West Dunbartonshire Council offers a grant of up to £1,500 to help new small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with the higher start-up costs associated with operating from commercial premises and with the costs of employing full-time employees. The grant will cover up to 50% of your eligible expenses.

The aim of the grant is to help more early-stage businesses in West Dunbartonshire survive.

The fund will be available from April 2023 to March 2025, or until the annual budget is fully used, whichever comes first.

This fund is intended for small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

To be eligible, you must:

• be located in West Dunbartonshire
• not owe any debt to the council
• have started up within 18 months of the date you apply
• be able to provide evidence that you're trading
• be a registered business with a business bank account, or a constituted group with a registered bank account with at least 2 signatories

A business or individual can only receive one grant through this fund.

It is free to apply for the Early Stage Growth Grant. 

The grant will cover up to 50% of your eligible expenses, with a maximum grant of £1,500. You'll need to be prepared to cover the rest of the costs from other sources.

The grant will only be paid out after you submit evidence of your spending, so you'll need to be able to cover all costs upfront until you can submit your claim.

Small to medium-sized businesses in West Dunbartonshire that have started up in the last 18 months.

The Early Stage Growth Grant can be applied for all year round. Applications can take up to 2 weeks to be approved.

The fund will be available from April 2023 to March 2025, or until the annual budget is fully used, whichever comes first.

A business or individual can only receive one grant through this fund.

The fund will be available from April 2023 to March 2025, or until the annual budget is fully used, whichever comes first.

Applicants will be asked to submit evidence to support their applications - for example, their spend invoices and corresponding bank statements. The grant will only be paid after you submit evidence of your spending.

The fund has been developed as part of a package of activities for businesses through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Visit the West Dunbartonshire Council website for more information and to apply for the fund.