Biz Bytes: Money for Nothing - is there such a thing?

Dire Straits must have foreseen a world where Buckinghamshire Business First provides grant funding to its members for a wide range of projects!

£10,000. Ten thousand pounds. How would you spend this money? Get yourself a new website, attend an exhibition, upgrade your IT systems, put it towards the recruitment fees for your latest employee?

Whatever you decided, it is a sizeable amount of money that would really make a difference to your business and your bottom line. But how easy is it to locate and then successfully apply for a grant or loan to help with your business growth, product promotion or to improve your workspace?

Buckinghamshire Business First has successfully helped hundreds of businesses access a range of grants totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. We offer practical support and advice to make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for our grants and help you complete the necessary paperwork. Our promise to you is that we won’t waste your time filling in forms if we don’t think you meet the criteria, but our track record of providing grants to businesses speaks for itself.

Don’t take my word for it though; ask those who have received grants:

Lesley Maddox, Green Dragon Rare Breeds Farm and Eco Centre, who received a Velocity Growth Grant of £5,000: “I was reading the Buckinghamshire Business First newsletter one day and I saw an article advertising the Velocity Growth Grant they manage. I contacted Buckinghamshire Business First and they were really enthusiastic and supportive of our application. We received a £5,000 grant which enabled us to fund a marketing campaign and the equipment necessary to open our Eco Centre.”

Elizabeth Assaf, Urban Front, who received £3,000 from Grants for Eco Innovation to attend a trade show in Denmark: “The application process was much easier than I could ever have expected. The Grants for Eco Innovation team were exceptional, very proactive in their support and always there to tell me what was needed to make sure the application was successful. It was a quick process from start to finish, which is what every business needs.”

To see what local grants you may be able to apply for, visit the funding page of Buckinghamshire Business First website.

Another great resource you should find useful is the Government Finance Finder where you can search for nationwide advice, access to grants, and other funding solutions.

With a General Election on the horizon, the funding landscape could change again. However, as a member of Buckinghamshire Business First rest assured that we will keep you fully informed so that you don’t miss out on any opportunities that could make a difference to your business.

Please do get in touch with me if you would like to discuss which grants would be most suitable to your business. You can call us on 01494 568941 or email BusinessSupport@bbf.uk.com.

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