Growing and innovative small and medium sized businesses in East Cambridgeshire are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to £7,500.
The money can be used to create or safeguard jobs or bring new products to market. Businesses can also use it to invest in new technologies, processes or measures to improve productivity.
In total, £164,750 is being made available to East Cambridgeshire District Council and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority through the UK Shared Prosperity Business Grant Fund.
The programme is open to any existing SME or micro businesses located within the district with a turnover of less than £1 million.
The fund is designed to support smaller local businesses looking to grow, with support available for both:
- Capital expenditure – such as machinery, technology or shop refurbishment
- Revenue expenditure – such as staff training and marketing
Applicant businesses should have in place a strong business plan that includes:
- Plans to grow the business
- How funding will be used to support this growth
- Where applicable, how funding will support job creation, including apprenticeships
- How the funding will support the business to respond to market changes
- A clear delivery plan for the project that funding is supporting
- How the funding will benefit the wider local economy, e.g. the supply chain
Interested businesses must submit an Expression of Interest form by Friday 1 August.
If approved, applicants will be invited to submit a Full Application by Friday 22 August 2025.
- The minimum award available is £2,000
- The maximum award is £7,500
- Grants can cover up to 60% of the total project cost (e.g. £3,000 grant for a £5,000 project)
Cllr Alan Sharp, Chair of the council’s Finance and Assets Committee, said:
“We are delighted to once again be in a position of encouraging local businesses to invest in East Cambridgeshire. We are particularly keen to hear from enterprises that want to grow or expand, helping to create new jobs and invest in technology and processes for the future.”
So far in 2025, more than 10 grants totalling over £200,000 have been paid to local businesses in East Cambridgeshire, including Biologic Technologies, Cathedral St James, and Raglan Projects, through the latest Capital Growth Fund.
More information, including eligibility criteria and application forms, is available on the UK Shared Prosperity Business Grant Fund webpage.
📧 For enquiries: business@eastcambs.gov.uk
