Business grants and funding
There are a number of grants and funding schemes available for local businesses, offered through ourselves and a range of partners.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund was launched by the Government in early 2022 to support its ‘Levelling Up’ agenda. All local councils have been allocated a share of the fund to invest in their areas by March 2025. The Shared Prosperity Fund is intended to replace EU funding.
We have been allocated £1.76 million over the next three years, up to March 2025.
This can be used to support a wide range of initiatives across three priorities:
- Community and place
- Supporting local business
- People and skills
To access this funding, we must submit an Investment Plan to the Government. This will set out the activities to be delivered to meet local needs.
Developing the Investment Plan
To develop the Investment Plan, we will work with local partners - including voluntary and community sector organisations, business representatives and other key stakeholders - to identify the activities that will have the greatest impact for Dacorum residents and businesses.
Documents to support the UKSPF Investment Plan
More information
Further details about the Shared Prosperity Fund can be found on the Government website.
Dacorum's Den
Organised by Dacorum Borough Council and supported by local sponsors, Dacorum’s Den is our business grant scheme, based on the popular TV show, which gives budding local entrepreneurs the chance to apply for up to £1,000 to grow and develop a business idea. Find out more and apply.
Available grant schemes
Below is a list of grants currently available. Please note: access to grant funding will be dependent upon the eligibility criteria for each of the schemes. To find out more, please register on the Hertfordshire Growth Hub website. Once registered, you will be able to find more information on all the schemes using GrantFinder - an online funding portal, which you’ll find in the Knowledge Bank.
Available business grants
| Fund name |
Type of funding |
Purpose |
Maximum amount/grant percentage |
Manufacturing Growth Programme
|
Revenue grant
|
To support Hertfordshire Manufacturers (SMEs) to improve competitiveness and productivity
|
£1,860 (31%) Revenue Grant to support projects costing up to £6,000
|
| Stay Safe Stay Open Ventilation Grant |
Capital and revenue grant |
To support Hertfordshire businesses to continue to trade safely by ensuring their premises have adequate ventilation |
Up to £5,000 for consultancy and up to £20,000 installation of mechanical ventilation (100 per cent grant) |
Low Carbon Workspaces
|
Capital grant
|
To support projects that will result in a quantifiable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
|
£6,750 (45 per cent)
|
| Help to Grow: Digital |
Capital grant |
Receive a discount towards the cost of buying one approved software in the Help to Grow: Digital scheme |
Up to 50 per cent of £5,000 (including VAT) |
Hertfordshire Start-Up Programme (HSUP)
|
Revenue grant
|
To support new start-ups.
Businesses must be signed up and receiving 12 hours of support under the programme before they can apply for the grant element |
£3,000 (50%)
|
| ACMI 4.0 Programme |
Capital grant |
To support manufacturers adopt and integrate Industry 4.0 technologies and design principles more effectively. Businesses must be receiving 12 hours of support before a grant can be applied for. Funding for equipment and/or software. |
£20,000 (40/60 match) |
Community Grants
The Community Grant is designed to support community activities and improve the wellbeing of Dacorum residents. It is aimed at community groups and voluntary organisations within the borough who are looking for funding to deliver projects that will primarily benefit the people living in Dacorum.
Find out more and apply.
