GrantRadar

Cheshire Community Foundation in partnership with SWEF

SWEF Business Grants for people aged 18-30

Small grants to help 18-30 year olds in Cheshire, Warrington and Greater Manchester set up their new business, delivered by Cheshire Community Foundation for SWEF. A Start-Up Grant of up to £500 is for pre-revenue businesses less than 2 years old, and a Business Grant of up to £2,000 is for businesses under 3 years old trading at least £500 a month; applicants must show financial need. Money must be spent within one month and every budget item needs evidence. The programme particularly welcomes groups often underrepresented in business ownership.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £2,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Individuals aged 18-30 who live in Cheshire, Warrington or Greater Manchester (the page's 'Where?' section; its introduction mentions only Cheshire and Warrington), have the right to work in the UK and can show financial need (for example relying on Universal Credit, or lacking savings or family help)
  • The business must be UK-based, a sole trader or limited company (SWEF's apply page also mentions CICs limited by shares) in which the applicant holds majority ownership, and have a business bank account
  • Start-Up Grant (up to £500): business set up less than 2 years ago (or not yet registered), not yet trading or earning under £500 gross a month, with visible progress such as a website, social media, sales, testimonials, market research or photos; a business idea alone is not enough
  • Business Grant (up to £2,000): business set up less than 3 years ago, averaging at least £500 gross trading income a month over the last three consecutive months, with the business your sole work focus (or soon to be) and a visible business presence
  • Applications are particularly welcome from people on low incomes, women, migrants, ethnic minorities, disabled people and people with few or no formal qualifications

What it funds

Costs directly related to your business, to help 18-30 year olds set up their new business:

  • Equipment and tools
  • Materials or stock for a new product line or service (Start-Up Grant)
  • Prototypes
  • Accredited training
  • Marketing
  • Website, booking system or e-commerce costs
  • Work or protective clothing
  • Refurbished IT hardware
  • Trade body or professional memberships (Business Grant)

Pre-revenue businesses are initially limited to £500; after a successful start-up grant the business may reapply for remaining costs, up to £2,000 in total across both grants. Funds must be spent within one month of receipt, and the purchase should generate revenue within 3 months.

What it will not fund

  • Salaries
  • Debt repayment
  • Retrospective purchases
  • Rent and utilities
  • Materials or stock for an existing product line or service
  • Ongoing software subscriptions or subscriptions for basic running costs
  • App or digital software development, unless launch-ready or live
  • New computers, tablets and phones (refurbished devices may be considered)
  • Dual-use items such as phones, cars, e-bikes and driving lessons
  • Taking over an established business
  • Items costing over £2,000 (Start-Up Grant) or over £10,000 (Business Grant)
  • Businesses in excluded sectors: invasive beauty treatments (such as Botox), consultancy, property development, drugs/tobacco/vaping, political or religious causes, gambling and unregulated activity (including crypto), finance needing FCA approval, resold mass-produced goods, and delivery drivers

How to apply

  1. Read the programme page and SWEF's eligibility criteria; if helpful, email the Grants Team to arrange a phone chat
  2. Submit a brief Expression of Interest form through the online portal (Plinth); saving the form needs a free Microsoft account
  3. If your expression of interest is successful, you will be sent a link to the full SWEF Application Form

Paper, video, verbal or face-to-face alternatives are available if you need support applying.

Have ready

  • Budget with evidence for each individual item (web link, invoice or quote)
  • Evidence of a visible business presence or progress (for example website, social media, sales, testimonials, a UTR number or a recent business bank statement)

Budgets without evidence for each item are not accepted. A link to the item is needed if asking for refurbished devices.

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