The Business Development Grant can provide match funding to small and medium-sized businesses in Renfrewshire to cover up to 50% of their costs to develop and grow their business. Grants of £1,000 up to £10,000 are available.

The competitive, discretionary grant can cover new equipment, digital systems, property improvements, exporting, costs to exhibit and developing new products or processes which help increase productivity, competitiveness, turnover, and employment.

This grant is for new spend that your business has yet to incur. It can't be used for items you’ve already purchased. 

Projects must not have started before you apply. 

You are eligible if your business:

• is based in Renfrewshire
• is small to medium-sized, with fewer employs fewer than 250 employees
• operates from commercial premises
• is an existing business, including social enterprises, that can evidence, actively trading for at least 6 months from the date of application
• is registered for non-domestic rates with Renfrewshire Council
• has a turnover over the current VAT threshold of £90,000 or expects to reach a minimum level equivalent to the current VAT registration threshold within 12 months of the date of application
• is a full-time business responsible for the day-to-day management and production of audited management accounts
• has not spent money on the project before you receive a formal decision on your grant application
• is not in bankruptcy, liquidation or similar at the time you apply

You are not eligible to apply if you are:

• a professional service business such as lawyers, dentists, vets, doctors, accountants
• a business that is required to be regulated by the FCA such as credit unions, money lenders
  a business involved in gambling, religion or the sex industry
• a third sector business, community group, not for profit organisation, voluntary or charitable organisation (except social enterprises)
• a retail business (unless you can demonstrate your business services more than your local market)

It is free to apply.

Renfrewshire Council will cover up to 50% of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of £10,000. Applicants will have to cover the remaining costs through other sources.

The grant will be paid when the project has been completed and all the suppliers have been paid. This means that initially you must be able to afford the project’s full cost until you are refunded.

Small to medium-sized businesses in Renfrewshire undertaking projects that will improve business performance and enable growth.

It takes around 15 minutes to complete the online application provided you have all your supporting documents ready to upload.

Once your application is received, a member of Renfrewshire Council's business development team will be in touch to discuss your application. A decision will be made shortly after this discussion.

You should not make any financial commitment until you’ve received a formal grant offer. 

The grant will be paid when the project has been completed and all the suppliers have been paid. 

To apply you will need to submit:

• a business plan, or if this is not available, a mini business plan providing a one-page summary of the company and its plans for the future
• details of any previous funding you have received
• scans or photographs of quotes from suppliers
• scans or photographs of your accounts
• a minimum of 2 quotes (dated within one month of application date) for each item of expenditure clearly showing the cost of each item excluding VAT and must include contact details for the supplier and cannot be a handwritten note or headed invoice

Visit the Renfrewshire Council website for full details and to apply.