Business grants

Select from the options below to find out more about business grants.

South Ribble Skills and Training Grants
Vacant Commercial Property Grant
Energy Efficiency Grant
South Ribble Start-up Grant

Please email econdevt@southribble.gov.uk to be added on to our mailing list so you are the first to find out about news and available business grants.

South Ribble Skills and Training Grants

This scheme can assist businesses to access funding for employees to gain a vocational qualification or license.

Training / Retraining: This grant is to assist businesses to train new recruits or to upskill existing staff. This includes staff undertaking a recognised training course (a training course leading to a nationally recognised qualification or certificate from an accredited training organisation or professional body)

The grant application must be approved by the council before any training commences.

The training should commence after the council issues written approval. Training courses must be completed no later than 31 March 2026.

The training grant cannot be used to fund apprenticeships or any other training which is available through DWP funded initiatives or adult education provision.

The training grant cannot be used to fund training that has already started or has already been completed.

The training grant payment will be paid following the submission of a paid invoice and receipt, these will need to be supplied before 31 March 2026.

Eligibility criteria

employees must be over the age of 18 and be a permanent employee of the business with a contract of employment
recipients of the training grants must be contracted to work a minimum of 25 hours per week
the employee must be receiving, as a minimum, the Real Living Wage
one training grant is available per business
training course must be completed by 31 March 2026
employees must have the right to work within the UK
training must be delivered by an accredited training organisation or professional body
these grants are open to businesses based and operating in South Ribble
businesses must be active and trading as usual. Businesses that are dormant, in liquidation, dissolved, or subject to a striking-off notice are not eligible
applications will be processed on a first-come, first -served basis. We reserve the right to amend the scheme at any time
businesses that have already received support that equals or exceeds the maximum Subsidy Allowance limits are excluded.
grant applications must be submitted through the official online form.

VAT Eligibility

If you are VAT registered and can recover VAT for grant funded projects, then please ensure VAT is not included in your costs

South Ribble Borough Council cannot fund retrospective expenditure for training that has already started or has already been completed.

We would encourage applicants to use local suppliers.

Grants (for approved applications) will only be paid on receipt of a paid invoice and receipt for the approved, eligible training.

Training courses must be completed no later than 31 March 2026. All paid invoices and receipts must be submitted by 31 March 2026.

Apply for a skills and training grant

Grant amounts

Training/Retraining (unfunded training - Up to £500 per business being trained)

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Vacant Commercial Property Grant

South Ribble Borough Council have launched the Vacant Commercial Property Grant to help reduce the number of empty commercial properties across South Ribble including those in High Streets, Town Centres, Industrial and Commercial business parks.

The grant can be used to cover capital cost only, for example:

fit-out costs – making the interior or exterior suitable for trading, This may include but not limited to:
- extension, improvement, or modification of commercial/retail buildings
- shop front replacements, plumbing, roofing, windows, doors, rendering, electrical works, flooring, ceilings, etc.
- decorating and essential repairs
essential equipment - items that are necessary to deliver your services, for example but not limited to:
- kitchen equipment, cutlery, tables and chairs (if you are opening a café or restaurant)
- barbering chairs, mirrors, and clippers (if you are opening a barbershop)
- clothing rails, mannequins, and a till system (if you are opening a retail clothing store)
- display shelving, fridges, and a counter (if you are opening a grocery or convenience store)

The property must be vacant at the time of the application or from 1 July 2025

Eligibility criteria

To apply for this grant, your organisation must meet1 of the 3 trading status criteria below:

1. New to South Ribble

you have never previously leased, rented, or owned a commercial property in South Ribble
you are establishing your business in the South Ribble for the first time.

2. Returning to South Ribble

you previously leased, rented, or owned a commercial property in South Ribble
your contract on that property ended at least 6 months before you signed (or intend to sign) your new lease.

3. Expanding an Existing Business

you currently operate from one or more commercial properties and will continue trading at those sites
You are planning to lease an additional property in an eligible location
Your business is growing, and this new location will allow you to:
- Expand your services, or
- Serve more customers.

Important: You will not be considered an expanding business and will not be eligible if you are simply relocating from one property to another. To be considered an expanding business you must be adding a new site.

Restrictions

The following businesses are excluded from the scheme:

Pawnbrokers and cash generator shops
Mobile phone shops
E-cigarette shops
Adult shops
Takeaways

VAT Eligibility

If you are VAT registered and can recover VAT for grant funded projects, then please ensure VAT is not included in your costs

Apply for the Vacant Commercial Property Grant

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We reserve the right to amend the schemes at any time.

Only businesses who have completed an expression of interest form can apply, If you require an expression of interest form please email econdevt@southribble.gov.uk

Businesses that have already received support that equals or exceeds the maximum Subsidy Allowance limits are excluded. View more information on Subsidy Allowance guidance on the GOV.UK website.

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Energy Efficiency Grant

This grant has now closed to new applications.

