Matt is a conservation professional with nearly 20 years experience in the heritage sector, including a background in local authority conservation, town centre regeneration, grant funding and the charitable sector. Matt currently works as conservation officer for North Kesteven district council providing specialist advice on heritage and conservation matters and managing the delivery of third party grant schemes for commercial and domestic properties. Matt is also chair of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation East Midlands Branch.

Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), grants are now available to owners and occupiers of commercial properties within Sleaford town centre. The purpose of the grant scheme is to help reverse the decline and enhance the historic environment in Sleaford conservation area through offering funding towards targeted repairs, reinstatement and replacements of shopfronts. The scheme will focus on reinstating lost or damaged features of historic properties, with a particular emphasis on reinstating traditional shop fronts where modern frontages have been installed.

However, grants are available for a wide range of works and can extend to other elements of building frontages, including on upper levels, such as the repair and replacement of windows and doors, roof repairs, repairs/renewal of leadwork, repair or replacement of rainwater goods, structural and non-structural repairs to external walls, brickwork/stonework cleaning, repair or replacement of external features such as masonry and repainting. Grants can also be used towards repaired or replaced shopfront fascias and signage in line with the Sleaford Shopfront Design Guide.

Where to find out more;

https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/planning-building/planning/conservation-heritage/sleaford-shopfront-grant-scheme

As Rural Business Development Manager, Will Dallimore is the first point of contact for rural businesses wanting advice, support and funding.

Will says: “Whatever your question, challenge, opportunity or experience is as a rural business, I am here to help and highlight the support available to you.

“This includes information on funding programmes such as the Farm Transformation Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or on 01494 927167

This project is part-funded by the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund. 

Will specialises in rural business support and funding programmes. He has an in depth knowledge of diversification with a particular interest in sustainable land management, food production and processing.

Vicky's back to talk about the latest grant funding available for those in the SEMLEP region.

Digital Future First advisors like Vicky connect businesses in the South East Midlands area with free access to digital consultancy, Government Business incentives and a range of funded training provision. 

They connect to inspire and inform SME businesses about digital growth and training opportunities. All partners in the project are equal opportunities employers.

To connect with Vicky or to find out more: [email protected]

Vicky Clark senior business advisor at Digital Future First joins me to discuss SEMSUP (South East Midlands Start-Up Programme) led by Wenta. This project focuses on social enterprises and startups across the South East Midlands region with match funding between £1k-£3k to grow your business in a digital future.

For applications or enquiries please contact [email protected] 

Sim is a Business Growth Advisor at Warwickshire County Council and delivers a number of grant schemes available to businesses in the county including capital, green and digital creative funds. 

Sim also delivers an access-to-finance support programme assisting SMEs that are seeking debt, grant and alternative finance from both local authority and private sector sources.

For more information or to connect please email: [email protected]

Rachel Hayward is the owner and lead consultant of Ask the Chameleon, a multiple award-winning consultancy committed to supporting SME’s and charities to increase turnover, gain recognition and exposure through writing winning bids, contracts, tenders and business awards. The company has secured £38m in funding for clients since 2015 and many prestigious awards including the Queens Awards.

The company has won awards in its own right, including British Business Awards Micro Business of the Year 2022, Female Entrepreneur of the Year – East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women 2021, DerbyshireLive Professional Services Company of the Year 2021, and Federation of Small Businesses Micro Business 2020.

Ineligible for Covid19 business support, Rachel co-created the Swap Shop during the pandemic with Huub and think3, to help small businesses and charities swap skills with each other to survive during lockdown.  With over 1100 members, it has now evolved into the hookup for the post-Covid business world.

Rachel is a mentor on the Help to Grow programme for the University of Nottingham, a mentor for student entrepreneurs for the University of Derby, the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire Area Lead for the FSB and a small business representative on the D2N2 LEP Business Advisory Group. She is also Chair of Annabel’s Angels, a volunteer-led charitable trust supporting families undergoing treatment for cancer, and an Associate Lecturer in the Business School at the University of Derby.

