To date Urban Element have secured over £30,000 worth of Grants for 24 small to medium sized businesses across the South West, South East and Midlands regions of the UK to fund their E-Business projects.
The grants have been used to support the development of new websites, re-developments, content managed sites, e-commerce and e-business sites.
Where do the grants come from?
The grants are available through Business Links across the UK. Business Link are a official government service, providing advice and information for new and small to medium sized businesses.
How do the grants work?
The grant schemes vary from region to region and may not be available throughout the UK. Jon Ellard, Sales & Marketing Director is registered on the National Business Consultants Register and will on the clients behalf research the availability of grants.
Summarised below are a few examples of grant schemes we have secured in the last three months.
Business Link Gloucestershire
Catalyst for Growth: Websites Grants
Catalyst for Growth is an imaginative new project that works with companies who want to make the most of Broadband and IT.
'The financial help the project provides is designed to act as a “Catalyst for Growth” helping companies to grow and stay competitive by using new technologies.'Business Link Gloucestershire are able to provide up to £500 (match funding) to support the development of:
- Content managed websites: This type of website will allow you and your company to change the content of your website without the need for the web developer to change it for you. Letting you take full control of your website as a marketing tool so you can add new products or services, special offers and news items to attract new customers and retain old ones
- e-commerce websites: This type of website will allow your customers to order and pay for goods and services on-line.
Where are you now?
You may have yet to put your business on the web or
you may have already started and would like help developing
things further. Wherever you are, you will be excited by the
potential benefits of high-speed Internet access, online
marketing, online trading and e-business.
Catalyst for Growth provides you with a range of subsidies,
advice, support and access to other Business Link projects
that may help your company.
Is your business eligible?
- You should be a Gloucestershire based business employing more than 5 people
- You should not be a subsidiary of a large company or be publicly funded
- Charities, social enterprises, franchises and companies limited by guarantee are eligible.
Catalyst for Growth: E-Business Grants
Catalyst for Growth is an imaginative new project that works with companies who want to make the most of Broadband and IT.
The financial help the project provides is designed to act as a “Catalyst for Growth” helping companies to grow and stay competitive by using new technologies.
Business Link Gloucestershire are able to provide up to £2000 (match funding) to support the development of e-business applications involving the integration of Internet or web systems with back office systems, examples of these are:
- Integrating on-line selling with your other sales channels
- Integrating on-line selling with your stock system and/or your accounts system
- Integrating on-line selling with your customer (CRM) system
- Giving your mobile sales staff the means to take orders on their equipment when visiting customers
- Implementing systems that allow staff to work normally at home.
Where are you now?
Your company should already have a content driven or an e-commerce website and you are now looking to build on your existing e-business skills and looking to realise further business benefits which could include:
- improved speed of response
- cost savings
- improved communications, information and knowledge sharing
- reductions in inventory
- improved efficiency and productivity
- harmonisation and standardisation of procedures
- better transfer of best practices
- acquisition of new customers and increased sales
- improved customer service.
The panel on the right shows how Catalyst for Growth works for you, from registering your interest, through making an application for assistance to receiving the grant.
Catalyst for Growth provides you with a range of subsidies, advice, support and access to other Business Link projects that may help your company.
Is your business eligible?
- You should be a Gloucestershire based business employing more than 5 people
- You should not be a subsidiary of a large company or be publicly funded
- Charities, social enterprises, franchises and companies limited by guarantee are eligible.
Downloads & Links
Business Link West -Bristol, Bath & Weston-Super-Mare
IT @ Work - E-Commerce Funding
The challenge is to demonstrate that your e-business proposal will significantly improve your business and justifies support funding.
The programme provides advice; support and funding to Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) based within the West of England and offers companies the opportunity to improve their business performance by deploying e-business processes. Support can be sought for a wide variety of technologies provided they help businesses improve and move to an
e-commerce business model.
About the Funding
Business West in conjunction with the Connecting South West programme supported by South West Regional Development Agency can offer funding towards a company’s hardware, software or web design costs when adopting the technology for the first time, or making better use of technology. The funding will be for up to 50% of the eligible costs up to a total grant of £2,000.
Only one award per company is permitted per financial year provided you do not exceed state aid rules.
Downloads & Links
Business Link Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire
Broadband Support Programme - What’s on offer?
Oxfordshire Broadband Partnership (OBP) has been established to help businesses to exploit broadband technologies. OBP has secured funding from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to manage a programme of support to help businesses in Oxfordshire to better exploit broadband technologies. The programme of support comprises three main components, which businesses can apply for according to their specific needs;
1. Broadband Connectivity Grants
If your business does not have broadband you can apply for a Broadband Grant of £200 to get connected. The application process is simple. All you need to do to apply is complete the attached application form and send it in to OBP (c/o Business Link) at the address below. Once we receive it, we will send it on to the grant awarding body for approval. If your application is approved, you can buy your broadband connection from the supplier of your choice and once you’ve sent a receipted invoice (with proof of purchase) to Oxfordshire County Council, they will send you a cheque for £200.
2. Broadband Advice
If you feel you need to talk to someone about your ideas, need some independent IT advice, or just want to know how to achieve your idea, we can help you by providing you with a Technology Means Business (TMB) accredited adviser. These Advisers will be able to provide you with convenient, jargon-free, impartial advice about the best way to move forward. Because they don’t have a product to sell, and they operate to tight guidelines, they will be able to recommend the best way forward. This component of the programme is free of charge to you. To apply, simply complete the attached application form, indicating that you would like further support to help you define your ideas.
3. Broadband Exploitation Grants
In addition to helping you get connected to broadband (if you aren’t already) and helping you to define your particular needs, OBP can also help you to exploit the benefits of broadband (by providing you with a further grant of up to £500.00). You can also benefit from this package if you are already connected to Broadband and you don’t need the connectivity grant.
If you have defined what you need to do to improve your exploitation of broadband, you could access a grant of up to £500.00 which you can use for one or both of the following value added purposes:
- Consultancy related to the application and integration of broadband with the business.
- Purchase of hardware or software that will enable the profitable exploitation of broadband.
All you need to do to apply for this package of support is complete the attached application form and send it in to OBP at the address below. On receipt of that application, a Business Link Account Manager, or one of OBP’s IT advisers may be in touch with you to clarify a couple of issues, or may want to pay you a visit to discuss your application in more depth. In doing this, they will be trying to ensure your idea is sound, and that you have everything you need to move your project forward.
Please note, we cannot accept retrospective claims and other eligibility conditions apply. In addition, funding is limited, and these Broadband Grants will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, the Broadband Exploitation Grant element needs to be ‘match funded’ by your company. This means that if you are applying for the £500.00, you need to demonstrate that you are spending £1000.00 on the whole project. Equally, if the total expenditure involved is only £400, the maximum grant you will be able to apply for will only be for £200
Downloads & Links
Thanks for taking the time to read this page, if you require further information regarding the availabilty of grants please complete the form below or call the office and ask to speak with Jon Ellard.