We’ve been delivering a number of grant funding programmes through funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund on behalf of both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Council.
Below you can read more about the funding, how much has been allocated and the type of works being supported.
Westmorland & Furness Council
Westmorland & Furness Green Enterprise Hub
On behalf of Cumbria Action for Sustainability we were contracted to approve 43 grants with a funding pot of £215,000.00 – 43 grants have now been approved.
Funding was to be used for training, accreditations, R&D, consultancy advice/audits/surveys, equipment and capital works.
Projects supported have included:
- Solar panel installation
- Double glazed windows and UPVC double glazed doors
- Development and implementation of systems/processes to obtain ISO140001
- Vermiculture consultancy
- Process gas optimisation plan/report
- LED lighting
- Ground source heat pump installation
- Electronic proof of delivery service
- Low carbon website creation
- Building insultation/cladding
- Anesthetic circuit ‘Humphrey ADE’ to reduce the amount of oxygen and anesthetic gas used by a veterinary practice
- Food recycler and Lomi food composter
Rural England Prosperity Fund
With funds of £766,378 we were contracted to approve 51 capital grants (74 approved) for purchase of equipment and small scale capital improvements to help grow, diversify, innovate and improve productivity.
Projects supported have included:
- Vending machine for meat and ready meals
- Various equipment including 3D printer, laser engraver/cutter, printing press, pasta extruder, automatic lidding and labelling machine, semi-automatic cream dispenser
- Vehicles
- Machinery
- Building works
- Creation of additional guest bedrooms
- Horse box sauna
- Playground build
- Conservations, education resource and visitor centre fit out
- Glamping pods
- Bespoke eBike stand
- Poly tunnel construction and storage facility
We also have £125,000 of funding for 250 £500 vouchers which are to be used for consultancy support – there are only 64 vouchers remaining so contact us now !
Work so far funded has included website design/build, photography, accountancy/legal/planning/agricultural consultancy, SEO, marketing, and consultancy support for funding applications.
Cumberland Council
Capital grant
Capital grants of up to £100,000 (50% match funding) for the purchase of equipment and capital improvements to help grow, diversify, innovate and improve productivity.
£555,491 of funds available to support 25 businesses – grant approvals have been sent to 30 businesses.
Projects supported have included:
- Various equipment purchases including chocolate mixing tank, filtration, elevating work platform, static chiropractic treatment bench, timber saw, replacement burners for cremator, high spec drone, beading production machinery, CNC machine, laser machine, labelling equipment, 20kg roaster, pastry mixer/pastry roller, homogenizer, cheese press and moulds, 3D scanner
- Solar panel installations
- Fencing
- Heating and dehumidifiers
- Industrial building
- Specially modified wide trailer dumper
- XM system for inspection room
- Development of unused studio space
Tourism grant
Tourism grants of up to £20,000 (50% match funding) were available for the development and promotion (to both trade and consumer) of the visitor economy for activity such as development of local visitor experiences, local attractions and trails or tourism products more generally.
£227,428 of funds available to support 10 businesses – grant approvals have been sent to 16 businesses.
Projects supported have included:
- Additional kitchen and bakery facilities
- Site to house 5 touring caravans
- Toilet block, hand washing facilities, insulation, barrel train, marquee, picnic benches and equipment
- Farm diversification enterprise with the initial installation of 1 glamping pod, ground works and electricity connection
- Bike shed
- Restoration of historic building to open café/shop/bistro
- Self catering accommodation
- Passenger trailer and portable hand washing station to conduct farm tours
- Renovation of coffee cabin and outside space
Revenue grant & voucher scheme
Revenue grants of up to £7,500 (50% match funding) were available to support work with a consultant of your choice in areas such as marketing, websites, accountancy, legal, planning, business continuity, succession planning, business growth, productivity, agricultural or other specialist advice.
Also available were £500 advice vouchers for similar support to the above which require no match from the business.
£171,631 of funds available to support 24 businesses – we have approved 29 grants and 105 vouchers.
Over the coming months we’ll be sharing good news stories.