Grants of up to £2,000 to individuals aged 18-30 in Cumbria who are running a business less than 3 years old with a current revenue of £500+ per month, to help the business make a transformational change or take a significant step forward in its development.
Donor
SWEF Enterprise Fund
Eligibility requirements for applicants:
· be aged 18 – 30
· currently live in the county of Cumbria
· have the right to work in and are resident in the UK
· can demonstrate a financial need in that you are unable to support the progression of the business, e.g., on Universal Credit
· the business is your sole work focus, or there is a clear plan for it to become so
Eligibility requirements for your business:
· UK-based
· set up for less than 3 years
· operate as sole trader, limited company, or CIC limited by shares
· if a limited company, you must hold majority ownership
· has an average gross trading income of at least £500 per month over the last three consecutive months
· has a business bank account
· has visible presence as a business, e.g., a website, social media activity, confirmed purchases, testimonials, a screenshot from your Universal Credit account confirming you are self-employed or gainfully self-employed, a UTR number for sole traders, previous month’s business bank account statement
Business sectors which are NOT eligible for this Fund:
· invasive beauty treatments (Botox, aesthetics, semi-permanent makeup, tattoos, dermal fillers)
· consultancy or property development
· drugs/tobacco/vaping
· political or religious agendas
· gambling
· unregulated activity, e.g., crypto
· finance/trading needing FCA approval
· resold mass-produced good
What the Fund will support:
· equipment or tools
· prototypes and product development
· formal, accredited training or courses
· advertising, marketing or promotional costs
· website/booking system/e-commerce costs
· uniforms/protective clothing needed for your work
· IT hardware–must be refurbished
· Trade body or professional membership
What the Fund will NOT support in addition to our normal exclusions:
· salary or living costs
· rent and utilities
· debt repayment
· retrospective purchases
· app or software development (must be ready to launch, or already live)
· stock, materials or other ongoing costs for existing product lines
· dual-use items, e.g., mobile phone, a car, driving lessons
· subscriptions for basic operational running costs
· an already-established business that you wish to take on as a new owner
Your application must demonstrate 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 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.
How much can you apply for?
· The maximum award is £2,000. (If you received a start-up grant of £500, then the maximum award will be £1,500).
· Funding is not available for any grant items with a total value of over £10,000.
· Funds must be spent within one month of receipt.
· Requested items are expected to result in revenue generation within 3 months of the award.
How to apply?
• All applications are now made through our online application portal
• You can find the application in the FUNDS tab under Funds for Individuals
• Read our step‑by‑step portal help guide here
For further information about this fund please contact:
Siona Hartley on 01900 820824 or email siona@cumbriafoundation.org