The link to the tender ebulletin is on her website https://www.askthechameleon.co.uk/sign-up-for-our-tender-alerts/

The Supplier Skills Programme is open for business; Are you looking to develop your future Business Leaders and grow your business by upskilling your workforce? Training grants of up to a maximum of £50,000 per SME are available and training will be funded 50% by the SME and 50% by the European Social Fund grant. The £4m SSP has launched and is open for applications. SSP operates on a funding round basis, with rounds being held every quarter until programme closure in December 2023 (subject to availability of grant funding). Complete your application form now to be considered. SSP training grants support a wide range of qualifications and offer a flexible opportunity for you to implement your skills plans. SSP provides support for business confidence and enable SMEs to recover during the challenging economic period following the impact of COVID-19. SSP enables businesses to develop a ladder of progression for existing employees by increasing their skill levels and creating new opportunities for other employees. Part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and managed by Birmingham City Council (BCC), SSP is aimed at existing Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) seeking to upskill new and existing employees. SSP responds directly to the skills and training needs identified by SMEs for their employees, thereby offering SMEs what they want and at the time they need It, to implement their skills and growth plans. The programme is open for application to all business sectors, including 3rd sector SMEs and social enterprises based in the “more developed” areas of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership area. All training must be accredited by the Ofqual Framework otherwise it must be recognised by industry and professional accrediting bodies. The grant will enable employees to achieve any of the following: Full qualifications from Basic to Level 7, or equivalent (including higher level management and leadership skills) Licence based qualification including HHGV, Food and Hygiene and Construction Tickets including Health and Safety CSCS etc. Units or a unit of qualification at Basic level Want to learn more? Link to the Cranfield online briefing - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sme-briefing-event-for-growing-businesses-greater-birmingham-and-solihull-tickets-465077658797For further information please contact Leslie Dunkwu, Business Development Advisor, Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship Email: [email protected]

This episode focusses on the RTO Catapult grant.

Innovate UK EDGE is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s deep investment in the pioneering businesses that drive economic growth. It is a publicly-funded, business support service available to all high potential small to medium sized innovation-driven companies, including Innovate UK grant winners.

Innovative, ambitious businesses can benefit from the facilities and expertise provided by Catapults and Research & Technology Organisations (RTOs) through Innovate UK EDGE.

RTOs are specialised not-for-profit knowledge organisations dedicated to the development and transfer of science and technology to the benefit of the economy and society. They include hubs, laboratories, test beds, factories and offices for cutting edge R&D. The Catapult network of technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK supports businesses to transform great ideas into valuable products and services.

Innovate UK Edge can offer applicants with a suitable project a grant for 100% of eligible costs to a maximum of £15,000.

want more info? https://www.innovateukedge.ukri.org/

The Black Business Fund – set up by Uber Eats in collaboration with Be Inclusive Hospitality and Enterprise Nation – saw £50,000 distributed to 10 small Black-owned businesses across the country that had been affected by the pandemic last year. 

Over 150 restaurants applied to the fund in 2021, with the winners representing a cross-section of the most innovative and exciting Black-owned restaurants in the country. The 10 winners each received a £5,000 grant, along with dedicated mentoring from Be Inclusive Hospitality.

This year is back and they've invested FIVE TIMES the amount; a total of £250,000 to go to twenty-five small Black-owned businesses. At least half of the grants will go to small businesses outside of London.

Black-owned restaurants with fewer than five locations can now apply to the Uber Eats Black Business Fund with applications opening closing on November 25th. As well as funding to help grow their businesses, restaurants will receive special mentoring from Enterprise Nation.

You need to act fast; applications close next week! https://www.enterprisenation.com/uber/black-business-fund/

Go Car Charge believes going green and being more environmentally aware can be built into our every day lives and as more and more electric vehicles (EVs) are available they are proud to be certified to install electric car chargepoints. They have been accredited by OLEV/OZEV to supply and install EV charging points at your home or for businesses of any size in Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, London, Warwickshire, Berkshire and Hertfordshire.

BUT they can also help you access the governments workplace grant regardless of where you are based in the UK.

https://gocarcharge.co.uk/