Current Projects

The Start Up & Grow Programme is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It has been made available to support pre-start businesses who have the potential for growth and to create employment opportunities.

The intensive support package may include a mix of:

• One-to-one advice with an experienced business advisor.
• Business skills workshops.
• Telephone and email support – culminating in the preparation of a plan for the business.

The support will cover all aspects of setting up and growing the business including, but not limited, to business and financial planning, marketing, taxation and human resources.

Find out more about the Start Up & Grow Programme.

The Start Up & Grow project is receiving funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF. Established by the European Union ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

By 2040, one in 7 people in the UK will be aged over 75. An ageing population creates challenges to ensure that people can remain independent, healthy and active as they get older and live longer.

Devon County Council has also secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to run the Innovation in Healthy Ageing Project across the Heart of the South West area which includes Devon, Torbay and Plymouth.

The Innovation in Healthy Ageing Project will support small businesses and social enterprises with projects to introduce new and innovative products, services and technology designed to help people live in their homes for longer, tackle loneliness, and increase independence and wellbeing.

£450k has also been invested into a Challenge Fund by the ERDF for businesses to apply for to fund 60% of their project. There are also opportunities to take up student placements to aid in developing ideas ahead of applying to the fund and in supporting the product development process.

To help businesses to prepare an application to the Challenge Fund, Business Information Point will provide 12 hours of support that includes full guidance and assistance through the entire application process as well as a review of the business and the proposed project. Additional support to complete expressions of interest (if required) or practical advice to develop the project can also be provided.

Thanks to the NatWest Skills & Opportunities Fund and everyone who voted for us we have been able to fund our 'New Confidence, New Opportunities' project. This will allow us to support unemployed women from rural areas who are interested in self-employment but lack the confidence and the support to begin the business planning process or to seek mainstream support.

Barriers such as feelings of isolation and low self-confidence are amplified in rural areas due to factors such as geographic isolation and the logistics of travelling to regular work.

This funding means that we are able to offer a programme of workshops, one-to-one meetings with an experienced business advisor and follow-on email and telephone support. We will also be providing an information service to help women in rural areas of Devon to overcome barriers to self-employment and gain the confidence and skills to start their own business.

The NatWest Skills & Opportunities Fund is a commitment of £2.5m to fund projects in charities, social enterprises, community groups, state-funded schools and colleges across the UK and Ireland with a further £2.5m to be split across two rounds in 2016.

The focus for this funding is to support organisations that help people in disadvantaged communities develop, create or access the skills and opportunities they need to help themselves; skills that will enable them to get into work or start a business, now or in the future.

If you are currently unemployed and want to follow your dream and start your own business then we can help. Being self-employed can be a great way to make a living, working the hours that suit you and an opportunity to do something you enjoy.

If being your own boss sound like something you would like to do then the New Enterprise Allowance Scheme could be for you. It supports people currently unemployed to get a head start in business and self-employment.

Your own mentor

We will work with you to develop a business plan and give you advice on areas such as marketing, finances and business planning. You will initially meet with one of our trained advisors and once successfully enrolled on the scheme you will be given your own business mentor who will guide you along the way. Our business mentors have a wealth of experience in all areas of starting and running a successful business and will be on hand to make sure that your business is a success.

Self-employment Workshops

Before you begin on the scheme you will be required to attend a self-employment workshop to get a complete overview of what it means to become self-employed and whether it's the right decision for you. These run regularly and are held in various locations.

You will also have the opportunity to attend other workshops covering topics on marketing and financial planning.

Business Loans

As part of the scheme you will be entitled to apply for a maximum loan of £2,500 to get you started once you have successfully completed your business plan.

A range of support to help the development and growth of adult social care businesses and organisations in the county is being funded by Devon County Council.

Free business support, training, development opportunities, and grant funding are being offered with the aim of increasing provision of adult social care in Devon and encouraging innovation for adult social care businesses.

Focussed Support: Businesses have the opportunity to access up to 15 hours of free “focussed support” to develop a support plan, catering for the individual needs of the adult social care business.

Intensive Support: Up to 30 hours of free “intensive support” is also available for businesses seeking to plan or develop an innovative business solution, to grow, or to assist businesses in areas where there may be a gap in service provision.

Additional Support: Free training, guidance and mentoring is available, covering a wide range of aspects of business, including sales and marketing, digital business, ethical organisational management and providing mental health support for employees.

Creative Innovation and Growth (CIAG) Grants Fund

The grants fund has been established by Devon County Council to encourage the development of “outreach” activities in the community to promote and support independence and keep people healthier for longer.

Revenue grants of between £5,000 and £40,000 will be available to support providers to implement innovative ways of diversifying their business to help people maintain their independence.

Capital grants of between £20,000 and £80,000 are on offer for providers, particularly social enterprises, to undertake capital work which enables them to make use of new technology where this will help grow or diversify their business or allow them to undertake additional outreach activities.

Find out more information on the Creative Innovation and Growth (CIAG) grants fund >>