GrantRadar

Elmbridge Borough Council

Elmbridge Business Boost

Elmbridge Borough Council grants to improve the appearance, vitality and sustainability of the borough's town and village centres. Independent retail businesses can get up to £5,000 for shop fronts, signage, high-street-facing forecourts or bringing an empty shop back into use; business groups, BIDs, trade associations, chambers of commerce and community organisations can get up to £2,000 (High Street Boost) for town or village wide projects that drive footfall, investment or sustainability. The first £1,000 needs no match; anything above requires 50% match, and grants are paid after the work is completed.

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

Who can apply

  • Projects must take place in Elmbridge (Surrey)
  • Applicants can be independent retail businesses, or business groups, Business Improvement Districts, trade associations, chambers of commerce and community organisations
  • Charities and community groups would normally use the £2,000 High Street Boost strand for town or village centre projects; a charity shop with a public frontage may also fit the shop front strand as an independent retailer (not stated explicitly)
  • Not for national or international franchises, home-based businesses or premises without a public-facing frontage
  • Applicants must be able to fund works up front, projects should start within 6 months and finish within 12 months of the offer, and the council checks business rates, licensing and payment history

What it funds

Three strands (you can apply for only one):

  1. Shop front, signage and public/high-street-facing forecourt improvements, e.g. cleaning and restoring brickwork, stonework, joinery and traditional detailing, new shop fronts, fascias and signage, removing redundant features, structural improvements, outdoor tables and chairs and the initial 2-year pavement licence (up to £5,000)
  2. One-off support to a new business bringing a shop that has been empty for over 3 months back into commercial use, including equipment and internal or external premises works (up to £5,000)
  3. High Street Boost: town or village wide projects that benefit the local economy or attract people to services, or projects by a group of retailers improving the environmental sustainability of the town centre or high street (up to £2,000)

The first £1,000 of grant is fully funded; above that a 50% match is required.

Priority for visible, long-lasting (normally 5+ years) improvements that support footfall, spend or dwell time and align with environmental sustainability objectives.

What it will not fund

  • Projects outside Elmbridge
  • Projects with an ongoing revenue cost, including rent or advertising
  • Works already started or completed, items already bought, or deposits paid before a grant offer (retrospective grants)
  • Routine maintenance and repair
  • Re-branding of premises
  • National or international franchises
  • Projects that could be funded by other national grant schemes
  • Professional fees such as planning fees or consultants
  • Initiatives promoting a political party
  • Initiatives that conflict with existing council policies
  • Businesses previously awarded an Elmbridge Civic Improvement Fund or Business Boost grant for the current business (shop front and signage grants limited to one per business every 10 years)
  • Home-based businesses or premises without a public-facing frontage
  • Internal fittings and window displays (shop front strand)
  • VAT, where the applicant is VAT registered

How to apply

  1. Read the Business Boost guidance notes and choose one strand
  2. Gather two comparable, detailed quotes from UK-based suppliers and the supporting documents for your strand
  3. Complete the Word or PDF application form, sign the declaration and attach all documents
  4. Email the form to business@elmbridge.gov.uk (or post to Elmbridge Business Boost, Policy and Performance, Civic Centre, High Street, Esher KT10 9SD)
  5. The council acknowledges receipt, checks business rates and payment history, may ask for more information or make a site visit, and the Policy and Performance Head of Service decides
  6. If awarded, fund and complete the works, then claim: payment follows a completion site visit, verifiable invoices showing your contribution, and a summary report or marketing evidence

Rolling; no deadline is published.

There is no right of appeal against the decision; do not start work before a grant offer.

Have ready

  • Signed application form (Word or PDF)
  • Two comparable, detailed quotes for each element (including VAT)
  • Before photos of the shop front and interior (property strands)
  • Scale drawings or mock-up of the proposed works (property strands)
  • Landlord's written consent, and lease or freehold document (if applicable)
  • Planning, advertising consent or building control documents, or confirmation you checked the Planning Portal (if applicable)
  • Confirmation from the business rates team that the property has been empty for over three months (empty shop strand)
  • Statement of aims with details of the initiative, budget, sources of income and measurable outcomes (High Street Boost strand)

Payment later needs verifiable invoices, a completion site visit and a summary report or marketing evidence.

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