Vale Business Development Grant Fund

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is committed to supporting economic growth and business development across the county. The Vale Business Development Grant is funded through the Local Growth Fund (LGF) and aims to support businesses to become more productive, competitive and innovative.

The grant will support SMEs to grow, increase productivity, invest in innovation, and access new markets.

Please read the Business Development Grant Guidance Notes carefully before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI). Demand for this grant is expected to be high and funding is limited. As a result, it is likely that there will be insufficient funding available to support all applications received. Submission of an EOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full application or the award of grant funding. We encourage applicants to review the eligibility and assessment criteria carefully before applying. Funding and project delivery is time sensitive, therefore strict deadlines apply.  Please refer to the guidance for full details. 

The Grant Fund will stimulate economic growth such as business expansion, diversification, innovation, and job creation which all contribute to overall economic growth and development in the Vale. 

Grants between £8,000 and £50,000 will be offered at 50% grant funding, 50% match funding for projects.

The grant is aimed at supporting established businesses and will be available for businesses that have been trading for 12 months or longer.   

Please read the Business Development Grant Guidance Notes carefully before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), demand for this grant is expected to be high and funding is limited. As a result, it is likely that there will be insufficient funding available to support all applications received.

Submission of an EOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full application or the award of grant funding. We encourage applicants to review the eligibility and assessment criteria carefully before applying. Funding and project delivery is time sensitive, therefore strict deadlines apply.  Please refer to the guidance below for full details. 

Frequently asked questions

• How do I prove I have been trading for 12 months or longer?
  We would require proof to show trading from September 2025.  This could include a certificate of incorporation from Companies House, tax return or a bank statement showing business transactions from September 2025 onwards. 
• What counts as match funding?  How do I evidence this? 
  Match funding has to be funding that has been secured already and cannot be speculative.  This could include cash from business reserves, a bank loan, or another grant funding scheme.  Evidence could be in the form of an award letter, from a grant funding scheme or bank, or a bank statement with appropriate cleared funds. 
• How much match funding do I need? 

  You are required to have a total of 50% of your project costs as match funding, e.g.

  Total Project costs £50,000 

   

  Match funding £25,000

  Grant request £25,000

• Do I need a business account? 
  Yes if successful in obtaining a grant, we require the bank account that the grant is paid into to match the details of the applicant business.

• Is it one application per business or can I apply for multiple projects?  

   

  
  

  We are only accepting one application per business.  Multiple elements of a project can be included on one application if they are complementary but we will only consider one application per business for this grant. 

• How will I show the project achieved the outcomes I said it would? What evidence will you request?
  If successful in obtaining a grant, officers will send you a list of required evidence you could use to satisfy your outputs and outcomes.  Please be aware that this may involve additional information after the completion of your project to demonstrate how the grant investment has helped to boost your business growth and productivity.  Please refer to the guidance notes for additional information.
• I'm a small business, I cannot afford to pay for the item outright.  Is there any way around this? 
  Whilst we generally pay our grants retrospectively, we can consider different payment percentages of the grant on a case by case basis.
• When is the grant closing for applications? 
  The grant scheme has time sensitive funding stipulations, therefore strict deadlines apply.  The current Expression of Interest (EOI) window is from 28 August to 7 September ONLY.  EOI’s will then be sifted and eligible projects will then be invited to put in a full grant application.  The process is competitive and funding is finite.  Future EOI windows will only be opened if the grant funding allocated enables a further round of applications.  Therefore businesses are encouraged to submit an EOI as early as possible.
• I have submitted an application, when can I start my project? 
  You cannot start your project until you have had it approved and have received a funding letter from us.