Business Innovation Support Scheme
Start up support, productivity, sustainability and premises improvement
Business Innovation Support Scheme
The Business Innovation Support Scheme (BISS) is designed to support local businesses. It’s for businesses who want to innovate, reduce their carbon footprint, and stimulate the local economy. The scheme offers businesses a range of grants and is funded by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils.
Grants range from £500 to £5,000. Any grant will need to be matched with an equal sum of money. Accordingly, this means if the grant is £5,000 you will need to provide £5,000 of match funding.
Who can apply?
Are you a business or organisation based in Babergh or Mid Suffolk? Can you provide a project plan? You will need to provide information and upload evidence. This grant fund is also open to entities planning delivery of projects that provide a significant contribution to the economic recovery of the district
such as job creation, increased productivity, improved visitor experience and increased use of town and village centres. To learn more, read the BISS Guidance Notes.
Priorities of the Business Innovation Support Scheme
- Encouraging a partnership approach to local projects delivering economic recovery
- Projects supporting job creation and increased productivity
- Improvements to business resilience and sustainability
- Improvements to environmental performance including lower carbon footprint
- Delivery of an enhanced visitor experience to the district
- Increased footfall in town and village centres
What are the grants for?
Under the scheme, there are four grants available to eligible businesses – from start-up to expansion:
Enterprise & Innovation Fund
For any start-up or new business that has been trading for less than 12 months. You could get up to £5,000. The grant is to help a new business to be innovative with ideas, processes or products.
Growth & Increased Productivity Fund
For businesses looking to be more productive, who want to increase commercial floorspace, or who want to create new jobs and/or apprenticeships. You could get up to £2,500 towards a project that will help you achieve business growth or be more productive.
Environmental Sustainability Fund
For businesses who want to improve their environmental performance, reduce energy costs, use renewable energy or lower their carbon footprint. You could get up to £2,500 towards changes that will help to reduce energy consumption.
High Street Premises Enhancement Fund
For anyone who owns or rents a shop or commercial premises in a town or village centre. This includes registered charities. You could get up to £2,500 towards improvements to the premises.
Grant Conditions
Businesses are only eligible to apply for one grant in each financial year (running from 01 September to 31 August) and cannot apply for the same fund again. Applicants should be aware that previous grant support received will be taken into consideration when reviewing applications, and applications received from businesses who have not received previous grant funding will be prioritised. Grant funding is limited and will be on a first come first served basis.
How to apply
Before you apply, please refer to the scheme’s guidance notes. These contain full details. There are some exceptions, and you therefore need to meet certain criteria to be eligible. You will also find useful tips about writing a project plan.