Funding

This section includes sources of funding specific to the arts & creative sector and general business development funding. This may not be comprehensive so we have listed some useful grants databases as well. The programmes are listed by:

local grants schemes
regional & national grants schemes
loans

Local grants schemes

Funding Toolkit

This toolkit has been developed to help you find funders and write good bids. Step 2 of the toolkit is a searchable database of local funders. See www.fundingtoolkit.org

Leicestershire County Council

The Regeneration Team run various grant schemes for rural business support including ‘New life for redundant buildings’ and ‘Rural Visitor Grant Scheme’ rural business support link. The Shire Grants Scheme includes arts development grants and environmental grants which also can include arts-based projects: shire grants link

Leicester City Council

LCC is able to provide arts development support for some arts, heritage and festivals and events activity in Leicester, through their Cultural Activity Partnership Scheme, for projects that deliver on council priorities. Maximum funding is around *3,000. Projects should look towards sustainability, where appropriate, and levering other funding from elsewhere. Contact dindy.outen@leicester.gov.uk or 0116 252 8977.

Blaby District Council

Community grants scheme available. Contact Rod Freer on 0116 272 7526.

Charnwood Borough Council

Arts grants scheme available. Contact Stephen Shepherd for details on 01509 268903

Harborough District Council

Arts grants scheme of £350 max for individuals and organisations. For full details email tel 01858 821291

Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council

Small Arts Grants are available for individuals and organisations up to a maximum of £300. Application packs available from February 2007. For further details contact 01455 255833.

Melton Borough Council

Talented Individual Artists Grants gives a maximum of approx £500. Email arts@melton.gov.uk or tel 01664 502377

Rutland County Council

Arts grants of £100 maximum for individuals. For details email kseale@rutland.gov.uk

Welland Enterprise Agency

Welland Exterprise have access to a number of grants for those based in Melton, Harborough and Rutland areas www.wellent.co.uk/grantsleics.htm

New Entrepreneur Scholarship

Business support and training programme run by Skills for Enterprise leading to £2k towards start up cost www.skillsforenterprise.co.uk

Knowledge Catalyst

The scheme enables small organisations (usually 1-50 employees) in the Creative Industries to solve a strategic problem or realise an opportunity, by forming a partnership with an experienced academic and a high calibre graduate. The AHRC fund 60% of the total project costs and the remaining 40% is funded by the organisation. Maximum grants are available up to approximately £31,500. For further details visit www.dmu.ac.uk/kt or contact Lucy Ayers, E: layers@dmu.ac.uk , T: 0116 257 7653

Regional and national grant schemes

Connect Midlands is a fast track scheme for high growth technology businesses in the Midlands and matches them up with private and public sector investors. www.connectmidlands.co.uk

DTI Research Grants

up to £20K available for those with fewer than 10 employees and up to £75k for those with up to 50 employees. Contact emda for further details. See www.emda.org.uk/grd or speak to Ebela Howell on 0115 988 8538.

Princes Trust

Up to £1500 to start up from unemployed for those based in objective 2 areas (deprived wards) only www.princes-trust.org.uk

Design Factory

Market Development grants for visual arts/crafts/product design. Up to £1500 for new products and markets. Bursaries to Chelsea Craft Fair and 100% Design. www.designfactory.org.uk

SEEM: Social Enterprise Development Fund

Supports start up planning; growth; capacity building; procuring assets in social enterprises (where benefits to employees and the local community are the major consideration) www.seem.uk.net

Arts & Business schemes

Matche sponsorship raised (including in kind sponsorship) www.aandb.org.uk

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts

runs a number of award programmes to support people with exceptional talent and imagination to turn original ideas into new products and services. See www.nesta.org

Grants for the Arts

National funding scheme for individual artists and arts organisations run by Arts Council England www.artscouncil.org.uk

J4b grants search site

Site which allows you to search for grants nationally www.j4bgrants.co.uk/Default.aspx

Loans

Sir Thomas White Loan Charity

Interest free business loans up to £12,000 for 9 years for residents of Leicestershire and Rutland, over 18 and under 35 to help develop or set up businesses. www.stwcharity.co.uk

Leicestershire Money Line

A not for profit organisation created to provide loans for individuals and businesses based in Leicestershire that high street banks will not help. Maximum loan £10,000. Email info@leicestermoneyline.co.uk or tel: 0116 253 7879.

Prime Initiative

Start up loans for over those over 50 with viable business plan. Up to £5k loaned over 3 years. www.primeinitiative.org.uk 0800 783 1904

East Midlands Community Loan Fund

for not-for-profit organisations £5k - £100k available. www.lif.org.uk

Regional Venture Capital Fund

Investment in companies with rapid growth potential. £250k first instalment. Also have an exec director matchmaking service. www.catapult-vm.co.uk

East Midlands Business Angels

Matchmaking service between companies with high growth potential) and pool of investors. Tom Yardley 01636 708 717

GINEM (Growth Investment Network East Midlands)

signposting organisation which helps companies to match investors with worthwhile projects. Mainly £50k to £2m. www.ginem.co.uk/main/Home/