Malvern Hills District Council

Malvern Hills Growth Fund

A council-funded grant of £500 to £15,000 for small and medium-sized businesses, CICs, social enterprises and commercially active not-for-profits based in Malvern Hills district, for growth projects such as new equipment, expanded workspace or facilities, new jobs or better productivity. Start-ups (not yet trading or trading under 12 months) can get £500-£2,000; existing SMEs up to £15,000. Every grant needs at least 50% match funding. Applications are taken on a rolling basis while funding lasts, and projects normally have to finish by 31 January 2027.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: £500 – £15,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Businesses, CICs, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations based in Malvern Hills district that generate commercial income from selling goods or services and are SMEs: fewer than 250 employees and either turnover of £44 million or less or a balance sheet of £38 million or less, counting affiliated businesses
The project must support business growth and be at least 50% match funded
Start-ups (a new legal entity not yet trading or trading under 12 months) are limited to £500-£2,000 and must have completed recognised business start-up training (or show equivalent experience) and have a business plan; £2,001-£15,000 is for SMEs trading 12 months or more
Businesses in financial difficulty, insolvent or dissolving are not eligible
Total grant per business is capped at £15,000 (existing) or £2,000 (start-up) across all applications
Independent traders in the five town centres are directed to the separate Town Centre Support Scheme in the same form

What it funds

Projects that strengthen your business and create local economic benefit, for example:

The purchase of a piece of kit, for example a CNC machine that will allow the business to expand into a new market, thus creating new jobs
The purchase of a machine, for example to enable onsite packaging that will improve the efficiency of the business thus increasing productivity and in turn turnover
The creation or expansion of a workspace to accommodate new activity/employees
Purchase of equipment; for example, freezers to support a dairy farm diversifying into ice cream production, resulting in increased turnover and job creation
The creation of facilities to enable a fishing lake to become a swimming lake
Projects which develop the local experiential tourism/immersive travel offer (focused on showcasing local history, people, culture, food and environment), for example the purchase of new machinery and/or equipment necessary to delivering the experience
Accessibility enhancements to tourist attractions, for example the installation of a Changing Places facility
Adding something new to the tourism business and/or area, for example an outdoor shelter to develop/improve the out of season offer
Enhancement of hospitality businesses, such as restaurants, pubs, cafés and hotels, including investment in specialist equipment or improved facilities that support business expansion, increased capacity, improved customer experience, or the introduction of new food and drink services

Any building work projects must be discussed with the team before an application is submitted. Marketing, branding and website costs are eligible only for start-ups.

What it will not fund

Solar panels and their associated equipment, including batteries and invertors
Electric vehicle (EV) charging points and associated infrastructure
Marketing, promotional and branding activities, including website development (unless undertaken by a start-up)
Vehicles (e.g. cars, vans, delivery vehicles)
Statutory or legal obligations/requirements
Insurances
Staff costs
General operating or running costs, including recurring revenue expenses (e.g. utilities, rent, subscriptions, licences)
Mandatory skills training
Repaying existing loans or debts
Reimbursement of goods/services already purchased prior to the date of an offer letter
Projects that enhance the productive capacity of farms or primary agricultural producers (does not apply to businesses supplying the agricultural sector)
Creation or purchase of short-stay tourist accommodation units (glamping units, pods, lodges, cabins, shepherd huts, yurts and similar)
Items subject to finance, credit facilities, or hire-purchase agreements
Activities that may bring Malvern Hills District Council into disrepute

How to apply

Read the Application Guidance and FAQs; contact the team first if your project involves building works or planning considerations
Complete the online application form: confirm eligibility, then give business, financial, project and match-funding details (you can save and return)
Upload accounts (or a business plan for start-ups) and quotes for each costed item
The council checks the application, carries out eligibility and due-diligence checks, and officers score it; grants over £5,000 also go to an appraisal panel
If approved, sign the Grant Funding Agreement before starting; claims are paid in arrears against invoices and proof of payment

Projects must not begin until funding is approved. Projects are normally expected to complete by 31 January 2027. Unsuccessful applicants get reasons and can ask for a review for an error of fact, law or procedure. Contact: Economic Development Grants Officer, 01386 565453.

Have ready

Full set of accounts (statutory accounts, or the latest HMRC self-assessment return for sole traders), or a business plan for start-ups
Quotations for all costed items (at least 1 quote for items up to £5,000 + VAT; at least 3 for items of £5,001-£50,000 + VAT)
Lease or tenancy agreement (if applicable)
Planning permission or other required consents (if applicable)
Photographs, diagrams or site plans (optional but encouraged)

If accounts are older than 6 months, more recent financial information is also requested; for higher-value projects quotes must cover the full project cost.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.