Business grant schemes

Mansfield District Council has been awarded funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information on UKSPF, click here (opens in new window).

A proportion of these funds has been allocated to grants to support business growth within the district. Whether you are looking to start a business, are already established or you are thinking of moving to Mansfield, we have a variety of business grants which may be suitable for you.

Business Start-Up Grant

The Business Start-Up Grant (up to £2,500) is available to individuals looking to start a business in the Mansfield district. The grant can be used towards start-up costs including the purchase of machinery and equipment, business stationery90uu and marketing costs such as advertising and web design.

Applicants must have a business trading address in Mansfield district; if they do not intend to have a trading address, they must demonstrate that they live in the district.

Business Growth Grant

The Business Growth Grant (up to £2,500) is available to established businesses based in the Mansfield district and which produce a viable Growth Plan that demonstrates potential growth in productivity and job creation. Businesses can use this grant for support in developing a Growth Plan and for costs involved in its implementation.

Shop Front Improvements

The Shop Front Improvements Grant (up to £2,500) is for independent retailers, already occupying premises in the Mansfield district, that want to make alterations or repairs to their shopfront to enhance its character and appearance. For grant purposes, the areas being considered for repair, replacement, improvement or reinstatement must face the high street or the main road or pedestrianised streets.

Vacant Shops Grant

The Vacant Shops Grant (up to £2,500) is open to independent retailers taking occupation of a vacant retail property in the Mansfield district. Eligible costs include improvements to premises, fixtures and fittings including new signage, rental payments, insurance premiums, advertising and marketing costs.

Mansfield Innovation Grants

Mansfield Innovation Grants is a discretionary grant fund targeted at assisting the growth of established businesses (trading 12 months +) based in Mansfield district. Businesses with growth potential can access this grant funding to support innovative product and service developments, adopt digital solutions, carbon reduction solutions, business product and process diversifications and access to new markets, where these can be linked to increased productivity, evidenced by an increase in turnover and/or job creation.

This grant can provide up to £8,000 (excluding VAT) to pay towards eligible project costs that support micro, small and medium sized enterprises (trading for more than 12 months) to:

  • Expand/grow resulting in job creation
  • Increase productivity/turnover
  • Introduce new products to the business
  • Introduce new processes into the business that will improve productivity and lead to growth.
  • Introduce new to the firm technologies and processes
  • Introduce new digital technologies or innovations into the business that will improve productivity.
  • Open new international markets improving supply chains and/or generating new revenues.
  • Diversify into new markets/export
  • Become more carbon efficient
  • Relocate from smaller to larger premises within the district

This is a match funded grant scheme with an intervention rate of 80 percent towards any eligible project costs.  Only one application can be made per business over the lifetime of the programme and the maximum grant that can be applied for is £8,000. This grant scheme will close on 31 March 2025. Any awarded projects must be completed, and funds claimed by 10 March 2025.  

To apply, contact Dawn Fear (dawn.fear@nottscc.gov.uk) to discuss your project, confirm your eligibility and receive support with the application process.

View the guidance

Apply

To apply for a grant, please fill in and submit a business registration form (opens in new window), as a Microsoft Word document, by email to regeneration@mansfield.gov.uk.

Please note that handwritten, scan or photographs of the form cannot be accepted. Please do not convert the document to pdf, as this prevents the administrators from adding information to the relevant sections of the form. Please also note that this is not an application form; the form is intended to register your interest in the grants programme, to enable further conversations regarding your grant eligibility and the application process.

Our business support partner, Nottinghamshire Business Advisory Service, will contact you within five working days to discuss your business ideas and help you through the grant application process; if eligible, the grant application form and other guidance documents will emailed to you at this stage and a business advisor will assist you with the application process. This is highly recommended and greatly increases the likelihood of presenting a viable and complete business case for grant approval.

Before you complete your online application please ensure you have read the schemes guidance (opens in new window).

Access help to develop your business plan

If you need further business support or assistance, please contact one of our business support partners for free business advice:

Application process

  1. Check eligibility and guidance
  2. Complete and submit a business registration form
  3. Appointment with a business advisor, to progress your business ideas, complete and submit a grant application form, a business plan and a cashflow forecast and any other documents that are required.
  4. Application reviewed by Grant Panel.
  5. Successful applicants may start project from date of approval confirmation.
  6. Client makes payment to its suppliers for work undertaken and items purchased.
  7. Claim for grant payment can be made once evidence of payment to supplier has been submitted.
  8. Post grant monitoring visit to be undertaken by a council officer.
  9. Post grant monitoring information to be provided by the grantee, as required by Mansfield District Council as the grant authority.