Support Organisations
The Bideford Bridge Trust www.bidefordbridgetrust.org.uk/grants/
North Devon Plus www.northdevonplus.com/
Startup Loans Company www.startuploans.co.uk/
Prince's Trust Enterprise Programme
www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/support-starting-business
The Bideford Bridge Trust Business Start-Up Programme - Information and Eligibility
Programme Overview
The aim of the programme is to provide advice, guidance and support to local people looking to go self-employed or start a small business.
A key element of the support is the award of a start-up grant to successful applicants. The Bideford Bridge Trust provides the grant funding, and successful applicants can receive up to £5,000.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a grant, applicants must live in Bideford or the surrounding area. The Trust is empowered to make grants to the inhabitants of Bideford and its neighbourhood, which the Trustees generally take to mean the Parish of Bideford and the area up to and including Hartland to the North, up to but excluding Torrington to the East and up to and including Instow to the South. (If uncertain about eligibility, use email below to check if able to apply). If already started up, applicants can’t have been trading for more than 3 months at the time of submitting their business plan to Mike Lillis.
Previous start-up grant applicants are not permitted to re-apply!
Grants
Successful applicants can receive an initial grant of up to £3,000, and are sometimes able to apply for a second year grant of up to £2,000 . However, most grants are now 'one-off' awards of £3,000.
Grants are awarded by the Bideford Bridge Trust and they are discretionary based upon the merits of the applicant’s business plan and their funding requirements.
Application Process
All potential applicants should contact Mike Lillis startupnorthdevon@gmail.com, who will check your eligibility and support you in preparing your business plans and submitting a grant application.