Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is pleased to announce a new business support programme utilising UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF).
The council’s Economic Development team are working in partnership with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Business and IP Centre (BIPC) to launch a dedicated programme of support. This includes the return of the BIPC Jumpstart, a ground-breaking initiative aimed at supporting entrepreneurship and innovation locally. The scheme includes £75,000 of advice, and tools to help new businesses and has been made possible through substantial funding provided by HDC via the UKSPF.
Executive Councillor for Jobs, Economy and Housing, Cllr Sam Wakeford said: “The investment priorities of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which encompass communities, place, people, and skills, as well as the support for local businesses, are in perfect alignment with our own goals.
“This presents an excellent opportunity and programme to aid under-represented groups in establishing their businesses. Our dedication to focusing on these priorities is evident in projects like these, which will benefit local businesses and residents”.
The Jumpstart competition is now open to all Huntingdonshire-based businesses and entrepreneurs with £25,000 of grant funding available.
The winners, set to be announced in early 2024, will be determined following a live “Dragon’s Den” style pitch event, where each business will present to a panel of judges. The grants will be available for capital expenditure, with several prizes available across four different tiers:
- 1 x Platinum: £10,000
- 1 x Gold: £6,000
- 1 x Silver: £4,000
- 5 x Bronze: £1,000
With a commitment to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit by providing practical resources, support and guidance to help new businesses overcome early-stage challenges, Jumpstart aims to help start-up businesses move forward with confidence, while also acknowledging that funding is often crucial to early onset businesses.
Further information about the application criteria and process can be found online: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/BIPCjumpstart
Connect with the HDC Economic Development team: economic.development@huntingdonshire.gov.uk
Source: HDC Press Release 21st September, 2023