Business Grants and Funding
Perth & Kinross Council administer a number of business grants and funding opportunities targeted at stimulating economic growth, as well as offering signposting advice to larger national funds that may be of use. These are now open for the 2024/25 financial year.
Green Capital Development Grant
The Green Capital Development Grant can offer up to £25,000 covering up to 50% of eligible costs. Project must be of minimum £10,000 (this equates to a minimum £5,000 match from the business), except for EV charging point applications.
This fund is available for Capital expenditures (CapEx) and can be used to acquire, upgrade, and maintain physical assets such as property, plants, buildings, technology, or equipment (excluding vehicles). Read about Wasted Degrees Brewery and their successful application, over on the blog.
Contact [email protected] for further details.
Beyond Scotland Market Development Grant
The Beyond Scotland Market Development Grant provides specific support to businesses which will enable them to expand their market overseas or into other parts of the UK (excluding Scotland).
Grants of up to £3,000 covering up to 50% of eligible costs are available. Examples of eligible costs could include the following, where these activities are aimed at expanding overseas markets or markets in the wider UK (excluding Scotland):
- Transport and accommodation (where these are directly related to a specific business event or initiative)
- Exhibition and trade show attendance and stand costs (excluding exhibitions and trade shows held in Scotland)
- Marketing activities and brand development
- New product development
- Consultancy services
Read about Provender Brown and their successful application over on the blog.
Contact [email protected] for more details.
Adapt Your Property Fund
As part of its ongoing focus to improve the appeal, performance and economic success of city and town centres, the Council has set up a grant fund to assist business and property owners to upgrade and repurpose vacant commercial properties in order to bring them back into use as commercial, community or residential premises to help implement sustainable economic growth.
Property owners or tenants can apply for grant assistance of up to 50% of the cost of the project to a maximum grant award of £75,000.
Priority for support will be given to projects which demonstrate how they will enhance/contribute to:
- local economy and business
- local placemaking and townscape
- delivering wider community benefit
Please check via the link below for the current deadline for submissions.
Vacant Property Feasibility Grant
To assist property owners and tenants, and prospective owners and tenants, to bring vacant properties back into use for economic and socially productive purposes, the Council has set up a grant fund to facilitate the undertaking of feasibility studies to develop sustainable future uses which re-purpose vacant commercial properties.
Applications can be made for up to 50% of professional fees incurred whilst undertaking a feasibility study reviewing potential for a vacant property being brought back into use. Grants of up to £3,000 for individual projects and up to £5,000 for larger projects are available.
Grant Funding and Specialist Loans for Businesses in Scotland
£150 Million Investment Fund for Scotland
The Investment Fund for Scotland aims to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across Scotland.
The Investment Fund for Scotland offers a range of commercial finance options with smaller loans and debt finance from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million. The fund covers the whole of Scotland, including rural, coastal and urban areas.
Scottish Venture Capital Fund
The Scottish Venture Fund invests in high growth potential, early-stage companies from start-up/spin-out, seeking funding to develop innovative products/services/business models and/or create or develop new markets.
Scottish Enterprise is a ‘gap’ funder, therefore businesses should seek to maximise private sector investment before making an approach. Scottish Enterprise typically provides from £100,000 to £2 million, as part of a total deal size typically ranging from £200,000 to £10 million.
Regional Selective Assistance Funding
The Regional Selective Assistance Fund is a form of discretionary grant designed to encourage capital investment and job creation in assisted areas of Scotland, classified as Tier 2 and 3. Perth & Kinross is categorised as a Tier 3 area. RSAF can typically support up to 35% of the eligible costs for a small/medium-sized enterprise (SME) and 15% of the eligible costs for a large enterprise.
Projects must last between 6 and 36 months, and the minimum grant considered is £100,000.
Back to Business Support
Click back to our business support landing page to access the full array of services in the Perth and Kinross area. These include Business Gateway, the PKC Business Growth Team, and GrowBiz.
Support Within PKC
Perth & Kinross Council offers several business support functions for companies of all sizes and at all stages. Alongside colleagues in employability, planning, licencing and rates, the Business Growth Team can help and assist in plans for expansion and more.
Partner Organisations
As well as Business Gateway, the PKC Business Growth Team and GrowBiz, Perth & Kinross-based businesses can also seek advice from organisations such as Perthshire Chamber of Commerce and Scottish Development International.