Stockport Council - Funding & Support
Invest in Stockport
Looking to invest in Stockport? The Economic Development Team at Stockport Council can assist inward investors across a range of areas. Stockport Council can signpost investors to any sources of funding or grants that might be available, either through itself or its partners in the region.
Stockport Council can also provide investors with a wide range of demographic and economic information, to enable them to make a fully informed investment, based around robust market intelligence. Familiarisation tours of Stockport, including key employment sites, are available to allow potential investors to learn more about the area before investing.
Assistance finding the right staff is available, to help new employers to take advantage of Stockport`s skilled labour pool. Links with the sub-region`s universities provides employers with opportunities to trial graduates, or offer non-committal internships.
New investors in the area can take advantage of a wide range of networking opportunities, to ensure that they can develop their local business contacts immediately. Any issues that new investors may have with planning or permissions can be tackled with meetings with representatives from the planning department, for a pre-application discussion.
Financial Assistance/Grants
Financial Assistance and Grants are available in Stockport through the Northwest Regional development Agency, for a wide range of activities. Currently, the following grants are available:
- Grant for Research and Development: This scheme aims to help entrepreneurs and business owners introduce innovative products and processes, including research trials and product testing.
- Grant for Business Investment: Grant for Business Investment provides help for investment projects which will increase productivity, skills and employment in the region.
- Grant for Improving Your Resource Efficiency: This award provides enhanced help for capital investment, where the project will contribute to reducing Co2 emissions and generate wider environmental benefits in the region.
- Innovation Vouchers: Designed to help Northwest businesses owners, entrepreneurs and social enterprises to purchase a knowledge provider's expertise, to develop innovation and enhance business.
For more information and to apply, please visit Northwest RDA on locations4business or Northwest RDA's webiste.
Loans
Business Loans are available from The North West Regional Development Agency. There are currently two products available:
Small Loans for Business: The Small Loans for Business scheme is designed to help Northwest business owners, entrepreneurs, charities and social enterprises start up and expand their businesses. It provides small loans of between £3,000 and £50,000 to new and growing businesses, charities and social enterprises.
Transitional Loan Fund: Transitional Loan funding of £50,000 to £250,000 is available to established and viable small and medium enterprises facing a temporary shortfall in their working capital, due to the unprecedented combination of credit crunch and global economic downturn. The funding is not intended to replace traditional borrowing but will be available to companies who are finding it difficult to obtain working capital in the current climate.
For more information and to apply, please visit Northwest RDA on locations4business or Northwest RDA's webiste.
Incentives, Tax and Others
Small Business Rate Relief: Stockport Council encourages businesses to take up Small Business Rate relief, as a way of reducing the amount of Business rates payable by 50%, for properties whose rateable value is £5,000 or less.
The amount of relief available depends on the rateable value Contact us to find out whether your business is eligible, by calling 0845 128 3934 or emailing business.rates@stockport.gov.uk
Venture & Equity Capital
Businesses in Stockport can take advantage of North West Business Angels. Business angels are successful business people who invest their money and time in promising young businesses. They tend to be fairly long term investments, so you'll have to be prepared to work closely with an angel for several years.
Northwest Business Angels is the business angels network for the region. The service matches potential high growth companies with high net worth individuals looking for business investment opportunities. It also helps companies seeking investment become 'investment ready' and prepared to meet with investors.
For more information and to apply, please visit Northwest RDA on locations4business or Northwest RDA's webiste.
Recruitment Support
Stockport Council works closely with Jobcentre Plus, to assist employers with free access to a range of practical measures and financial support, regardless of company size, to meet their recruitment needs.
Skills & Training Grants: Residents and businesses in Stockport could be eligible for skills and training grants to help support staff development needs of businesses that are downsizing, restructuring, growing or relocating. The grant contributes 60% of the total cost of the training required, up to a maximum of £40,000 per company, and a wide range of businesses are eligible, including both SME`s and large companies.
Train to Gain is part of the Government`s Solutions for Business, designed to help eligible English businesses grow and succeed. The service can help to identify the skills that your business needs, create a training package that is tailored to your needs and find funding to complement your investment
Business Accommodation Assistance
Stockport Council can offer a property finding service, with access to details of hundreds of commercial premises in and around Stockport, allowing you to receive detailed market information.
Stockport Council can also offer a bespoke premises search for relocating businesses. Continually updated, the commercial property database features premises available for lease or purchase within both Stockport Town Centre and throughout the borough. Featuring all types of commercial property whether offices, retail, industrial units or development sites, the database can be searched extensively to find premises that meet clients requirements.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Stockport Council works very closely with the Inward investment agency for Greater Manchester (MIDAS) and can assist companies in seeking advice regarding partnerships and acquisitions.
