£1 million funding for businesses in Gloucestershire

Grants of £10,000 to £40,000 are being made available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Gloucestershire thanks to the launch of a highly successful funding scheme.

The Scale Up 4 Growth (S4G) programme is a collaboration between the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), NatWest and Gloucestershire College with the aim of delivering grant funding and support to businesses across Gloucestershire that are looking to grow and scale up their operations.

With a total of £1 million to give out, S4G is inviting SMEs to submit their grant applications by Wednesday 5 May 2021. Applications must be made via the S4G website and applicants can receive support in submitting their applications and developing their project ideas from UWE Bristol experts.

Funded through the European Regional Development Fund, the grants will cover up to 35% of total project costs and are open to businesses in any sector with ambitious growth plans. Applicants must be small or medium-sized enterprises and based in the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) region which includes Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Stroud and Cotswolds.

Professor Martin Boddy, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at UWE Bristol, said: “UWE Bristol is proud to be supporting SMEs in Gloucestershire. This programme aims to stimulate the regional economy at such an important time by helping companies to realise their potential. The S4G programme in the West of England has already supported over 80 companies, giving out £850,000 of grant and created 150 jobs. Gloucestershire is full of innovation and we are thrilled to be able to bring this scheme to the region.”

Andy Bates, Vice Principal and Chief Financial Officer at Gloucestershire College said: “Our job at Gloucestershire College is to help local businesses to grow. For years, Gloucestershire College has been enabling this growth as the go-to training provider for employers in the county to develop their staff, hire new talent and strengthen their organisation with quality training.

‘‘We are thrilled to be partnering with UWE Bristol and NatWest to now bring £1m worth of capital into Gloucestershire, acting as a catalyst for growth, innovation and progression. The S4G scheme has already been a great success in the West of England and now we are bringing it to the SMEs of Gloucestershire.

‘‘There is no doubt that the last year has been challenging for businesses but we are committed to helping Gloucestershire come back stronger. This is the time to innovate and I urge employers to use the S4G scheme to level up for their future.”

Mike West, Director at Natwest Commercial Banking, Gloucestershire, said: “Building on the success of S4G programme in the West of England, we are delighted to be working in partnership with UWE Bristol and Gloucestershire College to support ambitious businesses across our Gloucestershire region and enable them to access this growth funding and leading business support.”

The S4G project will receive up to £1.4m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.

Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.