North Yorkshire Council Small Business Grant Scheme

The grants are targeted at new business start-ups and businesses less than 36 months old with no more than five employees. Businesses must demonstrate a need for the grant and provide a business plan with a financial forecast outturn.

Applications are decided upon on a first-come-first-serve basis and the scheme will close following the allocation of the total funding available. Decisions are reached on a bi-monthly basis.

How the grant works

Grants are paid retrospectively, that is after the purchase of eligible items and proof submitted. This must be done within six months of the dated offer letter.

Payment of the grant to successful applicants will preferably be made in one sum on the receipt by the Council of evidence that the applicant has incurred the expenditure. However, staged payments will be considered. The bank account details provided must be in the business name and not personal. Where businesses do not have an account in their business name, either a business account or a separate personal account solely for business purposes should be set up prior to applying to the scheme.

Successful applicants must provide a 12-month progress update following receipt of the grant. The Council may carry out a monitoring visit.

The Council reserves the right to:

• Reclaim the grant in the event of the business operation ceasing to operate within the district within 12 months from the date the grant was approved
• Withdraw the grant where spend is not in line with the offer made and accompanying terms and conditions

Applications with outstanding liabilities to North Yorkshire Council cannot be considered for a Small Business Grant. An internal credit check will be completed as part of the process.

Eligibility criteria

Applications can be made for assistance towards the following costs:

• The provision of necessary machinery and equipment (excluding vehicles and consumables)
• The extension, adaptation or improvement of facilities within premises (not for structural repairs or maintenance of existing building or installation of utilities)
• Marketing where it forms part of a promotional programme, which is likely to lead to additional jobs

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