Financial Aid for Business in Cornwall

Exceptional range of funding opportunities

Objective One Funding Coming to a Close
As many of you may already be aware, knowledge economy businesses based in or looking to move to Cornwall have enjoyed an exceptional range of opportunities to raise funds. As well as the usual sources of private finance, through Objective One funding eligible businesses have benefited from interest-free loans or grants via a number of schemes aimed at promoting business development in Cornwall. In addition, subsidies for business mentoring and graduate recruitment have also been available to businesses. However, with Objective One now drawing to a close, the available funding from these bodies is also rapidly reducing. Therefore, if these are areas of support that you think will be useful for your business, we urge you to act now. We would suggest you contact them directly, or Cornwall Pure Business, prior to planning any applications, to ascertain which schemes are still available.

Convergence Funding
While it has been agreed that the SW Regional Development Agency will be responsible for the distribution of funds, at this stage there is no indication as to how this will be managed, therefore it is too early to predict what direct support if any may be available to individual businesses. However, business growth is still integral to Cornwall's development and therefore inward investment support is likely to be available in some form. 

It is currently envisaged that convergence funding will be looking to support the following, although to reiterate the above, at this stage this is not certain:

• Premises build/up-grade
  
• Communication infrastructure
  
• Skills training, including technical and management/leadership
  
• Graduate recruitment
  

FactFinder Service
Supplied by Cornwall Enterprise, FactFinder provides information about advice and support services, grants and training opportunities available to businesses in Cornwall.  The site includes a searchable directory which contains details about the public and statutory bodies active in the county, their services and activities.  

Finance Search Service
Bishop Fleming Chartered Accountants provides independent, objective and confidential advice on the availability of grants and finance schemes for businesses.  For a free and bespoke grant search, contact Ewan McClymont, Business Development Manager on 01872 275651 or e-mail emcclymont@bishopfleming.co.uk.