EU-funded grant schemes in Norfolk

Some EU programmes fund large projects which themselves set up grant schemes which businesses can apply to for funding. The following programmes offer grants and advice direct to businesses:

New Anglia Growth Hub

New Anglia Growth Hub, partly funded through the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), helps businesses access a range of business support services, local and national from hundreds of sources. The hub's service is free and impartial and exists to help you access grants, finance, start-up support, expert advice, apprenticeships, coaching, digital support and much more.

Business growth advisers can talk with you over the phone or you can request a free appointment at your business premises.

Visit the New Anglia Growth Hub website for more information (opens new window)

KEEP+

Connecting SMEs to academic expertise and graduate talent, this new European Regional Development Fund-subsidised programme will help boost your business through research and development support that will help you launch new products and services.

By partnering with Anglia Ruskin University, KEEP+ will provide your small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a flexible programme that will help you innovate. KEEP+ is designed to help your company:

Develop new products or services
Increase profitability
Reduce costs
Provide you with a stepping stone to larger-scale innovation opportunities
Access graduate talent

The programme offers four interventions.

Knowledge Exchange and Embed Partnerships (KEEPs)
Research and Innovation Collaborations (RICs)
Innovation internships
Innovation network events

Visit the Anglia Ruskin website for more information on KEEP+ (opens new window)

Business Support and Grants for offshore renewable energy

Supply Chain innovation for Offshore Renewable Energy (SCORE) is a £6m grant fund and support programme for small and medium-sized companies that are developing new ways of working or innovative technologies in offshore renewable energy.

Grants of up to £50,000 are available to help companies across England to develop new products, processes and ideas - from patenting a product to exploring concepts that offer new ways of solving problems and driving efficiency.

The current SCORE programme, which is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by OrbisEnergy, aims to help 200 innovative businesses and create 100 new jobs. Grants are available for up to 40% of eligible costs or £50,000, whichever is the lower, with a minimum grant of £2,500.

Grants are not the only support available, companies can access up to 12hrs of subsidised business support to help grow and develop their business to assist them within the offshore renewables sector.

Visit the SCORE website for more information (opens new window)

Innovation Bridge

Innovation Bridge is a new three-year £3.9m economic development project funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) running until summer 2019, offering:

Free support to help your business innovate and grow
Access to specialist university expertise and grants with the University of Bedfordshire, Anglia Ruskin University and University of Suffolk
A grant programme to support the implementation of a growth plan

Innovation Bridge can help:

Individuals or start-ups and existing businesses with fewer than 250 employees
Businesses looking to grow and develop a new product or service with experts at the cutting edge of research
Businesses based in Norfolk and Suffolk and other areas.
Providing an initial free business review and then the support of a university academic to develop an innovation action plan to support the growth of the business. Following the action plan, there is a grant programme which can offer up to 30% of the costs of the implementation of elements of the plan.
An initial assessment, either face-to-face or over the phone
Specialist academic support and expertise to develop an action plan for developing a new product or service
Access to a grant programme (between £1,000 and £15,000), covering up to 30% of the investment

Visit the Anglia Ruskin website for more information on Innovation Bridge (opens new window)