Bedford for Business Update

SEMLEP has launched a capital investment grant scheme for SMEs. The Resilience and Innovation Grant will provide support to enterprises based in the SEMLEP area who are looking to invest in their business leading to growth: to strengthen their business performance and resilience to respond to cost-of-living challenges; increase innovation levels and enhance sustainability, in support for transition towards a net zero economy.

The total Resilience and Innovation grant fund allocation is £1.9million. The maximum grant intervention through the programme will be up to 50% of eligible capital from £5,000 up to a maximum of £50,000.

Once the Expression of Interest form is complete, you will be contacted by a SEMLEP Growth Hub business adviser, if eligible, they will advise you to proceed to full application.

The closing date for the first round of grants closes at 5pm, 15^th September 2023.  For more details see the link below:

Resilience and innovation – SEMLEP Growth Hub

The Growing Innovation Capital Grant scheme is open to enterprises to support their innovation ambitions. This grant is designed to help realise the area’s strategic economic aims, notably to strengthen innovation, support decarbonisation and assist with the commercialisation of ideas.

Grant allocations through the Growing Innovation scheme will be between £100,000 and £300,000. This is a match-fund capital grant, with at least 50% of the total expenditure to be secured by other means. The applicant business should also be able to set out why it would not be possible for their investment to come forward without support the public sector.

To proceed with the Growing Innovation Grant, businesses are requested to submit an Expression of Interest by 5pm, 1st August 2023. For more details see the link below:

Growing Innovation – SEMLEP Growth Hub

Bedford Borough residents benefited by coming together in 2022 to invest in renewables through a group-buying scheme for solar panels and battery storage.

In 2022, more than 2,000 Bedfordshire residents registered to learn more about what was possible for their home. Of these, nearly 900 homeowners accepted an offer.

Bedford Borough residents and local businesses are being encouraged to find out more about a scheme that could help them lower their energy bills and reduce their carbon emissions.  Solar Together Bedfordshire is a group-buying scheme that helps households get a reduced price on the installation of solar panels and battery storage.

It’s free to register, and there is no obligation to accept the personal recommendation. The more people that register, the better bargaining power Solar Together has to get you a more competitive price.

If you have any questions, you can view frequently asked questions on the Solar Together webpage, email bedfordshire@solartogether.co.uk, or call 0800 098 8994 (Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm)

Registration is now open until August 2023 on the link below.

solartogether.co.uk/bedford

Help shape the future of the high street Small businesses and SMEs, help shape the future of the UK’s high streets. Take part in the Federation of Small Businesses’ Future of the High Street online survey (13-27th July) to influence policymakers to breathe new life into our high streets.

Your voice matters on rates, parking, cash access, clean streets and more. You could also win a £250 cash prize draw. The survey takes 8 minutes and closes on 27th July.

Take the survey on the link below:

fsbbigvoice.co.uk/FSBHighStreetsSurvey