GrantRadar

Community Foundation for Merseyside (in partnership with SWEF Enterprise Fund)

SWEF Enterprise Fund

Grants for young people aged 18-30 living in Merseyside who can show financial need (e.g. on Universal Credit) to cover business costs they could not otherwise afford, particularly those not in education, employment or training. Depending on the business's stage, applicants can seek a Start-Up Grant of up to £500 or a Business Grant of up to £2,000; it is not a loan. This is a grant to the individual business owner, not to organisations; there are no deadlines and decisions come within 6 weeks.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£500 – £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 Merseyside and can demonstrate financial need for the grant (e.g. on Universal Credit), particularly those not in education, employment or training
  • They must be launching or running a new business trading for under three years (SWEF: Start-Up Grant businesses set up under 2 years), as a sole trader, limited company or CIC limited by shares (majority owned by the applicant if a company), with a business bank account or one being set up (grants are only paid into business bank accounts)
  • SWEF also requires the right to work in the UK and visible progress or presence as a business (e.g. website, social media, testimonials, confirmed purchases)
  • Business Grant applicants need average gross trading income of at least £500 a month over the last three months and the business must be their sole work focus or have a clear plan to become so
  • Not for charities or community organisations

What it funds

  • Business costs for new businesses run by young people: essential equipment or materials, website building, marketing costs, product development and training
  • SWEF's full criteria (linked from the fund page) add: Start-Up Grant (up to £500) for businesses not yet trading or earning under £500 a month, for items worth no more than £2,000 in total, that should generate revenue within 3 months; covers equipment or tools, stock or materials, prototypes, accredited training, advertising/marketing, website/e-commerce, work clothing and refurbished IT
  • Business Grant (up to £2,000) for businesses averaging at least £500 a month gross trading income over the last three months, for items worth no more than £10,000 in total; covers the same except stock/materials, plus trade body or professional membership
  • Funds must be spent within one month of receipt
  • Grantees join a peer network of early-stage business owners

What it will not fund

  • Salaries
  • Debt repayment
  • Retrospective purchases
  • Rent and utility bills
  • Ongoing software subscriptions or app development
  • Businesses carrying out invasive aesthetic procedures (Botox, aesthetics, semi-permanent makeup, tattoos, fillers)
  • Dual-use items (car, e-bikes, driving lessons, mobile phone)
  • New computers, tablets or phones (refurbished items may be considered)
  • Consultancy or property development businesses
  • Drugs, tobacco or vaping businesses
  • Businesses with political or religious agendas
  • Gambling and unregulated activity (e.g. crypto)
  • Finance or trading needing FCA approval
  • Resold mass-produced goods
  • Delivery drivers
  • Taking over an already established business
  • Stock or materials (Business Grant only)
  • Applications for a business idea alone, without evidence of real steps taken

How to apply

  1. Read the fund page and SWEF's full eligibility criteria (swef.uk/eligibility)
  2. Complete CFLM's Expression of Interest (EOI) form via 'Apply Now', as fully as possible, including referee contact details if relevant and your supporting documents
  3. If eligible, CFLM sends you a link to either the SWEF Start-Up Grant or Business Grant application form
  4. Complete SWEF's application; SWEF may invite you to a short online meeting (about 15 minutes)
  5. The SWEF team member presents to the wider SWEF panel, which makes the final decision; CFLM contacts you either way
  6. If successful, CFLM pays the grant into your business bank account; attend a SWEF meetup/network event, join the closed SWEF Facebook group and sign up to the monthly newsletter
  7. Give feedback 6 months after a Start-Up Grant or 12 months after a Business Grant

There are no deadlines; apply when you are ready.

Questions to the programmes team on 0330 440 4900 or applications@cflm.org.uk.

Have ready

  • Completed expression of interest form (with referee contact details, if relevant)
  • Copy of your business bank statement dated within the last three months
  • Copy of your passport, driving licence or similar to prove age
  • Proof of benefits (if relevant)

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