking of starting in business for the first time or for businesses that have started in the last couple of years and need some business support to move to the next level.

For further details click here

Free training for food & drink businesses in Cumberland

As part of the Cumberland Food & Drink project, funded by UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding through Cumberland Council, Cumbria Tourism is offering free training opportunities to Food & Drink businesses operating in the Cumberland area.

For more information and to book click here

UK Social Mobility Awards

Is your organisation actively engaged in delivering social mobility initiatives?

You could be eligible for a UK Social Mobility Award (SOMO). The SOMOs recognises organisations and individuals who are taking action and going above and beyond to level the playing field for people from less-advantaged socio-economic backgrounds.

Categories for 2024 include:

  • Organisation of the Year
  • Leadership of the Year
  • Innovation of the Year
  • School/College of the Year
  • University of the Year
  • Community Programme of the Year
  • Small Business of the Year
  • Mentor of the Year
  • Rising Star of the Year

Entries close on Friday 28th June – to find out more and enter click here

Project Manager and Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeships for the visitor economy

The University of Cumbria are running online information events in the next few weeks to promote their Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship and Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship for the Visitor Economy.

Project Manager Degree Apprenticeship – Tuesday 25th June (1-2pm)

Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship for the Visitor Economy – Thursday 20th June & Tuesday 2nd July

Latest from Barclays Eagle Labs

Check out what’s going on at Barclays Eagle Labs this month.

  • Black Venture Growth Programme – a dedicated 16 week programme that focuses on growth and removing barriers to fundraising through targeted support. The programme aims to accelerate ventures and boost their success beyond the programme. Applications are open until 19th June
  • Funding Readiness Programme – designed to help demystify funding and to provide founders with the skills and knowledge they need to fund their business growth. Applications are open until 21st June

Eagle Labs Academy – Ready to leap from startup to scaleup? Courses on Eagle Labs Academy cover getting ready to scale and building your board, developing your product roadmap, how to scale your sales and marketing and much more. Register for free today and get the support you need to help scale your business

Business owners urged to share insights in council’s first annual survey

Westmorland and Furness Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration team has launched its first annual business survey and is urging members of the business community to take just five to 10 minutes to take part in this important data-gathering exercise. The survey launched last week and runs until 28 June. Businesses will receive the survey by post and are encouraged to take part digitally by scanning the QR code when they receive the survey.

Free Training Opportunities for Food & Drink Businesses in Cumberland

Free workshops covering Reducing Food Waste (June 19th), Social Media and Influencers (June 26th), and Food Photography (July 2nd) are being offered to food and drink businesses operating in the Cumberland area, as part of the Cumberland Food & Drink project, funded by Cumberland Council through UK Government Shared Prosperity Funding. The project, which is run by Cumbria Tourism, aims to boost the diverse food and drink offer in Cumberland through a multi-channel PR and marketing campaign, and business support opportunities.

To secure a free place on the workshops, visit the Cumbria Tourism website or contact Alison Hilton at ahilton@cumbriatourism.org for further information.