UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Business Support Programme

Delivery Partner: Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire Merseyside

The UKSPF Decarbonisation project is aimed at supporting businesses to invest in low carbon technologies through providing access to grant funding, carbon audits and workshops. 

The grant scheme comprises a limited number of capital grants of up to 50% of eligible project costs subject to a minimum grant of £5,000 and maximum grant of £15,000, with all applications to be appraised by a grant panel. 

Businesses seeking grant funding should note: 
•    minimum projects costs to secure grant will be £10,000  but we anticipate average project costs will be in the region of £20,000 
•    projects must be completed by the end of January 2026 
•    business investing in solar panel installations should confirm that there are no major barriers (eg planning / heritage building status, landlord permission) that could prevent completion by end-January 2026.

In addition to supporting the grant scheme, Groundwork will also provide an energy audit service to determine targetable areas of high energy consumption with the aim of reducing carbon emissions.  

Businesses will also be able to access support through webinars and events, sharing knowledge and information on sustainable business practices and the latest news and regulations for small to medium enterprises.

Delivery Partner: West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce

Delivered by West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce, the Business Advisory Service will provide advice, guidance and access to a small capital grants scheme to established businesses and to entrepreneurs looking to start a new business.

The scheme offers grants of up to 50% of eligible capital costs for entrepreneurs starting a new business venture (maximum grant £1,000) and for established SMEs looking to grow (maximum grant £2,000). The grants are discretionary and all grant applications will be subject to appraisal by a Grant panel. The Grant panel will determine the value of grant to be awarded and it is anticipated the majority of awards will be below the maximum available.

While the grant scheme is open to all sectors and all applications will be considered on a case by case basis, priority will be given to businesses engaged in manufacturing, engineering, construction, IT and professional, technical and business services.

The wide-ranging programme of activities provided by the Chamber through the project is designed to encourage entrepreneurship and develop the skills needed to start and run a successful, resilient business.

Support can take the form of access to experienced business advisers, one-to-one support, themed workshops, networking opportunities and signposting to local and national business support services. 

Delivery Partner: Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Centre for Enterprise

The Innovation Advisory Service is aimed at raising awareness of, stimulating engagement with and creating opportunities for local businesses to access both national and local innovation projects and providers. It will help businesses to better understand the innovation landscape through organising awareness-raising events and facilitating introductions and visits to innovation centres of excellence. Support is targeted at all west Cheshire businesses actively looking to become more innovative.

Delivered by MMU as part of the Cheshire Innovation Network initiative one aim of the project will be to identify businesses that may benefit from the more in-depth support provided through the Inspiring Innovation project.  

Delivery Partner: Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Centre for Enterprise

Delivered by MMU as part of the Cheshire Innovation Network initiative, the Inspiring Innovation project will support businesses that demonstrate the ambition to grow and become more sustainable by developing, adopting and embedding innovation within their operations. Support is targeted at all west Cheshire business that are ready to invest in innovation but with a primary focus on SMEs.

The project will have two elements:

•    A structured programme of activity for 3 innovation cohorts (with a minimum of 10 businesses in each cohort) of businesses that have engaged with the Innovation Advisory Service or been identified through other sources. The programme will include workshops, seminars and other activities covering all aspects of the innovation process from concept through to commercialisation

•    Workforce development sessions for staff of the cohort businesses and other businesses with an active interest in building an innovation culture with their operations. These sessions will be aimed at raising awareness of the value of innovation and the importance of this being recognised across the workforce.  

Delivery Partner: Cheshire Community Action

Provision of an enhanced business support and advisory service to pre-start, new and existing social enterprises in Cheshire West and Chester through face to face and online one to one support.

Delivery Partner: Cheshire West and Chester Council

Capital grants for small scale investment in micro and small enterprises, including social enterprises, tourism attractions and diversification of farm businesses outside of agriculture, in rural areas.

The grant scheme comprises a limited number of capital grants of up to 50% of eligible project costs subject to a minimum grant of £5,000 and maximum grant of £15,000, with all applications to be appraised by a grant panel.