Grant scheme to support businesses with the cost of complying with Covid-19 measures for the safety of customers and staff. Scheme Closes 30/12/21

ARG Top Up Category 2- Businesses who have not previously claimed any Covid Support Grants (This Grant category is currently open) A single one-off grant of £5,000, £7,500 or £10,000 to provide grant funding opportunity for any businesses which has not previously received any Sandwell Council Co-vid 19 Support Grants.

An IP Champion from a 3rd party will be required to assist with application form filling for funding. The service has been developed to ensure that businesses identified as having potential to innovate and grow receive the best guidance through dedicated channels. This includes support in respect of IP management, commercialisation and marketing, to ensure that they can deploy their IP assets into their wider business strategy, and maximise their value. It is hoped that the support given will encourage businesses to have more confidence to act on business opportunities, invest in R&D, collaborate with research institutions or other businesses and export.  The total value of the IP Audit is £3,000 (including VAT). It is expected that you will contribute £500 (including VAT) to the overall cost of the audit. This will be paid direct to your appointed IP Professional upon completion of the report. The IP Enabler fund will pay the remaining costs of £2,500 (including VAT); the IP Professional will invoice the Fund directly for this payment. The service cannot be used to prepare and file an application for a patent, registered trade mark or registered design. The IP Enabler includes a maximum contribution of £1,800 to support the beneficiary business in implementing the recommendations from the IP Audit.

Open to businesses  who have been trading for a minimum of 12 months. City of Wolverhampton Council is looking to engage up to 200 City-based businesses into a free package of intensive short term and long-term support, including 12 months free membership of either the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), or the Black Country Chamber of Commerce; and free digital and financial reviews by professional consultants. Potential of obtaining funding support at the end of the programme 

 A no-cost membership, which helps manufacturing, engineering and tech and service companies to find grants, fully funded programmes and new opportunities.

Made Smarter is designed to lead manufacturing into the future. Discover how Made Smarter can help you. We can support you with: Impartial advice from a team of digital specialists - Register for a fully-funded assessment, Creating a digital roadmap for your business, Access to a digital native to help with technology strategy or implementation, Enhancing your digital skills with a dedicated learning hub, Funding to support the purchase of hardware and software

We have collaborated with Finpoint on this Business Finance Finder Tool, but please ensure you contact our business support team in the first instance for finance support so that we can make sure this is the correct next step for your business

The Recovery Loan Scheme supports access to finance for UK businesses as they grow and recover from the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department for International Trade has launched its new Internationalisation Fund for eligible businesses in England. Match-funded grants of between £1,000 and £9,000 will be available for future activity (subject to eligibility and availability). To secure a grant, you will need to fund a proportion of your costs yourself. This varies according to where your business is based and will be either 40 or 50% of the total cost.

This grant supports organisations and groups not eligible for the Government’s mandatory Restart Grant. The city’s local scheme is based on a similar set of criteria used during previous rounds of discretionary grants, subject to proof of consequent Covid loss. Applications are to be made via the GRANT APPROVAL website 

Aerospace Unlocking Potential (Aerospace UP) is a £20M three-year project (2020 to 2022) which aims to support the aerospace supply chain in the Midlands by helping to unlock its innovation potential. The project is being delivered by the University of Nottingham and the Midlands Aerospace Alliance. Aerospace UP is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which helps businesses to access funding and expertise to improve their performance through innovation in all aspects of their enterprise. As a pan-Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) project, Aerospace UP is available to SMEs in 8 Midlands LEP areas.

We offer investment from £5k to up to £300k to community and social enterprises operating in the North of England and the Midlands.Details of our standard funds can be found on the website, but we are committed to providing the right kind of money at the right time, so please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs. We have £17 million in loan and grant to deliver over the next 3 years.

The government has introduced a new Kickstart Scheme in Great Britain, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment.

Dow Schofield Watts Angels brings together early-stage technology businesses with experienced entrepreneurs and investors. Our angels understand the challenges facing growing businesses and have been through the entire growth cycle of building and selling a business themselves, and are now willing to invest time and money in helping others. We are looking for promising early-stage technology companies with inspired founders, particularly those with early revenues but which may fall short of the size required by most technology venture capitalists.

Additional funding support for the smaller business, Subject to Local Authority Conditions the following businesses are eligible; Businesses in shared offices; Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment; B&Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief. Businesses with ongoing fixed building-related costs: Businesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis; Business with fewer than 50 employees; Businesses that were trading on or before 11 March 

The FSE Group invests in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have the potential for significant growth. Can invest in pre-revenue companies also.

Science in Industry Research Centre supports companies to develop new science based products 

Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 to help deliver employment programmes to the hardest to reach communities

Short term business loans up to the value of £20,000 for a maximum period of 12 months.

Business Support for Innovative Ideas either through grants or competition-based funding.

Investment funding for charities and social enterprises

Later stage equity funding of upto £2million for businesses with ambitious plans for growth.

Eager to re-build your business, stabilise, then look for new opportunities, Ready to join like-minded businesses to explore new markets, new ways to do business and be ready for the new world. Prepared to commit the time to make this a reality over the next 2-4 months. Then the free part EU funded AIM for GOLD Programme could be for you.You must have been trading for at least 12 months to join the Programme; most sectors are eligible though retail, construction, banking and insurance, estate agents and social care are excluded; for the finance element there must be evidence of trading statements covering at least 2 years.

Eager to re-build your business, stabilise, then look for new opportunities, Ready to join like-minded businesses to explore new markets, new ways to do business and be ready for the new world. Prepared to commit the time to make this a reality over the next 2-4 months. Then the free part EU funded AIM for GOLD Programme could be for you.You must have been trading for at least 12 months to join the Programme; most sectors are eligible though retail, construction, banking and insurance, estate agents and social care are excluded; for the finance element there must be evidence of trading statements covering at least 2 years.

Innovation Networks is a grant scheme offering grants of up £10,000 to SMEs who are working with at least 2 other businesses to develop innovative new products, processes or services.

Early Stage Equity Funding up to £750,000 for businesses looking to get their product off the ground

Grant program offering up to 40% Match up to a macimum of £24K for Capital Expenditure, Growth & Resilience Projects. Business must conduct 80% business to business and must be registered with Companies House. Minimum trading 2yrs. Business must be trading from Wolverhampton to be eligible.

Business loans from £100,000 to £1.5 Million fior companies with up to 250 employees that can demonstrate areas for growth.

BGF is an investment partner for growing companies in every sector of the economy. We provide the tools you need to grow, from funding to expertise, while letting you set the course.

BCRS Business Loans was established as a non-profit distributing co-operative lender to support the growth of SMEs with a dedicated business loan fund. We provide loans from £10,000 to £150,000.  

We manage funding streams acquired from government and use this to effectively support a whole range of projects in the Black Country, with the goal of maximising growth in the region  

A Start Up Loan is a government-backed personal loan available to individuals looking to start or grow a business in the UK.  

Princes Trust Enterprise Programme, Eligibility Criteria 18 - 30 years of age, Employed or studying part time, The Princes Trust offer a 4 day training course called Explore Enterprise that allows the individual to explore if self employment is right for them. Loans can be provided from £500 - £5000 with 6%apr (this is subject to application and credit checks) Grants are a maximum of £1500

National Construction College Providing a range of support for upskilling the workforce within the construction industry