Funded by Government, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) replace external funding programmes previously provided by the European Union. REPF is a rural ‘top-up’ to the UKSPF allocation and both funds form part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. The two funds will be delivered as a single programme. Derbyshire Dales has been allocated a total of £2.7m up to March 2025.
Approval of UKSPF funding was received from government on 5 December 2022 and the top-up REPF allocation on 7 April 2023.
Governance
Derbyshire Dales District Council is the lead local authority for UKSPF / REPF and a Partnership Board has been established to oversee the effective management and delivery of the programme. The Partnership Board is made up of local partners representing the public, private and voluntary sectors and reflects UKSPF / REPF priorities.
Programme
The programme, developed with our partners and set out within the Council’s UKSPF Investment Plan aims to support business diversification, growth, adaptation and long term resilience as well as community projects which help strengthen local communities and foster local pride. The programme includes:
Business Advice
Generic and specialist advice services to support established SMEs. Support includes the extension of the Council’s Derbyshire Dales Business Advice service providing free 1:1, face to face advice to enhance productivity and enable business growth, including supporting local firms to access grant funding and other finance opportunities; and specialist support via the Accelerator programme delivered in partnership with the East Midlands Chamber and other Derbyshire districts. This programme provides access to a pool of specialist advisors and delivers a programme of workshops and events (both face to face and on-line).
Business Start-Up Programme
Delivered through the Vision Derbyshire business start-up scheme providing free advice and grant support (up to £10,000 for eligible applications) to individuals starting their own business and new start businesses within the first year of trading. The service is delivered by a dedicated start-up advisor covering Derbyshire Dales and High Peak.
Rural Innovation Grants
The objectives of the business grant scheme, targeted at eligible small and micro-businesses, are to: stimulate enterprise and innovation; enhance business resilience; improve business productivity, encourage green business growth/carbon reduction; and enable the creation of higher paid / higher skilled roles.
There are three levels of grant for eligible businesses based in the Derbyshire Dales (prioritising businesses operating from business premises and employing staff):
Small Business Adaptation Grant (micro and small businesses)
For projects costing between £2,500 and £10,000. Grant intervention rate up to 80% (min grant £2,000 max grant £8,000.) Open to a range of sectors.
Business Development Grant (micro and small businesses)
For projects costing between £10,001 and £50,000. Grant intervention rate up to 50% (min grant £5,000 max grant £25,000). Open to a range of sectors Businesses must have at least 2 Full Time Equivalent employees and operate from business premises.
Business Growth Grant (micro, small and medium businesses)
For projects costing £50,000 to £100,000. Grant intervention rate up to 40% (min grant £20,000 max grant £40,000). Open to manufacturing businesses (especially advanced manufacturing and food and drink manufacturing) and engineering businesses (especially green and environmental engineering).
Community Resilience Grants
For eligible voluntary and community sector organisations, not for profit organisations, social enterprises and parish and town councils based in the Derbyshire Dales to support community-led projects which:
- maintain key rural services and facilities
- deliver community-led projects which will boost community/volunteering capacity to tackle locally identified challenges
- take local action on climate change to reduce carbon emissions
The Community Resilience Grant is being delivered on our behalf by Derbyshire Dales Council for Voluntary Services (DDCVS)
Grant intervention rate is up to 80% / min grant £4,000 / max grant £25,000.
Matlock Western Gateway / Sustainable Town Centres
Regeneration of western entrance to Matlock town centre inc. public realm improvements and other town centre enhancements.
Site Feasibility Studies
Site investigations, feasibility, master-planning and other studies to accelerate the delivery of strategic sites around market towns
Register an Interest
To register an interest you need to complete a registration form to confirm your basic eligibility, identify the support you require and (in the case of the grant schemes) provide a brief description of your project. We advise that you first read our Registration Form Guidance before starting your registration.
PLEASE NOTE - COMPLETION OF THIS REGISTRATION FORM IS NOT AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDING
The information you supply will be used to determine initial eligibility only and will need to be verified by the team. When you have successfully completed your registration you will be notified of those elements of support your organisation may qualify for and, if eligible, invited to make a full application for grant support. Details of the different schemes will then be emailed to you as they open for applications.
This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus