AD:VENTURE, the European funded programme providing dedicated support to eligible young and new businesses who have strong growth ambitions, has launched its grant programme in Calderdale, giving enterprises with aspirations the chance to secure up to £25,000 of match-funded support.
In order to benefit from the programme, companies are asked to explain through a written business plan how the funding would help their next steps in their business journey and what difference it would make to their future success.
Recognising that new businesses and smaller enterprises may not have a formal business plan in place, and that the process may be somewhat overwhelming, AD:VENTURE also provides practical support through a network of dedicated advisors.
As well as providing guidance, AD:VENTURE business advisors can also offer a schedule of master classes, workshops and events that focus on a range of essential business skills such as marketing, branding, market research and financial forecasting that businesses may want to attend in order to strengthen their applications.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Strategy, Cllr Barry Collins, said:
“The AD:VENTURE programme is an innovative scheme from Leeds City Region, offering businesses in Calderdale an exciting grant opportunity to help them flourish.
“Providing funding to help create jobs and to accelerate the growth of new and young enterprises makes perfect sense. Not only does it make a big difference to the individual business owners, but it also helps us to identify new and emerging business sectors and specialisms here in Calderdale and nurture the talents and successes of tomorrow.”
Suzanne Powell, Director of Hebden Bridge based VIZBOX Enclosures, who received a grant through a previous phase of the AD:VENTURE programme, comments:
“VIZBOX Enclosures manufacture outdoor projector enclosures. We export globally and are growing expediently.
“VIZBOX was supported by AD:VENTURE during 2017 and used the grant to access some specialised training and IT equipment. We had a positive experience, and our account manager was very informative and guided us well.”
In order to be eligible for AD:VENTURE, businesses must make clear what the funds will be used for and this could include supporting an advertising campaign, purchasing office equipment and furniture, investing in production equipment, launching a website or covering consultancy costs. In each instance, a company needs to create jobs or expand its operations as a result of receiving the funding.
Each grant application needs to be 50 per cent match-funded by the business and this can come from a variety of finance options including business loans, external investment, a low rate government loan or as the result of a personal or family contribution. Advisors can also offer guidance on sourcing the right finance options.
For further details about the AD:VENTURE Grant Programme, along with case studies of those businesses that the initiative has already supported, then please visit www.ad-venture.org.uk(external link) or call 0845 5240210.