Welcome to this round up of the latest free support for your business.
Business Support.
These one-to-one meetings are an opportunity for businesses based in and around Stirling to discuss their business with a Business Adviser.
Aberfoyle: Mon 29 Apr Bannockburn: Thurs 25 Apr Callander: Tues 7 May City Centre: Tue 23?Apr Drymen: Fri 5 Apr? Killin: Mon 22 Apr
These one-on-one virtual meetings offer employers a great chance to chat with an HR expert and gain valuable insights. During this half-hour session, you'll have the opportunity to discuss your specific HR concerns and questions with our expert and gain personalised advice and guidance.? Appointment Dates:
We have released our ILM coaching and mentoring Autumn course dates.Our ILM coaching courses and qualifications are designed to help not only team leaders, and first-line managers, but anyone with coaching and mentoring responsibilities, senior leaders, and HR professionals. An ILM qualification can also add an accredited professional qualification to give a coaching business a boost.
Autumn 2024
21 Aug
18 Sept
23 Oct
20 Nov
11 Dec
Accredited ILM coaching courses:
Certificate Level 5 in Effective Coaching and Mentoring
Diploma Level 5 in Effective Coaching and Mentoring Certificate
Level 7 for Executive and Senior Level Coaches and Mentors Diploma
Level 7 for Executive and Senior Level Coaches and Mentors
If you are interested in booking or have any questions please email [email protected]
Awards.
If you are nominated or win an award we can help spread the word - let us know at [email protected] .?
The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards celebrate businesses that set the bar for others, recognising innovative and ambitious environmental action.Categories include the Vision in Business Scotland Award with subcategories for large, medium, small, and new businesses.???There are also categories for:?
Applications for VIBES 2024 close on 31st May 2024 at 5pm.?The VIBES Award Ceremony will be?taking place in November 2024.
Celebrating the success of Scotland's most outstanding entrepreneurs, business leaders and businesses.?
Categories:
Nomination deadline is Wednesday 1st May at 5pm.The WeDO Scotland Business Awards will take place Thursday 18th May at The Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.?
Business Support Events.
BreakfastBuzz - Breakfastbuzz?Networking?
2 April 09.00 - 10.30 | The Klondyke Garden Centre Coffee Shop, Falkirk
This event provides an opportunity for networking in a relaxed friendly atmosphere with lots of buzz. No booking, No fees and?No Membership.
FSB -Networking with FSB
2 April 10.30 - 11.30 | STEP, Stirling Enterprise Park
Join FSB Forth Valley In-Person Networking and develop and grow your business contacts through our national network of events. New FSB members are especially welcome along with non members. This is your opportunity to expand your business network and make new connections.
17 April 09.30 - 12.30 | Callander Connect Unit
This event is for Stirling based businesses who would like to set up a website for their business and develop an online presence.
18 April 08.30 - 09.30 | STEP, Stirling Enterprise Park
Join us for a relaxed morning of networking and a complimentary breakfast at the InBusiness Breakfast and Networking event.
23 April 10.30 - 12.00 | Online
In this interactive session with GrowBiz, Marketing Coordinator Abi Shepherd, you’ll learn how to schedule for your content in advance and how to create and apply that content to drive traffic, reach more people and increase awareness of your business.
STEP -?Canva for Beginners
1 May 09.30 - 12.30 | Killin Sports Pavilion?
Unlock your creative potential and venture into the world of graphic design with our Canva for Beginners workshop.
8 May 08.30 - 09.30 | STEP, Stirling Enterprise Park
Join us for a relaxed morning of networking and a complimentary breakfast at the InBusiness Breakfast and Networking event.
15 May 09.30 - 12.30 | Killin Sports Pavilion?
This event is for Stirling based businesses who would like to set up a website for their business and develop an online presence.
Funding.
Clackmannanshire Council - Clackmannanshire & Stirling Environmental Trust
The Trust manages landfill community fund credits raised through the land-filling of municipal waste from both Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils and in the past successful projects have included improvements to play areas, community halls, historic and religious buildings and local woodlands. Projects aimed at conserving or improving native biodiversity have also received support.
