GrantRadar

Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation

SWEF Enterprise Fund

The SWEF Enterprise Fund, managed by Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation for the South West Enterprise Fund, gives non-repayable grants to young people aged 18-30 in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who are from low-income households or face other barriers and run a business trading for under two years. Start-Up Grants are up to £500 for pre-revenue or early-stage businesses and Business Grants up to £2,000 for businesses with trading income. It is for individual entrepreneurs (sole traders, limited companies or CICs limited by shares), not charities or community groups.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£10,000 – £2,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Individuals aged 18-30 (inclusive) who live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland, are the majority shareholder, come from a low-income household or face other barriers to developing their business, and run a business (alone or as a team) that has traded for under two years, registered as a sole trader or a limited company/CIC limited by shares
  • Applicants must show time and resources already put into the business
  • Start-Up Grant: business making under £500 a month and aiming to raise revenue within 3 months
  • Business Grant: business regularly making £500+ a month with a business bank account
  • Full-time applicants are more likely to succeed
  • Not open to charities or community groups

What it funds

  • Business costs such as equipment to increase production where there is proven demand, materials or stock for a new product line, prototypes, website or booking system builds, training and product development
  • Refurbished technology may be considered on a match-funded basis if it will transform the business
  • Match-funded applications and second-hand purchases are particularly welcome
  • Grants must be spent within one month of receipt

What it will not fund

  • Salaries
  • Debt repayment
  • App or software development costs
  • Rent and utilities
  • Stock for an existing product line
  • Equipment or products for invasive beauty treatments
  • Ongoing software subscriptions
  • New computers, phones or tablets
  • Applications solely for business ideas

How to apply

  1. Read the Grant Information Pack (SWEF Enterprise Fund Guidance)
  2. Complete the online application form for either the Start-Up Grant or the Business Grant, answering every question and naming a referee (e.g. tutor, support worker or employer)
  3. The Community Foundation checks the application and confirms your identity and age
  4. SWEF may invite you to a 30-minute online meeting about your business
  5. Receive a decision after the meeting, normally within 8 weeks; successful grants are paid into the business bank account

No deadline; grants are allocated first come, first served until funds run out.

Successful applicants must attend a SWEF meetup, join the SWEF Facebook group, sign up to the newsletter and give feedback at 6 and 12 months.

Have ready

  • ID proving age and address
  • Business bank account details
  • Links to or quotes for the items the grant will buy
  • Referee details

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