Name: Shrewsbury Bid
Price range: $

As town centres continue to change, it’s crucial for businesses to stay ahead by diversifying and innovating. Our Future Shrewsbury Grants Scheme is designed to provide targeted financial support to help businesses in Shrewsbury town centre adapt to these changes.

With a total available fund of £30,000, this grant programme aims to support a vibrant and thriving business environment in the heart of our town.

What's available?

Grants available range from a minimum of £1,000 to a maximum of £5,000 (Revenue funding only – not available for capital expenses)

Application period opens on 16th September and closes on 20th October

Successful applicants will be notified at the end of October

Who Is eligible?

The scheme is open to businesses and initiatives within Shrewsbury town centre, defined as a 15-minute walk of Shrewsbury Town Square.

Applicants must:

Represent an existing business

Be working on new or additional activity (for example, expanded service, creation of a new role, developing event in its first or second year)

Be prepared to use the funding for revenue-only costs (e.g., operational expenses, marketing, etc). Capital costs like equipment or property purchases are not covered.

All funds must be spent within 6 months of receiving the grant, with a final deadline of March 2025

What can the grant be used for?

Future Shrewsbury Grants are designed to help businesses evolve and grow by supporting a range of activities, including but not limited to:

Renting additional space to expand operations
Training new staff or onboarding new team members
Covering costs for work placements, helping businesses find and nurture fresh talent
Improving shopfronts to attract more customers and improve the appearance of the town centre
Accessing new markets by funding marketing or promotional activities
Developing events or activities that will draw more foot traffic into the town centre

Accountability

To ensure transparency and demonstrate that the funding has been spent effectively, grantees will need to provide evidence of how the funds have been used in order to claim them back. Evidence required will include invoices, bank statements and any other proof of payments made or work undertaken.

Funding Source

This grant scheme is funded entirely through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), supported by the UK Government, and coordinated by Work in Shrewsbury, a project of Shrewsbury BID. All applications will be reviewed by an independent panel to ensure fair and impartial decision-making.