BUSINESS SUPPORT
Advance Business Support
Thanks to the Cultural Development Fund, Creative England has been commissioned by Wakefield District Council to deliver Advance, an exciting new opportunity for the creative sector in Wakefield and beyond. Find out more here
Business Support Overview Directory
Additional Restrictions Grant funding available in Wakefield
Additional Government funding is to be made available to financially support businesses in the district who have been impacted as a result of the 5 November to 2 December national restrictions. This is of a discretionary nature and is called the Additional Restrictions Grant.
This scheme is designed to support individuals who are self-employed and/or registered for self-assessment, but have been unable to receive financial support under any other scheme. This includes the creative and cultural sector, and eligible businesses in the district are urged to apply – successful applicants will receive a single, one off payment of £1,000
Creative businesses and freelancers in Wakefield can now apply to the scheme via the application form.
An hour to skill: new government online skills initiative
The government has launched a bunch of free online courses to learn new skills, in partnership with The Open University, Google, Amazon, etc.
Set aside just one hour a week in 2021 to take free online courses that will not only improve your skills, but could also boost your future job prospects.
ARTCRY Fund now open
ARTCRY is looking for artists who can shine a light and startle some sense into the world with radical, inspiring ideas.
ARTCRY is a new fund which aims to encourage artists to create bold political work with fast-turnaround funding which enables fast action.
The BT Small Business Support Fund is designed to help SMEs across the UK that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It is intended to enable firms to build their recovery and growth following COVID-19 and includes a series of measures aimed at boosting connectivity, cashflow and confidence.
The scheme comprises a range of support strands including:
– funding ultrafast business connections
– helping small businesses acquire new digital skills
– bursaries for UK tech start-ups and
– supporting small businesses through mentoring
– Wellbeing support
No deadline specified.
Grants of up £25,000 per property. Businesses with a rateable value of under £15,000, will receive a grant of £10,000. Businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000, will receive a grant of £25,000.
Key requirements / eligibility criteria:Businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/business/business-rates/reliefs/small-business-grant
Businesses can apply for loans up to £5 million, interest free for 12 months.
Key requirements / eligibility criteria: Available through 40 accredited finance providers.
The Self- Assessment payment on account that is ordinarily due to be paid to HMRC by 31 July 2020 may now be deferred until January 2021.
Key requirements / eligibility criteria: The deferment is optional (recommendation to pay on 31 July 2020). This is an automatic offer with no applications required. No penalties or interest will be charged if July 2020 payment is deferred until January 2021.
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/deferral-of-self-assessment-payment/
Join the Digital Culture Network
The Digital Culture Network is an Arts Council England initiative to increase the digital skills and capability of the arts and cultural sector it provides practical, on the ground help to the arts and culture sector. Their focus is around digital skills and leadership development.
They can help you:
• Explore and harness the benefits of technology to achieve your goals
• Find new ways to reach and engage audiences
• Develop sustainable business models.
National Lottery Grants for Heritage to reopen for smaller grant applications
The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) has announced a phased reopening of its grants programme.
Phase 1 will provide funding for those organisations unable to access Covid-19 emergency funds with a focus on organisational resilience and inclusion.
Non-profits and partnerships led by non-profit organisations will be able to apply for grants, private owners of heritage will be able to apply for between 3,000 and £100,000.
Phase 1 applications will be accepted from 25 November 2020.
Business rate payers in the leisure, retail and hospitality sector will receive a business rate holiday for the 2020/2021 tax year.
Key requirements / eligibility criteria:There is no need to apply for this, it will automatically be applied from the next bill.
http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/business/business-rates/reliefs/rating-reliefs-for-2020-2021
Reinvigorate your business model through the Heritage Compass Programme
Are your local heritage services and organisations re-opening and looking to reinvigorate their business model?
Perhaps you work with a library, leisure trust, green space, museum or gallery and are looking for a way to help them with a little extra business support?
Well – you might be interested in Cause4‘s FREE Heritage Compass Programme!
Heritage Compass supports the sector to develop essential business development skills, with the aim of creating a more informed, resilient and better connected heritage landscape.
