Business Start-up Fund Application Form
Bridgend Business Start Up Grant
This is a flexible grant scheme delivered through a partnership with UK Steel Enterprise and Bridgend County Borough Council. It provides financial assistance to new or existing micro-businesses that are located, or are planning to locate, in Bridgend County Borough. A micro-business is one which has fewer than ten employees and a turnover or balance sheet total of less than €2 million.
Who can apply? - New start-ups and businesses within the first three years of trading may be considered. The business must be located within Bridgend County Borough. We may seek reimbursement if the business moves away from the area within one year of being awarded funding.
Who cannot apply? Those who are not eligible to apply are:
- organisations or groups not undertaking trading activities
- political or religious groups
- clubs and societies
- voluntary organisations
- those in receipt of funds above state aid thresholds
What can be funded and how much can you apply for?
Eligible costs could include:
- capital equipment
- computer equipment
- development of websites
- building works to business premises
What we cannot fund
There are certain costs the scheme cannot fund, such as:
- Any costs incurred prior to formal approval
- VAT or any other taxes
- Vehicles
- Legal costs/Works being carried out as a statutory requirement
- Membership of Professional Bodies
- Refinancing of bad debts of any kind, or company liabilities not associated with the project
- Training costs
- Planning application costs
- Insurance, salaries or business overheads including salaries and other staff costs
- Preparation of plans and studies, e.g. Business Plans/Feasibility Studies
- Stock or non-reusable items
- Works carried out on a domestic property, either new build or refurbishment or extensions/garden rooms/log cabins
The grant can provide up to 50% of eligible projects costs. The minimum grant is £250 and the maximum grant available is £4,000 so the maximum project cost is £8000. The grant will be awarded on a first come first served basis but all forms must be compliant and contain the relevant information some of which must be uploaded.
Please note that we will only consider a maximum of five items per application.
HOW TO APPLY
The application process is now open and will close on 23rd May 2022, or sooner if the funds are allocated.
We will operate on a first come, first served basis and will only process compliant application forms which have the accompanying required evidence uploaded as set out below.
To access an application form please complete the eligibility checker below.
We will inform you on or before 20th June 2022 if your application is successful. You will need to accept the funding and we will expect your first financial claim by 15th August 2022 and all claims to be fully complete by 26th September 2022. If it is not complete we reserve the right to withdraw the funding offer.
The applicant must submit an online application form and a business plan with 12 month’s cash flow forecast. The cash flow template and business plan can be accessed here and here and they are also embedded in the online form.
Two comparable quotes are also required for each capital item required. You will need to upload these onto your application form.
You will also need to upload your bank statement and send us updates if your project progresses.
You will also need to upload proof of identity and proof of address.
The business must seek to provide employment for the Applicant for a minimum of 30 hours per week and should provide your main form of income. The grant cannot support the development of a hobby or pastime.
Help and advice with putting a business plan together is available from Business Wales – tel 03000 6 03000, website https://businesswales.gov.wales/starting-up/
BUSINESS START-UP FACTSHEETS
You can obtain business start-up factsheets on different types of business activities via the Business Wales website, or contact the helpline on 03000 6 03000.
https://businesswales.gov.wales/business-startup-factsheet
No expenditure should be incurred before grant approval, as the grants cannot be awarded retrospectively. Under normal circumstance we will only support one application for funding under the Business Start-up Fund.
The business/director(s) of the business must NOT have an interest/shareholding in any of the companies supplying quotes/estimates for the grant application.
The Applicant must accept the terms and conditions of the grant by completing and returning the Certificate of Acceptance which we will issue if your grant application is successful. Do not proceed with your project until you have returned the Certificate of Acceptance.
Should the project not proceed within the period stipulated in the offer letter the grant would automatically lapse.
Items purchased through credit card/hire purchase/extended credit agreements/finance leases and cash purchases will NOT be
considered for grant funding. All purchases need to be undertaken from the BANK ACCOUNT listed on the application form which
must be in the name of the business or the applicant.
Should the application be successful, the grant money is paid direct into the BANK ACCOUNT of the applicant or business after receipt of invoices and sight of bank statements to confirm payment and satisfactory monitoring.
Grant will not be offered or paid if the Business or the Applicant is in arrears with any payment to Bridgend County Borough Council. Checks will be made as required, to be determined by your project officer.
Have you started trading yet?*
Have you started trading yet? is required
Eligibility Checker
To check your eligibility for the Business Start Up Grant please answer the following questions
1. Is your business based or planning to locate in the Bridgend County Borough area?*
To be eligible for this grant, your business must be based or planning to locate in the Bridgend County Borough area
2. Is your business new or in the first 3 years of trading?*
To be eligible for this grant, your business must be new or in the first 3 years of trading
3. Do you understand that you will be required to provide up to 50% match funding and that the grant money is paid to the Applicant once the purchases have been made and after receipt of invoice and bank statements to confirm payment?*
To be eligible for this grant, you are required to provide up to 50% match funding and the grant money will only be paid to the Applicant once the purchases have been made and after receipt of invoice and bank statements to confirm payment
4. Can you confirm that you have not exceeded the current state aid ceiling of €200,000 for all de minimis aid provided to any one organisation over a three fiscal year period?*
To be eligible for this grant, your business cannot have exceeded the current state aid ceiling of €200,000 over a three year fiscal period
5. I can confirm that if I am offered a grant in my project can be completed by 29th April 2022.*
To be eligible for this grant, your project must be completed by 26th September 2022
This project is part funded by UK Steel Enterprise. UK Steel Enterprise (UKSE) is the wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Steel tasked with the responsibility of helping the economic regeneration of communities affected by changes in the steel industry. UKSE work in steel areas across the UK assisting job and wealth creation by supporting small and medium enterprises with finance and premises. Award of the grant is entirely at the discretion of Bridgend County Borough Council.