Funding is provided to either effect some change in the economy such as create more jobs, innovation, green working, etc. or to address a market failure such as a lack of social enterprises. For this reason, criteria and eligibility is often very specific and funding may often take the form of paid for advice, zero interest loans or small grants that require a match contribution from the business. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for any of the schemes below please get in touch and we’ll do our best to help.
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- Learn About Grants And Finance
The business finance guide provides a comprehensive overview of the financing options available to growing businesses. Whatever the challenges faced, the right financing decisions are critical. For business owners and management, awareness of the choices available allows the business to make a well-informed financing decision.
This link takes you to a helpful tool that guides you through the various options for finance: Find the right finance for you
Search finance and support for your business, click here to go to the Government National Finance Finder Tool.
Local Grants & Funding
Grow In Gravesham Business Grants
The Grow in Gravesham Business Grants Scheme is designed to provide financial support to businesses seeking to grow, innovate, or address specific challenges. It aims to foster economic development and sustainability.
Small grants of £500 and £750 are available and through a competitive process
Grant funds can be used for a project which will allow your business to be better positioned to grow, innovate, and contribute to the local economy.
Tell me moreTonbridge & Malling Green Grant
Grant funding of up to £5000 to cover up to 40% of the costs of reducing the carbon footprint of commercial premises including equipment and machinery.
Businesses in the Tonbridge & Malling area operating from a commercial premises can apply for this grant. The council have decided that the following sectors will be given priority:
- Food production
- Tourism and hospitality
- Distribution and logistics
- Construction
- Independent retail
Apply by 5pm on 28th May 2025.
Tell me moreFolkestone & Hythe Climate Action Micro-Grant
Grant Funding of up to £1000, representing up to 100% of the total project cost.
This smaller grant category is aimed to lower the barrier to entry for smaller groups and spread funding across a wider range of smaller scale projects.
SMEs (up to 50 employees) in the Folkestone & Hythe area can apply for this grant to help with small scale energy efficient improvements.
Deadline for the first round of applications is 21st April 2025.
Tell me moreFolkestone & Hythe Small Business Premises Grant
Grant Funding of up to £20,000, representing up to 80% of the total project cost.
This grant category is aimed to support local organisations in implementing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient improvements to their facilities.
SMEs (up to 50 employees) in the Folkestone & Hythe area can apply for this grant to help with:
- Solar PV Systems
- Insulation, glazing upgrades & retrofits
- Installation of heat pumps and zero carbon heating solutions
- Installation of EV Charging Points
- Establishing electric car clubs and car share schemes
- Install secure cycle storage
- Waste reduction, water capture and heat recovery
Deadline for the first round of applications is 21st April 2025.
Tell me moreGrowing Green Grant
Growing Kent and Medway are delivering this sustainability training programme for horticultural and plant-based food and drink businesses in Kent and Medway.
Your training will take place over three months, you will then be invited to apply for a grant to help you achieve your net zero goals.
- Grant of up to £7k
- Accredited training and professional qualification
- Environmental sustainability assessment
- Personalised action plan
- Networking and events.
Medway Partners for Green Growth grant scheme
Financial support of up to £2,500 is available for Medway SMEs.
The funding is to help businesses in the:
- implementation of their decarbonisation plans
- adoption of new processes that contribute to their net-zero journey.
The grant aims to offset some of the costs associated with sustainable initiatives and allow businesses to make meaningful progress towards their environmental goals.
Tell me moreKent and Medway Business Fund - Small Business Boost
Loan Offer – £26k – £99k
0% Interest (10% Admin Fee applied)
20-30% Match-funding required
Applications are invited from start ups and established businesses in all sectors
Excluding:
Franchises
Organisations with a political or religious nature
Primary production (partial exclusion)
Criteria must include:
Growth, Innovation, Increased Productivity, Supply Chain, Contribution to Net Zero
Employment:
Job Creation – essential
To submit your Expression Of Interest
Kent and Medway Business Fund - Standard Loan
Loan Offer – £100k – £600k
0% Interest (10% Admin Fee applied)
50% Match-funding required
Applications are invited from established businesses in all sectors
Excluding:
Franchises
Organisations with a political or religious nature
Primary production (partial exclusion)
Criteria must include:
Growth, Innovation, Increased Productivity, Supply Chain, Contribution to Net Zero
Employment:
Job Creation – essential
Read the KMBF Standard loan Guidance here
To submit your Expression Of Interest
Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS)
The Growth Guarantee Scheme provides the lender with a 70% government-backed guarantee, and is designed to support access to finance for UK smaller businesses as they look to invest and grow
Minimum facility sizes vary, starting at £1,000 for asset finance, invoice finance and asset based lending, and at £25,001 for term loans and overdrafts. Eligible funding solutions are offered for up to £2 million.
GGS supports a wide range of business finance facilities covering term loans, overdrafts, asset finance, and invoice finance (including asset based lending).
GGS is available through the British Business Bank’s accredited lenders
(Not every lender can provide each type of finance)
Start Up Loan + 12 months Mentoring
Start or grow your own business
- 18+ years old
- Pre-start or trading less than 36 months
- UK-based business
- Up to £25,000 at 6% p.a. fixed for up to 5 years
To apply: Applying for a Start Up Loan – Start Up (startuploans.co.uk)
Tell me moreGot questions? Ask Phil
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