South Hams District Council cannot offer grants to businesses. Information on sources of funding for business enterprises are listed in the South Hams Business Information Guide.
Links to business advice organisations can be found on the Business Organisations page of this website. Details of other advice providers are listed in the Business Information Guide.
Train to Gain - GiveYour Staff the Right Skills to do the Best Job
Train to Gain is a new national service to help your business get the training it needs to succeed. It can improve your competitiveness by making sure your staff have the right skills to do the best job.
It is funded by the Learning and Skills Council and delivered through a partnership between Business Link and the local training provider network across the South West and combines a number of practical and relevant 'training solutions'. These include:
- Free help to find the best local training providers and courses to meet your training needs
- Free training, if it is an employee's first NVQ level 2 qualification - subject to availability
- A free and impartial assessment of the skills your business needs now and in the future
- Advice on accessing any relevant financial support and securing the best value from your training.
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South West Investment Group (SWIG)
SWIG, a not-for-profit company, offers complementary loan finance to new or expanding small and medium sized businesses in the South West.
Funds are delivered in collaboration with Business Link and the wider business advisory network, including the Enterprise Agency network, colleges, banks, accountants and other private sector advisors. Applications are only accepted via recognised intermediaries.
Devon Business Support Fund: provides support and finance to small businesses in the Objective Two areas of Devon.
Phoenix Business Development Fund: provides finance to start-ups and new businesses in areas of disadvantage throughout the South West. This fund is targeted towards enterprises that may not qualify for help through our other funds and are owned by: people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, single parents, returners to work and people over 50 years of age.
Finance South West
Finance South West launched an £18 million business investment fund in February 2005. They are a local business finance company that work with businesses in the European Objective 2 area - including the South Hams - that need finance to start, grow or change ownership. An important aim is to fill gaps in funding that the banks and others cannot meet. Working closely with the banks, accountants and other funders Finance South West can provide the missing piece of finance that allows a commercially viable project to move ahead.
Finance South West is a private company limited by guarantee and do not provide grants.
Agriculture And Countryside Management Grants
Agricultural support and grant aid is shifting toward countryside conservation and management with four specific types of support now available to land owners and farmers.
| Types of Support Available: |
| Single Farm Payment |
Entry Level Environmental Stewardship |
| Entry Level Organic |
Higher Level Environmental Stewardship |
Free And Subsidised Support To Manufacturers
South.West Manufacturing Advisory Service (South West MAS) provides practical advice and hands-on support for manufacturers by manufacturers. South West MAS can provide sustainable improvements to your manufacturing business in four key areas:
· Improved on time delivery · Reduction of work in progress · Shorter lead times |
· Reduction of customer complaint · Resolution of quality problems · Reduction of waste |
· Improved productivity · Increased space utilisation · Improved machine performance · Stock reduction |
· Shorter product introductions · Project management · Links to information and research on new materials / processes |
Redundant Buildings Grant
Devon Renaissance has launched a new funding scheme to help local businesses bring redundant buildings back into productive use. The Redundant Buildings Grant (RBG) will help businesses to expand their premises – creating new jobs and supporting the development of the rural economy. The programme will also promote sustainable construction good practice and encourage businesses to look at low energy use and sustainable materials.
To qualify for the RBG grant, a building must be either completely unused, or unusable in its current condition and needing to be converted before it can be used for a new purpose. Most types of building are eligible, regardless of age, as long as they are intended to be used for business purposes.
Regional Assisted Areas
Assisted Areas are those parts of Great Britain where regional aid may be granted under European Community law. Regional Selective Assistance is the main form of such aid in Great Britain. It is a discretionary grant, awarded to secure employment opportunities and increase regional competitiveness and prosperity.
Assisted Areas In The South Hams
Parts of the area of the South Hams bordering Plymouth are eligible for this type of assistance; these include Langage, Broadley Park and Hursley employment estates.
The economic development pages of this website provide more information and a link to the dti postcode based search facility.
