Applications will soon open for Horsham District Council’s new round of LEAP small business grant funding.
Grants of up to £2,000 will be available for small Horsham District based businesses and start-ups with a project idea which will help future-proof their business.
Additionally, Green LEAP grants of up to £5,000 will be available for climate-friendly projects which will not only help future-proof businesses but also support the achievement of their climate action ambitions.
Businesses must apply early as grants are being assessed and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will close again once all funding has gone.
Alongside this latest round of funding, a new webpage has been launched which showcases the wide range of business projects recent LEAP grant recipients have delivered across the District.
Cllr Joanne Knowles, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Property, said: “LEAP has a fantastic track record supporting an array of great projects from small, local businesses across the district who operate in a whole range of different sectors.
I would urge businesses to get their applications in now before funding runs out, so they are in with the chance of accessing a grant to help future-proof their business.
One recent recipient of a Green LEAP grant is Cabin Pressure Spirits, who use a vacuum distillation process to create their gins and liqueurs.
David Howard of Cabin Pressure Spirits commented: “Using LEAP grant funding, we have made improvements to our still to further increase its energy efficiency and reduce wastage. The funding has allowed us to invest in a more powerful, variable-speed vacuum pump which is associated with a controller that regulates the level of vacuum in the still. The greater stability of pressure significantly reduces power consumption and product vapour loss. As such, the LEAP grant funding has allowed us to reduce our manufacturing costs and environmental impact.”
The September round of LEAP funding will open Monday 2 September at 10am and close 3pm on Friday 27 September 2024, or earlier if all funding is allocated. Find out more about eligibility requirements, the application process and how other local businesses have used their LEAP grant on the Council website.
LEAP has received £130,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.