The Stoke-on -Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub have a new scheme available for SME’S to apply for a grant of up to £3,000 to cover preparations for marketing stratagies.
How Much Funding is Available?
SMEs who are currently trading can apply for grants for up to 60% of the cost with a maximum grant of £3,000 (Eligibility Criteria applies)*
Investment Readiness Programme
The Investment Readiness Programme supports the growth of existing small and medium-sized enterprises (businesses) in the Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire LEP area. The Fund is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is subject to European funding regulations.
The IRP provides grants to businesses to assist with 3rd party costs associated with preparing the necessary documents to help businesses with their growth plans and to apply for growth funding. The following are examples of eligible project costs and are not exhaustive:
Professional costs associated with the preparation of a Marketing Strategy
All businesses supported with the aid of the grant must be located in the administrative areas of Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire and does not cover other statutory financial documents prepared by the Accountant, such as the preparation of Wage data, VAT returns, year-end accounts or tax returns.
How Much Funding is Available?
For SMEs who are currently trading, grants are available for up to 60% of the cost with a maximum grant of £3,000 (minimum grants £1,000) Minimum Total Project cost must be £1,700.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply businesses must:
Fulfil the definition of an SME (see below) and be located within the administrative area of Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire LEP.
Fit within certain sectors. Those which cannot apply to include:
Businesses involved in the retail sale of goods
Businesses providing services to the general public using the Town and Country Planning use classes of A1 to A5 (shops, financial and professional services (to the public), Business to Consumer
Restaurants, drinking establishments and fast food takeaways
Businesses whose activities are of a political or religious persuasion
Online retail or rental businesses
Agents or subcontractors involved in the sale of goods/products to the public
Land-based businesses including farms and other primary food producers, AND businesses that process or bring to market agricultural products
Have been trading for 6 months or more
Be profit-seeking
Have received less than 200,000 € of state aid assistance in the last 3 years
Have the intent to apply for funding
Pay, or be going to pay if relocating, business rates to one of the local authorities in the SSLEP area, and those payments must not be in arrears.
The local authorities in the area are:
- Stafford Borough Council
- Stoke on Trent City Council
- Cannock Chase District Council
- East Staffordshire Borough Council
- Lichfield District Council
- Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
- South Staffordshire Council
- Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
- Tamworth Borough Council
