Grants of up to £500 to individuals aged 18-30 in Cumbria who are launching a new business or one that has been set up for less than 2 years with a pre-revenue or revenue less than £500 per month.
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
Eligibility requirements for your business:
· UK-based
· set up for less than 2 years
· operate as sole trader, limited company, or CIC limited by shares (or not yet registered)
· if a limited company, you must hold majority ownership
· not yet trading or has a gross trading income of less than £500 per month
· has a business bank account
· visible progress in establishing the business, e.g., a website, business cards, social media activity, confirmed purchases, market research, or photos of product/premises
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 goods
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
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)
· dual-use items, e.g., mobile phone, a car, driving lessons
· an already-established business that you wish to take on as a new owner
Your application form must show that:
· your business idea has the potential to be profitable and to be your sole work focus AND
· you have enough relevant experience and/or training to potentially succeed AND
· you have specific plans for how you will spend the grant, such as web links and costs for the items requested
· Applications for a “business idea” alone will not be considered. You must have evidence of real steps taken.
How much can you apply for?
· The maximum award is £500.
· Funding is not available for any grant items with a total value of over £2,000.
· Funds must be spent within one month of receipt.
· Requested items are expected to result in revenue generation within 3 months of the award.
Please ensure you read and meet all the eligibility requirements before applying:
SWEF Eligibility Criteria | Who Can Apply for a Grant
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