Since early 2021 they have been working with more than 100 small to medium-sized heritage organisations to develop fundamental skills in business planning, audience development, leadership and change.
‘The range of topics covered within this programme and the opportunities to benefit from expert advice and the experiences of the other candidates is invaluable as we seek to diversify income streams so that we can remain a vibrant and valued community organisation.’ – Nantwich Museum, Cheshire West and Chester Local Authority
Now in July 2021, thanks to the generous support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, they’re on the lookout for 150 more organisations to join the next cohort!
The programme is filled with a mix of organisations and experiences from across the country. They are already working with a number of organisations operating in connection with local authorities including Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Museums and Galleries, Upper Norwood Library Hub and Salford Community Leisure.
Apply now, and you will receive 12 months of totally free business support. This means training, symposia, critical friend support, mentoring and more.
It also means, most importantly, you will get the chance to work with a whole new network of 300 brilliant heritage organisations across the country.
Season for Change Campaign Toolkit now available
This new toolkit is available for individuals and organisations who want to urge for a just and sustainable future through the arts and culture. In the toolkit, you’ll find top tips, case studies and resources to help you get started.
Join the campaign
If you’ve started taking action in your arts/cultural practice in some of the ways suggested in the previous sections, you’re ready to join Season for Change.
This includes registering your events (which they will promote through our website, social media, PR partners and networks), and using their crediting and logo guide to signal that you’re part of a sector-wide movement that has a shared vision for change.
Taxable grant worth 80% of trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the next 3 months. This may be extended if needed.
Key requirements / eligibility criteria: Businesses must have been registered for self-assessment in the 2018/2019 tax year. Where businesses did not submit their tax return in January 2020, they will have a further 30 days, starting from 26 March 2020.
One-off grant of £10,000 to eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing business costs.
Key requirements / eligibility criteria: Small business and already receive Small Business Rate Relief and/or Rural Rate Relief.
http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/business/business-rates/reliefs/small-business-grant
All businesses and self-employed people in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, may be eligible to receive support with their tax affairs through HMRC’s Time To Pay service.
https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/support-for-businesses-paying-tax/
Where you do not qualify for any of the above grants, and / or are not able to take on additional lending, the government has introduced steps to increase access to Universal Credit.
Key requirements / eligibility criteria: Self-employed people can access Universal Credit at a rate equivalent to Statutory Sick Pay.
Grants and Support Directory
‘The Whickers’ 2022 Film and TV Funding Award Now Open
‘The Whickers’ were inspired by the late journalist and broadcaster, Alan Whicker. The programme aims to encourage documentary filmmakers and audio producers to tell original and authored stories with honesty, professionalism and wit.
One of the awards the Foundation offers has recently re-opened to applications. The Film and TV Funding Award is awarded annually to an emerging filmmaker from anywhere in the world with the most promising pitch for a director-led documentary.
The main award offers funding to enable a project which deserves to be realised to reach as wide an audience as possible. A second award will be granted to contribute to a film fund for a runner-up.
This year, in celebration of what would have been Alan Whicker’s 100th Birthday, the main award has increased from £80,000 to £100,000 and the runner-up contribution from £15,000 to £20,000.
The deadline for applications is 31 January 2022 (24:00 GMT).
Click HERE for more information and application details.
Additional Restrictions Grant funding available in Wakefield
Additional Government funding is to be made available to financially support businesses in the district who have been impacted as a result of the 5 November to 2 December national restrictions. This is of a discretionary nature and is called the Additional Restrictions Grant.
This scheme is designed to support individuals who are self-employed and/or registered for self-assessment, but have been unable to receive financial support under any other scheme. This includes the creative and cultural sector, and eligible businesses in the district are urged to apply – successful applicants will receive a single, one off payment of £1,000
Creative businesses and freelancers in Wakefield can now apply to the scheme via the application form.
ARTCRY Fund now open
ARTCRY is looking for artists who can shine a light and startle some sense into the world with radical, inspiring ideas.
ARTCRY is a new fund which aims to encourage artists to create bold political work with fast-turnaround funding which enables fast action.
Community groups tackling loneliness to benefit from £4m Local Connections Fund
The Local Connections Fund will launch on the 5 January January 2021, with a second round in the summer.
