The fund is now closed and will not be accepting applications
again until April 2026.
Grants of up to £2,000 to young people in Cumbria who are running a new business, to help the business make a transformational change or take a significant step forward in its development.
Donor
SWEF Enterprise Fund
Who can apply?
• be aged 18 – 30 and currently live in the county of Cumbria
• operate as a sole trader, limited company, or CIc limited by shares that has been trading for less than two years
• be generating a minimum profit of £500 profit per month
• be experiencing financial challenges that are limiting business development
• be either the majority shareholder, or where applicable, all shareholders must be aged 18 to 30
• have a business bank account or be in the process of setting one up
Your application form must show that:
• your business idea is currently your main focus, or will become so in the near future
• the grant will be used to significantly develop the business and support progression to the next stage
• you have clear and detailed plans for how you the grant will be spent, including costs and supporting evidence such as web links
Please note:
• applications that involve ‘match funding’ or the purchase of second hand items are particularly welcome
• where a contribution is requested towards a single item costing more than £2,000, the grant must cover at least 25% of the total cost
• successful applicants will receive one business grant only, which may be less than the maximum amount: repeat applications are not permitted
What the Fund will support:
• equipment that will help achieve increased profit
• prototypes and product development
• building a website or booking system
• training
• other business costs that will make a significant impact
• goods or services to be purchased using the grant should be sourced from UK businesses
What the Fund will not support in addition to our normal exclusions:
• salary or living costs e.g. rent or utilities
• debt repayment
• Ongoing software subscriptions
• new computers, phones, tablets (we can consider second-hand or refurbished versions)
• stock, materials or other ongoing costs for existing product lines
• app development or software development costs – apps/software should be ready to launch or already launched at the point of applying to SWEF (wireframes can be considered)
• invasive beauty treatment such as botox, aesthetics, semi permanent makeup, facial tattoos, dermal fillers
How much can you apply for?
Grants will normally be up to £2,000.
How to apply
Please complete the online application form here. Grants are considered on a rolling basis.
TeIf you would like further information about this fund please contact:
Tracy Cheesbrough on 01900 825760 or email grants@cumbriafoundation.org