Growing and innovative businesses in East Cambs are being encouraged to apply for a capital grant of up to £15,000.
The money can be used to create or safeguard jobs or bring new products to market. Businesses can also use it to invest in new technologies, processes or measures to improve productivity.
In total £195,716 is being made available to East Cambridgeshire District Council via the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority through the Rural England Capital Growth Fund.
The programme is open to any existing SME or micro businesses located within the district, with a turnover of less than £1million.
Applicant businesses should have in place a strong business plan that:
- demonstrates plans to grow the business
- how funding will be used to support this growth
- where applicable, how funding will support job creation including apprenticeships
- how the funding will support the business to respond to market changes
- a clear delivery plan for the project that funding is supporting
- how the funding will be of benefit to the wider local economy, for example, the supply chain
Interested businesses can submit an Expression of Interest form from Monday 6 October until midnight on Thursday 23 October 2025.
If approved, applicants will be invited to submit a Full Application by midnight on Friday 21 November. Successful applicants will be notified after 12 December 2025.
The minimum award available to any successful applicant is £5,000 and the maximum award is £15,000. Access to grant funding for those businesses who are approved will be up to a maximum of 60% of the total project cost.
Cllr Alan Sharp, Chair of the council’s Finance and Assets Committee, which approved the funding, said: “We are so pleased to be in a position to once again offer support to East Cambridgeshire businesses and I would encourage eligible organisations to apply.
“We are particularly keen to hear from enterprises that want to grow their offering or expand, helping to support job creation, including apprenticeships, and invest in new technology and innovation.
“The Capital Growth Fund has so far supported the growth of 22 businesses including Fordham-based Biologic Technologies and Ely-based Raglan Projects and Cathedral St James, helping to deliver new facilities and specialist equipment to improve efficiencies and drive innovation.”
For further information, please see Rural England Prosperity Business Capital Grant Fund.
Any enquiries regarding guidance should be directed to: business@eastcambs.gov.uk