A total of £4m from the Government and the National Lottery Community Fund will help local organisations bring people and communities together with small grants worth £300–£2,500.
The Local Connections Fund will be split into two rounds of funding – each with its own application window, one in January 2021 and one in the summer 2021.
Funding will be available to small charities and community groups in England with an annual income of £50,000 or less, which are working to reduce loneliness by helping people feel more connected.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will provide the first round of funding, totalling £2m.
The BT Small Business Support Fund is designed to help SMEs across the UK that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It is intended to enable firms to build their recovery and growth following COVID-19 and includes a series of measures aimed at boosting connectivity, cashflow and confidence.
The scheme comprises a range of support strands including:
– funding ultrafast business connections
– helping small businesses acquire new digital skills
– bursaries for UK tech start-ups and
– supporting small businesses through mentoring
– Wellbeing support
No deadline specified.
Building Powerful Communities Community Entrepreneurs Start-Up Programme
Building Powerful Communities (People Enabling Area Transformation – PEAT) is open to people and community businesses that are based in Airedale, Castleford, Ferrybridge, Havercroft & Ryhill, Kinsley & Fitzwilliam, South Elmsall and South Kirkby.
Small Capital Grants are to enable the purchase of equipment to help businesses get started or be more enterprising. Grants between £1,000 and £10,000 are available for new and existing small businesses, sole traders, social enterprises and voluntary/charitable organisations who are setting up or want to develop their business or organisation.
These short videos from CAF (Charities Aid Foundation) provide top tips on how to write a successful funding application.
https://www.cafonline.org/charities/resilience/survive/how-to-write-a-great-grant-application
Culture Recovery Fund: Heritage
Part of the rescue package announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to safeguard cultural and heritage organisations across England from the economic impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Applications will be accepted from heritage organisations and businesses who have already received funding through the previous two rounds and are still in need.
Grants between £10,000 and £1m are available.
Closing date: 29 October 2021
Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund
Phase 3 is targeted at self-employed musicians who do not qualify for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and unemployed professional musicians who are unable to make ends meet.
There is no current deadline for this fund, it remains open until all money has been distributed.
Leeds PANIC! network artists bursaries available
Led by artists, curators, organisations and individuals in Leeds City Region, PANIC! is creating an artists’ network. Collectively, the network will offer benefits through; platforming activities, sharing information, offering mentoring support and bursaries for practising artists. Bursaries are currently available for artists to apply for between £1000 and £5000.
Round 1 closed at 9am 18 March 2021, but there will be two further rounds in 2021 so it’s definitely worth signing up to their mailing list.
Musicians Union Hardship Fund
In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit the music profession as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Musicians Union has set up a £1 million hardship fund that members with genuine and pressing hardship can apply to.
This is intended to be immediate, urgent relief for musicians facing financial hardship right now. The fund is open to any current MU members who are a UK resident, suffering genuine hardship, have not received a payment from the Fund. Grants of up to £200.
No deadline specified.
Nesta announces Cultural Impact Development Fund
In the face of the COVID-19 shock, Nesta has changed the model of their loan-based fund to include grant funding and support communities most in need.
The innovation agency has announces changes to a fund which offers investment up to £150,000 for arts and culture organisations: the £3.5m Cultural Impact Development Fund has been restructured to make it more responsive and will now include grants up to 50 per cent of the total investment.
Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund Support for Arts Enterprises
Blended loan and grant investments are available to creative and culture businesses who deliver social impact to disadvantaged communities, and are operating in the 11 northern Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas.
The £3.1 million Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund is open to applications from incorporated businesses that work in the creative and cultural sector and can evidence social impact as a by-product of their core work. This includes commercially focused businesses as well as community and social enterprises.
The fund provides access to investments of up to £150,000 where up to a third may be provided as a grant.
Applications may be made at any time.
Click HERE for more information regarding application.
Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to support young people and charitable organisations helping young people, in the Yorkshire region.
Applications will be accepted from registered charities and individual young people in Yorkshire. Grant beneficiaries must be under the age of 35 and must have been born, be connected to, work or live in Yorkshire.
Closing date: None – applications may be submitted at any time