South Ribble Borough Council have launched a grant scheme to help businesses reduce their energy use, which will reduce business energy costs and reduce the carbon footprint of businesses.

Businesses can receive up to £15,000 in grant funding, aimed at enabling high-impact, measurable decarbonisation projects within the borough’s business community.

Eligibility criteria

The Energy Saving Grant can be used to fund capital expenditure on specified equipment which will reduce energy use/costs and delivering a contribution to carbon reduction. The grants cannot be used to fund energy bill payments.

These grants are open to businesses based and operating in South Ribble. only one application is permitted per business/applicant/premises. Applicants must not have received funding from other bodies for the same items. The grant applies to commercial premises in South Ribble, which are exclusively used for business (registered with Valuation Office Agency (VOA) for business rates). The ratepayer is the eligible applicant.

A business case will be required demonstrating the reason for the grant application and how it will start and/or increase the business uptake of renewable energy source(s) and improve the business contributing to South Ribble’s Carbon Neutral Goal.

Project can include the below efficiency equipment but not limited to:

Installation and/or expansion of Solar PV (Photovoltaics)
Air Source Heat Pumps
Energy Storage using Phase Change Materials
Battery Storage
Fuel Cells
Solar Thermal District Heating
Power Factor Correction and Voltage Management Systems, including energy monitoring systems.

The grant is to cover associated costs for/towards the purchase and/or installation of equipment relating to the above.

For existing SME businesses only Supplementary information: Small and Medium-sized Enterprises definition (HTML) - GOV.UK, that have been trading for at least 12 months.

Minimum of 3 quotes will be required for each item of equipment / work needed. (There may be exceptional circumstances when 1-2 quotes may be suffice depending on size, and complexity of project.

Any grant awarded will be based on the lowest quote submitted.

Corporate Social Responsibility requirements will need to form part of the business case. This could include:

school talk/support based on their ‘Green Project’
work experience opportunities for students of the Borough
running a peer-to-peer support session

Completion and installation of all works by 28/02/2026. This is to ensure that the payment of grants can be achieved within the UKSPF timescales.

Those businesses involved with only tobacco and/or vaping products are ineligible for this grant.

Any businesses applying for the grant must not be in arrears with business rates, rent or have any current licencing issues or other dispute with the Council.

Businesses must have a business support meeting before any application, so they understand the grant, the application process.

Grants will be available on a first come first served basis.

VAT Eligibility

If you are VAT registered and can recover VAT for grant funded projects, then please ensure VAT is not included in your costs

Apply for the Energy Efficiency Grant

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We reserve the right to amend the schemes at any time.

Only businesses who have completed an expression of interest form can apply, If you require an expression of interest form please email econdevt@southribble.gov.uk

Businesses that have already received support that equals or exceeds the maximum Subsidy Allowance limits are excluded. View more information on Subsidy Allowance guidance on the GOV.UK website.

Privacy statement

South Ribble Start-up Grant

This grant has now closed to new applications.

South Ribble Borough Council (SRBC) has launched the South Ribble Start-up grant to help increase the number of start-up businesses in the Borough.

The grant can be used to cover capital cost only, for example:

capital equipment
computer equipment
development of websites
works to business premises

Eligibility criteria

to apply the applicant must live in South Ribble and/ or the business must be operating in South Ribble.
an Expression of interest will need to have been submitted before an application can be made.
the applicant must be 18 or over.
the business must be within its first 36 months of trading.
the business must be an SME.
only one application will be permitted per individual and/or business.
receipts for use of funds are to be provided no later than 27th February 2026.
the individual must be willing to engage and undertake the training on the Business Growth programme.
a business plan must be provided before an application can be made.
you will need to provide a summary of what the grant money would be spent on and why it is necessary for your business.
the individual must agree to provide receipts, co-operate with any investigations of fund mismanagement and repay any funds if South Ribble Borough Council decides is appropriate.

Restrictions

Applications will not be accepted by those looking to operate in the following industries:

Pawnbrokers and cash generator shops
Mobile phone shops
E-cigarette shops
Adult shops
Takeaways

After submitting your expression of interest, you must attend a pre-application meeting with the Investment and Skills Team at South Ribble Borough Council where you can provide your business plan and enrol onto the Business Growth programme to help support your business implementation complete the required training and attend your 1:1 support sessions with dedicated advisor.

South Ribble Borough Council retains the right to withdraw any grant offer if the training suggested and provided by South Ribble Borough Council is not attended by the individual/ business within 3 months of the offer letter dated.

Only businesses who have completed an expression of interest form can apply, If you require an expression of interest form, please email econdevt@southribble.gov.uk

Apply for the South Ribble Start-up Grant

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We reserve the right to amend the schemes at any time.

Only businesses who have completed an expression of interest form can apply, If you require an expression of interest form please email econdevt@southribble.gov.uk

Businesses that have already received support that equals or exceeds the maximum Subsidy Allowance limits are excluded. View more information on Subsidy Allowance guidance on the GOV.UK website.