Prosper Business Support

Join Prosper for free, transformative business support

We’re excited to launch our new, free business support programme for pre-start and trading businesses in Mid Devon, East Devon and Exeter.

This specialised support is designed to help you grow your business in the direction you want to take it. Whether that means improving productivity, reaching net zero goals, move into new markets, developing new products or an array of other business changes, Prosper can get you on track.

Partnering with digital agency and social enterprise, Cosmic, we are delivering support under four categories:

  • Businesses looking to grow & adopt new practices
  • Green business support
  • Start-up support
  • Businesses looking to employ staff.

Every business is unique, and our 25+ years' experience means we are able to tailor our support specifically to you.

Eligibility

This support is available to businesses or entrepreneurs based in or looking to start up in East Devon, Exeter, and Mid Devon. If you're unsure, you can check by inputting your postcode into the Council Checker.
Prosper Business Support programme logo

Explore the free support available and have a chat with us today

Enter your details below and one of our team will be in touch.

How it works

The first step of the Prosper programme is a one-to-one session with one of our experienced business advisors. Every eligible business receives this. It's a chance for you to discuss the challenges you're facing, and the goals you're looking to achieve.

You'll take a holistic view of your business with your dedicated advisor during this in-depth meeting. You'll then create an action plan and decide on which type of support best suits your needs. This could be in the form of further one-to-one mentoring, information workshops, peer support networks, access to our new self-learning platform or a combination of any of these. 

Sit down, either online or in-person and work through your business challenges with a dedicated advisor.

Sometimes it can be hard to see the wood from the trees when you're running the daily operations of your own business. Being able to get an outside, impartial point of view and having the time to step back and focus on your business goals can be a truly valuable experience.

Our advisors have worked with thousands of businesses and have a wealth of experience and knowledge to help guide you through whatever your challenges or aims. They are also there to hold you accountable and keep you on track with your goals.

Choose from four areas of support

Business Growth

Green Business
EXPLORE BUSINESS GROWTH
EXPLORE GREEN BUSINESS

Devon Elevation Fund

The Devon Elevation Fund, being part of the Community Renewal Fund, will provide grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 for projects that help businesses and community organisations
Learn More

Start-Up Support

Employment Advice

Start-Up Support
An entrepreneur at a peer networking event

Are you considering starting a new business? Have you always wanted to be self-employed? Or have you started and you're looking for some additional advice? Our free start-up support is available to business owners and entrepreneurs in Exeter, Mid Devon and East Devon.

When you join the Prosper programme under Start-up Support, you'll have access to inspiring workshops and regular peer-to-peer sessions with our Enterprise Club. These sessions are a great way to network with other entrepreneurs and talk through your challenges with one of our advisors.

LEARN MORE

Devon Elevation Fund

The Devon Elevation Fund, being part of the Community Renewal Fund, will provide grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 for projects that help businesses and community organisations
Learn More

Employment Advice
A business owner with team members looking at plan drawings

Whether you're an individual business owner looking to hire for the first time, or you have a team behind you already and need some advice on the next step up, our Devon-based advisors are here to help. They know and understand the local market, and can guide you in cultivating a supportive and productive environment that will ultimately propel your business forward. 

For free support to help you hire with confidence, get in touch with us today.

LEARN MORE

Devon Elevation Fund

The Devon Elevation Fund, being part of the Community Renewal Fund, will provide grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 for projects that help businesses and community organisations
Learn More
EXPLORE START-UP SUPPORT
EXPLORE EMPLOYMENT ADVICE

Devon Elevation Fund

The Devon Elevation Fund, being part of the Community Renewal Fund, will provide grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 for projects that help businesses and community organisations
Learn More

Are you interested in finding out more?

Fill in a few, quick details here.

ENQUIRE ABOUT PROSPER

Prosper clients we've helped

"I wanted to write and thank you for the last two sessions. These one-to-one sessions are gold for a small business. I have found our time really helpful and you have provided me with the information and motivation to step out and do some more proactive marketing on my social media channels. I am very much looking forward to our next session."
Ginny Banks, Virginia's Vintage Hire Ltd
Are you ready to grow your business? Fill in a few, quick details here.
REGISTER FOR PROSPER
Access grant funding through Prosper

Prosper is an excellent pathway to access local government grants that could help your business achieve the next stage of growth. 

