Grant News

Businesses in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole can apply for grants of up to £5,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a government initiative to support economic growth and levelling up across the UK.

The fund is being managed by the Dorset Chamber and to be eligible for a grant, businesses must complete a free online diagnostic tool. This tool will assess the business's strengths and weaknesses and identify areas where it could benefit from support.

The grants are available to businesses of all sizes, but priority will be given to micro and small businesses. Following the diagnostic stage, most businesses (primarily micro and SMEs), are eligible to submit an application for a match-funded grant to deliver a project in one of the following areas:

• start-ups (£500 up to £1,000)
• business growth (£1,000 up to £2,500)
• research and development for innovative product and service development (£1,000 up to £5,000)
• exporting to grow overseas trading (£1,000 up to £5,000).

The next closing date for applications is the 4th July 2024.