Support for business

The South Lanarkshire Business Growth Grant (SLBGG) is a discretionary grant fund targeted at assisting the growth of new and existing businesses based in South Lanarkshire. The grant fund supports local businesses to implement projects that will create new jobs, increase turnover and/ or help businesses reduce their energy usage and make progress towards achieving net zero carbon emissions in a quantifiable manner. 

SLBGG grants will provide up to 50% of eligible project costs (excluding VAT) and from a minimum total grant award of £5000, up to a maximum total grant award of £20,000. The grant is paid retrospectively, and evidence of expenditure must be provided prior to any payment of grant award. Applications will only be supported for projects that have not started and/or no form of commitment (financial or otherwise) has been made.

This grant is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The types of project costs we can consider are detailed below:

Capital equipment purchases. Examples could be the purchase of capital equipment that will help you diversify into new products, improve your processes, access new customers or assist your businesses journey to net zero

Infrastructure improvements. Examples could be permanent improvements undertaken to change the layout of the business premises, improve the process flow, add a new service into the business or install energy efficient systems

External expert costs of bringing in a specialist to help your business at this time. Examples could be e-commerce developments to diversify, or quality certification support to secure new business.

Training grant to support training costs that will assist the business growth. Examples could be training that is non-statutory and not core to the business such as quality or e-commerce related, or other training that will improve skills within the business. Training which can be supported under any other training funding, including Skills Development Scotland should not be applied for within this application

Exploring new markets. Grants towards exhibition space and stand costs of attending UK and international trade events. 

Businesses can apply for grant support towards the following types of expenditure. The maximum grant award for each is £20,000 except for exhibition support, which has a maximum grant of £5000.

Please note that the maximum grant for any application will be no more than 10% of most the recent turnover value of the company.

To find out more see our South Lanarkshire Business growth grant page.

Resource Efficient Scotland provides unsecured, interest free Scottish Government loans of up to £100,000 for the installation of energy efficient measures such as lighting and heating upgrades, insulation, waste reduction and much more.

Email them on enquiries@resourceefficientscotland.com or call 0808 808 2268.

The Prince’s Trust can help anyone aged 18-30 to explore a business idea and provides a package of training, funding and a business mentor for up to two years.

Scottish Microfinance Fund provides business loan funding up to £25,000 to businesses with less than 10 employees, at a 6% interest rate. No match funding is required. 

Email them at info@dsl-businessfinance.co.uk or call 0141 425 2930.

The Start up Loan Company provides individuals at least 18 years old with personal loan funding up to £25,000 at a 6% interest rate and 12 months of free mentoring. The business may have started up already but must be trading for less than 24 months.

FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot directs your business to Scotland’s public sector support. It gives customers an overview of all funding and services offered by public sector organisations across Scotland. This makes it quicker and easier for businesses to find the information, advice and support they need, when they need it.

Information is available for businesses of all sizes – from start-ups to established companies, from sole traders to large enterprises, from commercial businesses to social enterprises.