For more information, application pack or advice, contact the trust at?[email protected]
Scottish Government - Foresight Scottish Growth Fund
The Scottish Growth Scheme is a package of financial support of up to ￡500 million for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland. Backed by the Scottish Government, it aims to help businesses grow.
This funding includes the Foresight Scottish Growth Fund, which is managed by the Foresight Group on behalf of the Scottish Government. It provides equity finance of up to ￡2 million in rounds of up to ￡10 million for eligible businesses.
This equity funding can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
Scottish Enterprise - High-Growth Spinout Programme
The High-Growth Spinout Programme (HGSP) provides funding to support the commercialisation of advanced technologies developed at Scotland's universities, research institutes and NHS boards. The objective is to create new high-growth companies with the potential to generate significant economic impact in Scotland.
The purpose of the funding is to address gaps in the business plan for the prospective technology. The grant can support up to 100% of the direct costs of a project, up to a maximum of ￡75,000.
Supported activities include, but are not limited to:
Scottish Enterprise - Green Heat Innovation Support Programme ?***Closes March 2026
The GHISP supports innovation and capital investment that will accelerate the roll out and adoption of green heating solutions and associated products.
It's about encouraging the growth of Scotland’s green heat market and helping projects in areas such as:
Scottish Enterprise - SMART: Scotland Grant ??
Are you a small or medium-sized business seeking to develop a new product, process or service? The?SMART: SCOTLAND grant can support technically focused feasibility studies to help discover if your idea will work in the real world. ?
They can support up to 70% of the eligible costs for a small enterprise and up to 60% of the eligible costs for a medium enterprise. Studies must last between 6 and 18 months, and the maximum grant is ￡100,000. Feasibility is paid with a third of the grant in an upfront instalment and the rest is quarterly in arrears. ?
You may be eligible if:
This fund aims to support new entrants to farming (less than 5 years) by providing up to ￡500 per course for skills development and training on the practicalities of agriculture, plus wider business and sustainability skills.? ?
The Next Generation Practical Training Fund offers financial support to those resident in Scotland who are:
There is no age limit for applicants to the Next Generation Training Fund as agriculture attracts both mature new entrants and school leavers.
Employer Engagement - Parent Job Creation Scheme: A Lifeline for Parents Re-Entering Employment?
The Parent Job Creation Scheme addresses the employment needs of parents who are currently working. It provides funding for employers willing to create job positions specifically for parents. By funding a 25-hour-per-week role for a duration of six months, the scheme offers parents an essential pathway to regain financial independence and rebuild their careers.??
Whether you are a parent looking to benefit from these schemes or a business seeking support to create jobs or enhance existing positions, reaching out is simple. You can get in touch with the Employer Engagement team at [email protected] to explore how these initiatives can work for you.
Employer Engagement - Job Enhancement Scheme: Elevating Parental Careers
The Job Enhancement Scheme focuses on empowering parents already in the workforce. It offers lifelong learning opportunities, including accredited training, to help parents upskill and remain competitive in their careers. Employers are encouraged to invest in their workforce, with a particular focus on career progression and wage increases for parents.?
Whether you are a parent looking to benefit from these schemes or a business seeking support to create jobs or enhance existing positions, reaching out is simple. You can get in touch with the Employer Engagement team at [email protected] to explore how these initiatives can work for you.
The University of Stirling -?Help to Grow: Management Course
This 12-week course is designed to be taken alongside full-time work through a combination of online sessions, face-to-face learning, peer support and mentoring.?The course is targeted at senior SME managers seeking to boost their business’s performance, resilience and long-term growth.?
The cost to attend is 90% funded by the UK Government (company contribution of ￡750).
Green Space Scotland?- Tesco Stronger Starts ?
Stronger Starts supports thousands of local community projects and good causes across the UK.?The scheme is open to all schools, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations, with priority given to projects that provide food and support to young people. It provides grants of up to ￡1500 to local projects from across the whole of Scotland. We would encourage all groups and projects that support children and young people with a stronger start in life to apply.
