About this fund:

The Angus Innovation and Growth Business Grant is a scheme of financial assistance, funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a key pillar of the UK Government’s inward investment agenda, providing an allocation of funding to invest in domestic priorities and targeting funding where it is needed most – pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.

The Angus Innovation and Growth Business Grant is being delivered as part of the UKSPF Supporting Local Business Investment Priority to support entrepreneurship, business development, local and social economies.

Grant themes:

The Angus Innovation and Growth Business Grant aims to encourage employment & business growth, business sustainability, adoption of innovation and transition to net zero.

The objective is to provide financial support for proposals that meet these key priority themes for Angus:

• Innovation – including diversification, adoption, new approaches or technology, new products, new processes, digital technology
• Workforce skills development – including training and upskilling of existing employees to improve profitability and efficiencies, adapting to new technologies, i.e. AI, automation etc.
• Business premises – support to open new or expand existing premises, including refurbishment and equipment for business purposes
• Transition to net zero – including improvements to premises, waste reduction or reuse, creation of green jobs
• Market & Trade development – support with the cost of exhibiting at trade shows within the UK or internationally, participating in overseas trade missions, and other costs associated with accessing new markets such as exporting

Priority consideration for grant funding will be given to applicants whose proposals clearly demonstrate ability to evidence more than one of the key UKSPF outcomes (listed below), alignment to key priority themes for Angus (listed above) and whose proposals will encourage employment, grow an existing Angus business, support sustainability, safeguard existing or create jobs.

UKSPF outcomes:

• Mission 1: Kickstart the economy
• Mission 2: Make Britain a clean energy superpower
• Mission 4: Break down barriers to opportunity 

Funding available:

Small grant:

• Businesses can apply for a minimum of £3,000, up to a maximum of £10,000
• Businesses must contribute 10% match funding

Large grant:

• Businesses can apply for a minimum of £15,000, up to a maximum of £50,000
• Businesses must contribute 25% match funding

Conditions:

• Project costs that exceed the maximum grant available must be met by the business
• Businesses can apply for capital and/or revenue costs 
• All expenditure must be incurred and claimed by end February 2026  
• A final report outlining the work undertaken and the anticipated benefits to the business must be submitted alongside the claim for grant drawdown     
• The grant will be paid in one instalment in arrears on submission of the final report accompanied by evidence of payment for approved costs  
• Angus Council cannot make payment of grants after 31 March 2026  

Grant eligibility:

• For the large grant, businesses must be actively trading for a minimum of 18 months
• For the small grant, businesses must be actively trading for a minimum of 3 months
• Business must be located within Angus Council boundaries
• Must be a registered SME business with fewer than 250 employees
• Sole traders are eligible to apply
• Business premises must be registered for non-domestic rates (or exempt where applicable)
• Organisations/Partnerships/Cooperatives should only submit one bid that encompasses all subgroup activity
• Must have a dedicated business bank account. This can be a personal account used for the sole purpose of managing business income and expenditure, no personal expenditure must take place using this account (you will be required to provide the account details as part of the application process, and this is the account your grant will be paid into if successful)
• Business has reported the accurate financial activity of the company and submitted accounts by the statutory filing deadline
• Business is not connected to a tax haven
• No outstanding debts to Angus Council

Eligible business type:

• Limited Company
• Limited Liability Partnership
• Partnership
• Social Enterprise
• Sole Trader
• Charitable Organisation – that is engaged in commercial activity and where economic activity is the primary function of the business

Priority will be given to businesses in the following sectors:

• Manufacturing and Engineering
• Agri including all types of food & drink production
• Clean Growth Renewables
• Tourism and Golf

Businesses operating in other sectors will be considered at the sole discretion of Angus Council.

Eligible & ineligible expenditure:

Examples of eligible expenditure:

• Innovation support (technology / products / services)
• Support for digital transformation through digital technologies
• Support for the implementation of carbon reduction technologies and processes and premises improvements to help businesses achieve their net zero objectives, including circular economy activity, waste reduction/reuse
• Premises improvement / expansion
• Purchase of new equipment (replacing like for like is ineligible)
• Costs associated with accessing new markets, including exporting and attendance at trade shows and exhibitions
• Workforce development to support efficiencies and adapt to new technology

Example of ineligible expenditure

• Core / Essential / Statutory running costs
• Office furnishings, e.g. desks, chairs, business as usual furnishings
• Working capital, including the purchase of stock or materials
• Business as usual training costs
• Recruitment costs
• Vehicles
• Websites and social media consultancy
• Goods or services purchased prior to offer of grant
• Replacing old for new equipment on a like for like basis
• Expenditure undertaken to meet legislative requirements
• Debt repayment

How to apply:

Step one:

• Read the full guidance note to confirm that your business is eligible for this grant

Step two:

• Complete the Project Document before you start your online application – you will be prompted to upload this during the process

Step three:

• Ensure you have all supporting documents to hand ready to upload when required – these are:
  • Companies House Certificate
  • Evidence of PAYE registration (for employers)
  • Evidence of self employment registration (for self-employed/sole traders)
  • Non-Domestic rates (if applicable)
  • Utility bill showing business address
  • Annual accounts
  • Most recent bank statement
  • Copy of quotes / costs (N.B. please refer to the VAT section of the guidance notes when completing this)

Step four:

• Complete your application using the online application form

Please note – it is vital that you complete steps one to three before starting the online application form. You will not be able to save the form and come back to it.

Deadline for applications is Friday 26 September 2025 at 5pm.

Assessment process:

All applications will be assessed against 5 funding objectives:

• Strategic fit
• Potential value for money / return on investment
• Supplier capacity and capability
• Affordability
• Achievability

Applications will be assessed then reviewed by a verifier before a decision is made on the outcome of the application.

This will be a discretionary fund, with each case being considered on its merits, outcomes and benefits to the company and local economic impact potential for Angus as a whole.

Angus Council’s decision will be final, there is no appeal process.

Angus Council will require to undertake a series of checks but will endeavour to process applications by 24 October 2025 (subject to change depending on volume of applications received).

There is no automatic entitlement to funding and any award granted will be at the sole discretion of Angus Council Officers.

Successful applicants will be required to submit a copy of the invoice(s) and evidence of payment for the approved goods/services. Upon receipt of this evidence, the grant will be paid retrospectively.