Business grants
The Council is committed to encouraging innovation and supporting existing companies that want to grow, as well as helping those planning to move to the area. Businesses with such ambitions can gain significant support from the array of grants and funding schemes made available each year. To help businesses identify funding that may support their growth plans, the Council produces a quarterly 
Grant Funding Newsletter| (PDF document opens in new window) outlining some of the many grants on offer.
More information on Grants and Support Schemes can also be found on the
Chamber| (new window) site and also on the
Business Link| (new window) site.
EEDA offers a number of grants available to businesses in Bedfordshire under its' Finance for Innovation' programme. Further information on the available finance can be found at the
EEDA| (new window) website.
Information regarding help and assistance for small and new businesses can be found on the
Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform| (new window) website.
For further local information, please contact the
Bedfordshire & Luton Economic Development Partnership| (BLEDP) (new window):
Bedfordshire & Luton Economic Development Partnership
The Mansion
Wrest Park
Silsoe
Bedfordshire
MK45 4HS
Tel: (01525) 862999
Fax: (01525) 862039
Email:
enquiries@bledp.co.uk|
Whilst the Council supports a range of services to business through our partners, we do not, as a matter of course, provide any direct grants to businesses, although occasionally we do so when we work in partnership to deliver particular outcomes.
Business Loans from NWES Advance
NWES Advance offers Business Loans to both existing and new start-up businesses, which cannot get finance from banks. To be eligible, the business must be based in the East of England region. To find out more, call 0845 491 8735 or email to advance@nwes.org.uk|.