The Growth Support Kickstart Grant Scheme

3rd September 2020

European grant funding of £20 million is being made available through Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) throughout the country to support businesses to recover from the impacts of COVID 19.  You can find your LEP here, and check their website for details of applications (the guidance for Devon can be found here). Applications are opened on 01 September 2020.

Grants between £1,000 – £3,000 will be made available to fund specific costs to the business under qualifying expenditure of :

• Special Consultancy (such as accountancy services, HR, IT and digital)
• Minor items that are an adoption of new technology that support the day to day running of the organisation
• Minor items that are an adaption of existing technology that supports the day to day running of the organisation

It cannot be used for:

• Working capital;
• Payment of wages;
• Purchases of PPE or consumables to support the business in implementing social distancing;
• Activities which would contradict, duplicate or undermine HM Government domestic initiatives; and,
• Capital items (more guidance is expected on what classifies as a capital item shortly)

The grant application will need to be submitted with quotes for the applied goods/services. It will be important to gather the required information before submitting the application. Demand for grants will be high, so LEPs are operating on a first come first served basis. If your application is complete and in order then the application will be progressed, the LEPs are advising that the most likely outcome is that an award will be made. If your application is not complete it will be rejected and you will be asked to re-submit, effectively joining the back of the application queue.

How Thompson Jenner can help

Our services qualify for grant funding and you can seek a specific engagement up to the value of £5,000+VAT, for which grant funding of £1,000-£3,000 can be received.

At this time, you might consider the following services to assist the support of your business recovery from COVID-19:

• Cashflow forecasting
• Preparing or amending a business plan
• Setting up EIS/SEIS schemes to attract investment
• Specialist consultancy support as necessary for your particular business needs

Please get in touch with your usual contact to discuss how we might be able to assist under this grant funding, we will be happy to discuss your current situations and requirements for recovery before providing a written quotation and assistance in the application process.

How our sister company, ThinkIT, can help

Similarly, if you have a need for IT consultancy or minor expenditure to facilitate the day-to-day running (for instance, purchasing webcams/headsets for virtual meetings) then our sister company ThinkIT can help and will be happy to discuss your requirements. If you have an IT equipment or consultancy need, please speak to ThinkIT at  01392 435803.

Businesses can put in a claim that covers multiple elements provided that each contains satisfactory evidence.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to discuss this in any further detail.