Business finance for established businesses

If you are an established business looking to grow, there may be grants available to help you develop your projects.

If you are at the pre or start up stage, then please visit this page:

• link: Find start-up finance

Enterprise Development Grant

This grant scheme is being offered by Ashfield District Council and is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It can provide up to £10,000 (excluding VAT) or 75 percent of eligible project costs and is available to small and medium sized established enterprises with commercial premises based in the District of Ashfield.

This grant can be used towards the following eligible project costs:

• Capital expenditures that increase productivity and efficiency
• Third Party consultancy advice and services
• Specialist training and accreditations
• Support with accessing new markets/supply chains or increasing existing commercial operations.

If you are interested, please contact our business support team to request further information or to arrange an online appointment to discuss your business growth project in more detail.

• closing date: 31 October 2025 or sooner, subject to available fund

Invest to grow

This is managed by University of Derby's and can provides loans and grants or a combination to support private sector businesses across the East Midlands, to innovate, grow, and create new jobs or safeguard existing jobs. Funding can cover 30 percent of agreed capital project costs, therefore an award of £15,000 would be for a minimum project cost of £50,000. The maximum award is £250,000. This is a Regional Growth Fund grant, with no closing date.

• email: investtogrow@derby.ac.uk
• website: Invest to grow

SWEF Enterprise Fund

This is a national charity initiative, aimed at enhancing the activities of young business owners, innovators, and entrepreneurs. If you are aged between 18 to 30 years old, from a low income household or facing other challenges preventing you from developing your business, and you live and work Nottinghamshire, then this programme may help you with grant funding up to £2000. You can be at pre-start, start up or established trading stages as long as you have not been trading for over 2 years.

• website: Forever Notts (The Swef Enterprise Fund)
• website: SWEF.UK (national Initiative)