Contents
- Introduction
- The Grant Objective
- Who is eligible for the grant?
- Eligible costs
- What can I use the grant for?
- Ineligible costs
- How to apply for the grant programme
- When is the grant paid?
- Additional support and guidance
- Annex 1 - Worksop
- Annex 2 - Retford
Introduction
The grant objective - This scheme will provide grants for both existing and new businesses that have a viable business growth plan which will lead to the creation of new jobs, improve the visual aesthetics and increase the footfall within the town centres.
Who is eligible for the grant?
- The grant is available to independent businesses these include; sole traders, independent charities, a limited company which would like to replace, improve or carry out repairs to their shop front.
- The shop front façade must be on the ground floor and have a street facing frontage.
- The business should be located within the boundary area shown in Appendix 1 in Worksop or Retford.
- Businesses that have no outstanding debts with the Local Authority.
- The business must show evidence of the required amount of match funding.
- If you are a leaseholder you must have permission from the freeholder and provide supporting documentation.
- Where applicable planning permission must be obtained from the Local Authority.
Certain businesses are excluded from applying for this grant - these include pawn brokers, adult/private shops, betting shops, national and international chain stores. Applications will be accepted for commercial premises only; residential properties or home-based businesses are excluded.
Eligible Costs
- New business fit out or relocations costs to empty premises within a town centre will be considered on case by case basis.
- Internal and external refurbishments for disability access e.g., disabled toilets, doors, ramps to access building etc.
- Shop fronts (window, door, and signage). The design must be agreed in advance with Bassetlaw District Council planning team.
What can I use the grant for?
The grant can contribute to the following items:
- Replacement shop front windows and doors
- Reinstatement of traditionally styled shop fronts, sash windows and doors.
- Painting of existing shop frontage and upper floors (including rendering)
- Replacement of guttering and downpipes
- Replacement signage
- Applicable costs for obtaining planning permission and building regulations can be paid for using your match funding.
- Architects fees
- Internal fit out costs for new businesses
- Security measure for internal and external grills
- Improving the Internal and external accessibility to the premises
Ineligible Costs
The following costs are considered ineligible and must not be included in applications:
- Payments for activities of a party political or exclusively religious nature.
- VAT reclaimable from HMRC.
- Gifts, or payments for gifts or donations.
- Statutory fines, criminal fines or penalties.
- Contingencies and contingent liabilities.
- Bad debts, outstanding business rates, costs resulting from the deferral of payments to creditors, or winding up a company.
- Expenses in respect of litigation, unfair dismissal or other compensation.
- Costs incurred by individuals in setting up and contributing towards private pension schemes.
- Any other revenue based costs.
Contribution rate and match funding
This scheme will provide a grant up to £20,000 that will contribute towards 80% of the total eligible cost of the project (excluding VAT).
- This must be the total project cost excluding any VAT.
The applicant’s contribution is 20% of the total project cost for businesses and 10% of the total project cost for charities, which for the maximum available grant would be £20,000 (excluding any VAT).
How to apply for the grant programme
Applicants will need to submit the following documents. Electronic copied of the application form can be requested from growthandenterprise@bassetlaw.gov.uk. Please send all documentation back to growthandenterprise@bassetlaw.gov.uk once it is completed. The following documentation will be required:
For businesses and charities (up to £20,000):
- Grant Funding Application Form
- Two written quotes for any items over £5,000
- Three written quotes for any items over £10,000
- Policies: Equality and Diversity Policy and Health and Safety Policy
- Public Liability Insurance Policy
- Copies of any relevant planning or building regulation approvals (if relevant and already obtained).
- For established businesses please provide a copy of audited accounts for the last two years and a business growth plan. For any issues or alternative options regarding submission of financials please do email: growthandenterprise@bassetlaw.gov.uk
- For new businesses a full business plan must be submitted demonstrating the financial viability of the business.
When is the grant paid?
If the grant application is approved applicants have up to four months to submit the relevant copied of invoices and bank statement showing eligible expenditure has been made. All invoices and statements must be dated after the grant approval date. All grant funding must be claimed by 31st March 2025.
- The payment will be made to the business bank account via BACS payment and Vat will be excluded.
All application will be subject to an assessment by a panel and the amount offered will be at the discretion of the panel and only whilst the funds are available and is on a first come, first served basis. The panel’s decision is final.
Please do not start any works related to your application prior to receiving written confirmation of the panel’s decision. The grant will not be paid towards any transaction that have occurred before the date of approval.
Additional Support and Guidance
- 1-2-1 advice, mentoring and diagnostic support on a range of areas relevant to your business. In addition to this, tailored support will be offered to businesses looking to invest in research and development.
- Training and action planning workshops: providing you with the latest learning and tools in areas such as digital skills.
- Growth vouchers: offering up to £2,000 (100% funded) for specialist consultancy and training (linked to the strategic plan developed with your business adviser. Available on a first-come, first-served basis).
- Help to Grow - Management course: £750 joining fee subsidy for this 12-week executive development leadership and management programme (together with the Government’s 90% support, this covers 100% of the costs).
- Grant funding: helping you identify and apply for funding to help you grow, increase efficiencies and build a sustainable business for the future.
- Networking and peer support: for example, through the East Midlands Manufacturing Network which has dedicated North Nottinghamshire and Nottingham forums.
High Street Business Support Programme
- Business Adviser support delivered through a team of locally based digital high street advisers and Specialists, employed by the Chamber, helping you in a number of key areas. Support will focus on helping you to embrace digital in order to increase footfall and attract new customers. We’re extending our support to other areas too, to help you on things like business growth, implementing new technologies and leadership. We’ll meet with you, assess where you’re at by running a diagnostics report, and produce a Business Action Plan.
- Access to digital know-how workshops on topics such as eCommerce, better use of social media, creating an online shopfront and improving your customer journey through social content.
Expressions of Interest for funding to the business decarbonisation programme to provide IAG, dedicated energy audit and grant to businesses are now open.
- There are two phases of grant support available for organisations with fewer than 49 employees and whose business premises (which the funding application applies to) are located and operate within Bassetlaw District.
- Phase 1 will facilitate businesses creating a Heat Decarbonisation Plan for their chosen asset. Phase 2 offers the provision of a grant of up to £5,000 for future spend on energy efficiency measures to support the reduction of the organisations’ carbon footprint.
Maintenance operative is available to assist with one day of labour quarterly for small outdoor maintenance jobs that you perhaps don’t have the time or resources to do so.
Examples of work supported includes: Jet Washing, Painting, Gutter Clearing, Weeding, Hedge Trimming and Litter Picking.
Whilst this service is free to BID Members, all materials for work undertaken on their property/grounds must be provided by the BID member.
AccessAble - Bassetlaw District Council
Project involves a premises audit for Businesses in relation to accessibility.
Annex 1 - Worksop
Annex 2 - Retford
Last Updated on Thursday, October 3, 2024