Business owners in East Devon may be eligible to apply for the new Innovation & Resilience Fund or the Carbon Action Fund.

Under the Innovation & Resilience Fund, between £3,000 and £30,000 will be available to support transformational projects that will lead to increase in productivity or creation of high value jobs. Find the full details here.

Or, by going through Prosper or our other green business support programme, EDCAP, you will be able to apply for the Carbon Action Fund, supporting decarbonisation within businesses and community organisations in East Devon. Find out more here.

Small business owner and team looking at a laptop

Culture, Leisure & Tourism Fund

View of Sidmouth beach and seafrontView over Devon countryside with fields and farmland

The Rural England Prosperity Fund has been created to boost the rural economy as part of the government’s levelling-up programme. £110m has been made available to be invested in projects that boost productivity, create rural job opportunities and support improvements in community infrastructure.

Investment will be distributed through local authorities, and the priorities of each area will be carefully considered. Farm businesses looking to diversify, community projects, rural venues, and tourism facilities could all benefit. Capital grants will also be available to support digital infrastructure in village halls, pubs and post offices, and to support new or existing natural, cultural and heritage sites. The parameters of the scheme are broad, creating a lot of opportunity for organisations and communities to be given an extra boost where it is needed most.

How to apply

If you’re looking to apply for the Rural England Prosperity Fund, here’s what you need to know:

  • The funding is available for both new and existing projects between 2023 and 2025.
  • How your project may impact the environment and how it sits with the government’s commitment to being net zero by 2050 should be considered, as this may be questioned on application.
  • How your project may benefit your local community is also likely to be questioned. For example, if the renovation of a farm or community building employs local builders and local people to subsequently run the business, the application is more likely to be approved.
  • Showing a clear and robust plan on your application is essential.
  • Funding pots will be allocated to local authorities, with application details to be announced when the funding is released. We’ll be updating this page with more information on this as soon as we have it.
  • Some local authorities have released information on how much funding they have been allocated:
    > See Teignbridge  
    > See East Devon
    > See Cornwall

How we can help

Unfortunately there is no funded support available but if you need assistance with your Rural England Prosperity Fund application, we can help you on a commercial basis, so please get in touch. We’ve been supporting rural businesses, communities and farmers for over 25 years, and we’re experts in preparing funding and planning applications.

Devon Elevation Fund

The Devon Elevation Fund, being part of the Community Renewal Fund, will provide grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 for projects that help businesses and community organisations
Learn More

Get the latest funding updates

If you're a business seeking finance, it's important to keep up to date on local funding opportunities. Stay ahead by signing up to our newsletter which regularly features all the latest funding news.

Select "yes" in the box above to subscribe to our email list. We will send you updates on upcoming free workshops, small business-related news and articles, as well as local funding and support no more than twice a month. We never sell or share your details with third parties and you can unsubscribe at any time. Please check our privacy policy to see how we store and manage your submitted data.

How this support is funded

Devon County Council is project managing the programme on behalf of East Devon, Mid Devon and Exeter councils, with business support provided by Business Information Point, Cosmic and Carbon Sense.

Prosper funding and delivery partner logos
Prosper funding and delivery partner logos
1  McKinsey Quarterly survey. 
What's good for the planet is good for business

42% of SMEs in the UK have started on the road to making their business fit for Net Zero1. Start your journey and begin reaping the benefits...

Get free carbon audit from a professional carbon accountant and subsequent tailored advice on how to reduce energy and potentially lower costs.

Appeal to clients who are going through their own green transformation. Every business is going to have to increase their sustainability soon, meaning your existing and future clients will be reviewing how green you are.

Attract investors. 80% of mainstream investors now consider environmental credentials when choosing which businesses to invest in. Don't get sidelined by a greener competitor. 

Make gradual changes at your own pace. There will come a time when Government policy becomes mandatory for small businesses. Stay one step ahead to avoid having to make untimely changes later on.

Appeal to increasingly green-focused consumers. Nearly 1 in 3 claim to have stopped purchasing certain brands or products because they had ethical or sustainability-related concerns. 

Want to do your bit, but not sure where to start? Get in touch to explore the free support available.

Whatever stage you're at on your Net Zero journey - whether you're yet to start or you've made some initial changes - the guidance we provide will be relatable, effective and led by your business needs.