The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth & Skills Hub has launched a £1.245 million grant scheme. The primary goal of the funding is to increase productivity and create employment through green and inclusive growth.
Find out if your business is eligible
Grants are available from £3,000 to businesses and organisations in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with a plan to grow. The maximum value depends on the pot applied for. Applicants must be able to complete their projects by 30 June 2023. The grants are open to applications from:
- manufacturing companies looking to adopt industrial digital technology solutions
- businesses and organisations within the social economy including community businesses
- businesses looking to grow their overseas trade
- businesses and organisations looking to deliver feasibility studies for larger projects
- businesses needing to carry out research or commercialise their ideas
- businesses looking to develop new products and services
- businesses wishing to develop digital and physical innovation infrastructure or access specialist resources
Applicants will need to provide a minimum of 50% match funding for their project and be able to meet the costs upfront as the grants can only be claimed following the completion of the project. Successful applicants will also need to demonstrate how their project contributes to the ‘Good Growth Principles,’ which can be found on the application webpages.
How to apply
Potential applicants can read the guidance and make an application on the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Hub website.
The first round of applications is open until 5pm on Friday, 24 February 2023. Subsequent rounds may be available if there are funds left over from this round.
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth & Skills Hub team are on hand to help explain the various funding categories and guide you through the application process. Call 01209 708660, email hello@ciosgrowthhub.com or use the webchat function on the Growth & Skills Hub website.
Councillor Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economy, said: “one of the aims of the Good Growth Fund is to strengthen our economic future, increase trade and investment, and inspire green and socially responsible enterprise. These grants are available to all businesses and to help unlock economic prosperity in every sector, whilst also contributing to our vision to be carbon neutral by 2030.”
Councillor Steve Sims, Lead Member for Economy, Tourism & Transport, Council of the Isles of Scilly said: “I encourage anyone who would like to grow their business to have a look at the criteria on the Growth & Skills Hub website and get in touch with the team to discuss eligibility. Don’t be daunted by the wording in the eligibility criteria, I know for a small business buzz words like “digital” and “feasibility studies” can make you think this is not for us. This is about growth and if you have any ideas to grow your business then this is for you, whether you’re a sole trader or delivering a huge ICT program. So please ask, there is a lot of support available to those wishing to apply and this is an excellent opportunity to bring further investment to the local economy to achieve more productive and sustainable practices which benefit us all.”
Further information
This scheme is administered as part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme and is funded from the £132 million of investment allocated to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
