Local businesses looking to grow are being offered a helping hand as a new grant scheme launches today (Monday 25th April 2016).
Signpost 2 Grants is a new small capital grants scheme being funded and delivered by the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP as a part of their CPCA Growth Hub campaign. The grants are being offered to local businesses looking to make a capital investment in their business to grow.
Grants of between £2,000 and £20,000 are available to local SMEs who are looking to invest in new equipment, new machinery, improvements to their premises, or other capital purchases. The grants can be used to fund up to 20% of a total project cost, to provide businesses with the extra help they need to grow.
Neil Darwin, Chief Executive of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, said:
“Signpost 2 Grants fills an important gap in the business support marketplace. Our CPCA Growth Hub team is often approached by local businesses with a desire to invest and grow who need a little extra help and support. It is with this in mind that we have launched the Signpost 2 Grants scheme, which will provide grants of between £2,000 and £20,000 to these local businesses to help them grow and create more jobs.
“We have tried to make the process as straightforward as possible for businesses, asking them to complete a short pre-qualification questionnaire to check if they are eligible to apply before inviting them to complete an easy to follow application form. We have a specialist grant application team on hand to talk businesses through the eligibility criteria, and the application process, so I would encourage businesses to start applying as soon as possible because there is a limited pot of funding available in this first round.”
Businesses must be located within the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area to apply, which covers Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Rutland, West Suffolk, West Norfolk, Uttlesford, North Hertfordshire, South Holland and South Kesteven.
Signpost 2 Grants is ready to accept applications now, and further information can be found online at www.signpost2grants.co.uk.
