Growth Hub Busines Grant
What are the grants for?
The grants aim to encourage businesses that have the ambition and capacity to grow and improve their productivity and competitiveness. To stimulate innovation, develop high-quality, well-paid employment and contribute to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s net zero ambitions.
Minimum grant value of £20,000 and maximum grant is £200,000.
Any trading business, sole trader, social enterprise, Community Interest Company or legally constituted organisation can apply for a grant.
Will there be priority given to sectors?
The funding is available to all businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with growth ambitions, but priority will be given to projects from the Distinctive Sectors identified in the Cornwall Good Growth Plan, and the supply chain for those sectors. Key sectors targeted for investment are:
- Critical Minerals
- Renewable Energy – innovations in floating offshore wind, deep geothermal and biomethane capture
- Space and Aerospace (including Data)
- Marine – including emerging FLOW opportunities and decarbonisation of shipping
Priority will also be given to the Plan’s Core Sectors for projects focussed on improving the quality of year-round employment, wage levels and business performance:
- Agri-food
- Creative and Cultural – focus is on digital and tech
- Visitor Economy
Do I need to provide match funding?
Businesses are required to provide match funding at a minimum 50% of the total cost of the project.
However, higher interventions may be considered in exceptional circumstances, e.g:
- Start-up business in a Distinctive Sector, with a business plan in place to demonstrate growth potential, but has limited initial funds available
- An RD&I project requiring considerable investment by the business in staff costs to deliver the RD&I activity.
Creating a positive outcome for the local economic community
Priority will also be given to those projects that deliver the strongest value for money in terms of outputs and outcomes, or that can demonstrate innovation.
- Outputs (to be achieved by date of final grant claim)
- Commercial space completed or improved
- Low or zero carbon energy infrastructure
- Outcomes as a result of the support (to be evidenced within 12 months of final grant claim date and no later than 31/03/27)
- Creation of new jobs
- Safeguarded existing jobs
- Improved productivity
- Estimated carbon dioxide equivalent reduction
- New to market products
- New to firm technologies or processes
- New or improved products or services
- Engagement in new markets
- New knowledge transfer activity following support
We can fund….
Capital and Revenue cost, e.g. equipment, building works, consultancy costs that support the overarching aims of the scheme.
Click here to see examples of projects funded under the previous scheme.
What support is available to complete an application?
Grant information webinars
We are holding regular webinars outlining the key application criteria and offering the opportunity for potential applicants to ask questions, and we would highly recommend you come along. You can book your place on the webinar below and you will be sent a recording even if you are unable to attend.
Web chat with a Grant Facilitator
Our Grant Facilitation Team will be available via web chat on this website between 1pm and 4pm from Monday 17 February until Wednesday 26th February to answer specific queries. If you have a question you’d like to ask, visit this website between the these times and the web chat function will pop up on your screen.
How do I apply?
The application process is online and you will need to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria above before proceeding to the form itself.
You can save and come back to your application, and you may wish to prepare offline and then copy and paste into the form.