Stronger Starts is open to charities and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to ￡1,500?via an on-line application form. Every three months, three local good causes are selected to be in the blue token customer vote in Tesco stores throughout the UK.
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Applications are open to all local good causes, but the fund prioritises projects that support children's food security and health and local store nominated good causes. This is not an exhaustive list and other project ideas also welcomed.
Examples include:
Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise?- Cybersafe Community Grants?
Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise is pleased to announce the availability of a ￡750 grant for organisations in the region. The grant is specifically designed to support the hosting of Cybersafe outreach events. These events aim to disseminate crucial information related to online safety, covering topics such as creating secure passwords, using 2-factor authentication, identifying and handling scam/phishing emails, and securing laptops and phones. The grant provides an excellent opportunity for organisations to contribute to the community's awareness of cyber risks and resilience. Interested organisations can express their interest by completing the provided form, and SVE will respond promptly.
Historic Environment - Grants Programme
Historic Environment Scotland provides a range of grants and funding schemes to organisations developing projects that will benefit Scotland’s historic environment.
Funding applications can focus on any aspect of Scotland's historic environment. For example, projects could involve:
Some examples of a typical project or activity are:
FirstPort - Pounds for Purpose
If you have a business idea that could create positive change in Scotland and are aged between 16 and 26, Pounds for Purpose can provide a grant of up to ￡500 to help cover the costs of starting.
The Robertson Trust - Community Vehicle Grants
Capital funding for a vehicle to support the work of charities with an annual income of between ￡25,000 and ￡2 million.
UK Government - Workplace Charging Scheme
The WCS is open to businesses, charities and public sector organisations that meet the applicant and site eligibility criteria.
The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (inclusive of VAT), capped at a maximum of:
Scottish Enterprise -?Water Innovation Grant
The funding in the form of a grant?to cover up to 70% of your eligible project costs (maximum ￡10,000)?will let businesses work with a consultant to assess if it's feasible to carry out a water-related project. This project can be related to new products or processes that reduce costs and improve efficiency at your business premises.
This grant is only available to companies based in Scotland that are working with a Scottish Enterprise sustainability or innovation specialist. You can only apply for the grant through these specialists.Water-related projects can include:
The grant can be used to pay for independent consultants to:
Clackmannanshire And Stirling Environment Trust - Scottish Landfill Communities Fund ?
The Trust offers funding to projects through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF). It will consider applications across all types of projects included in the SLCF Objects including: land reclamation, community recycling, public amenities and parks, biodiversity and historic buildings.
PRS Foundation - The Open for For Organisations (New Music projects)
The Open Fund for Organisations supports new music projects led by promoters, talent development organisations, venues, festivals, curators and large performance groups*.
The Open Fund for Organisations offers grants of up to ￡10,000.
Our funding includes support of:
Stirling City Heritage Trust - Traditional Building Repair Grant
Grants are available for traditional properties within the Stirling City boundary and in Bridge of Allan and Dunblane which are members of the Traditional Buildings Health Check.
All owners within a building must be current members of the Traditional Buildings Health Check, and you will need to have had an inspection carried out by our team to assess the condition of your property. At the time of your grant payment, you will need to have a minimum of 3 months left of your membership.
The grant rate is 50% of eligible works up to a maximum of ￡15,000 per building, per year. So, for example, on a building in shared ownership, that is ￡15,000 in total for any common repairs which would be divided between Traditional Buildings Health Check members. There is a minimum grant of ￡2,000 so eligible works must exceed ￡4,000.
There is a finite amount of grant funding available and funds will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Scottish Enterprise - Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund ?***Closes?31 March 2026
The Low Carbon Manufacturing Challenge Fund helps Scottish manufacturing companies that wish to pursue business growth by developing low carbon products, processes or services. This may be achieved through pure research and development (R&D), capital investment or environmental aid support.
