Start-up grants for unemployed residents planning to start a business
Lichfield District Council is offering business start-up grants of £3,000 to local residents who have been made redundant or are out of work, and planning to start a business over the next year.
In total the council has set aside £200,000 from the Additional Restrictions Grant funding it received from the Government, to invest in new local businesses.
The grants, which will not need to be match-funded, can be spent on business equipment (excluding laptops, mobile phones and tablets), marketing and professional qualifications or training.
To be considered for support, prospective applicants must first go on a start-up masterclass workshop provided by Enterprise for Success - a project run by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership to promote enterprise - before applying for a grant.
LDC says this two-day interactive session will be a useful way to get expert advice to help create a sound business plan.
Councillor Liz Little, Cabinet Member responsible for Economic Development, said: “On top of helping businesses to come out the other side of lockdown, we also want to invest in local people who are out of work, and help them realise their dreams of building a business.
“This is why we are launching a business start-up grant scheme, which aims to give local entrepreneurs the boost and skills they need to start a new venture.
“We are looking forward to receiving funding applications, and to seeing more businesses established across the district, while helping more people into employment.”
The four applications rounds are 28 May, 2021; 27 August, 2021, 26 November, 2021 and 28 January, 2022.
The scheme will run until January 2022, or when all the funding has been allocated.
For the criteria and to find out how to apply, visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/startupgrants.
