This week all of us at Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire are excited to launch our Kick Start small business grants. Following on from last year’s highly successful Reset. Restart grants, winners this year will receive a fantastic new package which includes:
a £2,000 grant for business expenses
a year’s free membership with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
ongoing support from the BIPC Northamptonshire team
Any entrepreneurs in Northamptonshire with a great idea or a business less than 12 months old are invited to apply for the grants. Businesses must meet some eligibility criteria and our terms and conditions include:
The business must have been registered, in Northamptonshire, on or after 1 May 2021, or be registered within two months of receiving the grant
The business must submit a complete business plan, using the BIPC Northamptonshire business plan template, and application form
The business must have attended at least two of the BIPC Northamptonshire Kick Start sessions, one of which is business planning, between Tuesday 3 May and Friday 15 July 2022
Grant applications must be received by midday on Friday 29 July 2022
Shortlisted applicants will then be required to attend a Dragons’ Den style grant panel session in September where they will pitch their business to a group of local business experts.
For further information or if you would like to apply, please visit-bipcnorthamptonshire.co.uk/kickstart
Terms and conditions can be found here.
The application form can be downloaded here.
BIPC Northamptonshire business plan template can be downloaded here.
The deadline for attending qualifying workshop and webinar sessions is Friday 15th July 2022 and applications must be received by midday on Friday 29th July 2022.
Our full programme of free webinars and workshops associated with the grants, aims to equip small business owners with the knowledge and skills to set-up sustainable businesses. Sessions include: market research, business planning, branding, emotional resilience, negotiations skills, business pitching, social media and more.
Booking is now open here for all sessions until the end of June, with July sessions to be announced later.
The grants apply to all businesses in Northamptonshire and both West and North County Councils are excited to be supporting our small business grants launch.
Cllr Adam Brown, West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Deputy Leader and member responsible for the BIPC, said: "The last few years have been incredibly challenging for businesses of all sizes, but we continue to see entrepreneurs and new companies coming forward to make their mark on our local economy."
"Despite the challenging economic environment, those who can find success now may well go on to flourish and develop into incredibly successful enterprises."
"As local authorities we want to do everything in our power to nurture start-ups and give them the very best start we can."
Cllr David Brackenbury, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for growth and regeneration, said: "We know life has been tough for so many businesses and want to help as many as possible."
"Throughout the pandemic, we have seen small businesses being set up across Northamptonshire and this initiative is designed to help those just starting out."
"I would urge anyone who thinks they qualify to check the eligibility and apply."