The National Lottery and Creative Scotland -? Open Fund for Organisations (artistic, creative and cultural)?
Organisations can apply for between ￡1,000 and ￡100,000 to support creative activity that lasts up to 18 months.?
The types of activity eligible for funding are:?
The funding programme can also help organisations to undertake business and organisational development that will:
The funding programme is open all year round, with no deadlines - organisations can apply at any time.
Scottish Enterprise - Workforce Innovation Voucher scheme
The Workforce Innovation Voucher scheme is between ￡1,000 and ￡5,000 which can be used to develop a company’s workforce in partnership with a college or university.
Interface provides support with finding a suitable academic partner who has the right specialist expertise to progress your Research and Development project. Eligible businesses must be:?
The Princes Trust - Test My Business Idea Grant
If you've completed the Prince's Trust Explore Enterprise Course, you can apply for a Test My Business Idea grant of up to ￡500 to help you try a new business idea.
The Test My Business Idea grant can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:
advertising
marketing
purchasing stock or equipment
building a prototype
When you first contact the Trust, you'll be paired with a caseworker who will get to know you and your business idea through some initial induction meetings. You'll complete some documents to get set up in the system, then you can enroll on the Prince's Trust Explore Enterprise Course.
The Explore Enterprise Course includes 7 sessions that cover the basics of self-employment, HMRC and finance, pricing and sales, marketing, networking, cashflows, and business plans. Read more about the Explore Enterprise Course.
Energy Savings Trust - Business Chargepoint Funding?
To support the uptake of electric vehicles across Scotland, Transport Scotland has made grant funding available through Energy Saving Trust to help organisations install electric vehicle charging infrastructure on their premises.
Funding is currently available for chargepoints for sole use by occupants, staff and visitors. You can access this funding if:
NHS Forth Valley - Food Activity Grants
Funds of up to ￡400 are available to?community groups and organisations who are interested in setting up food activities across NHS Forth Valley.
This includes opportunities where people can share or increase their food and budgeting skills such as cooking groups, supper clubs or lunch clubs.
Scottish Enterprise - Regional Selective Assistance Funding
RSA funding is designed to support projects that will help create jobs and a greener economy. If your company is in need of at least ￡100,000 in grant funding, check your eligibility and start the application process today.
Scottish Enterprise - Scottish Land Fund
The Scottish Land Fund supports rural and urban communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.
The fund offers grants of between ￡5,000 and ￡1 million to help communities take ownership of the land and buildings that matter to them, as well as practical support to develop their aspirations into viable projects.
It is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Scottish Enterprise -?SMART: SCOTLAND Grant
This is a research and development (R&D) grant for small and medium-sized businesses that aims to support high risk, highly ambitious projects. It covers conducting feasibility studies to show how ideas could work in the real world and supports activities that have a commercial endpoint.
Falkirk Council - Various Funding?
Falkirk Council recognises that Coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected most businesses in some way. There are various funding options for those based in the Falkirk Council area.?
Fife Council - SME Development Grant ?***Deadline 31 Jan 2025
Fife Council’s SME Development Grant provides financial support to help Fife-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop and grow.
The fund provides small non-repayable grants to help with costs in 6 eligible areas:
Screen Scotland -?Funding
Screen Scotland is aiming to support the?growth of the screen sector through increased funding and support for film and television production, an increase in specialist staff and further investment in skills, festivals, audiences and education. Open funds include:?
Join The?Community.
Forth Valley Business - Facebook Group
This group has been created by STEP to provide a platform for like-minded individuals, groups and businesses in Stirling to support each other.
Forth Valley Employers - Facebook Group
The Forth Valley Employers Club is an online and offline Employers' forum for members to discuss and find solutions to challenges regularly faced by employers.
Rural Stirling?Business - Facebook Group
This group has been created by STEP to provide a platform for like-minded individuals, groups and businesses in Rural Stirling to interact, network and support each other.
Forth Valley Jobs - Facebook Group
This group has been created by STEP to provide a platform for business owners and job seekers to connect and support employment in the area.