Financial Assistance

The Hartlepool Enterprise Development Fund is available to all businesses based within or setting up in the Borough of Hartlepool.

The fund is available to new start businesses or those currently trading but under 3 years old and employing less than 10 people.

The purpose of the fund is to assist individuals with the costs of starting up in business or for those businesses already trading to assist with expansion projects that involve capital expenditure or stock purchase.

Sole traders can apply for assistance for up to £2,000 and other forms of businesses can apply for up to £5,000.

To be eligible for assistance, the business must be involved in some form of manufacturing or providing services to the manufacturing sector.

Businesses involved in the retail sector, motor trade or financial services are not normally eligible for assistance unless they can prove some special circumstances.

Businesses involved in betting/gaming or any activities involving politics, religion, pornography and clairvoyancy are not eligible.

For further information or to request an application form, please contact:

Hartlepool Enterprise Team
Hartlepool Enterprise Centre
Brougham Terrace
Hartlepool
TS24 8EY

E-mail  : info@investinhartlepool.com
Tel      : (01429) 867677

The Hartlepool Main Grants package is available to eligible businesses who are undertaking projects that involve capital expenditure and the creation of full time permanent jobs.

The scheme is available to manufacturing companies or manufacturing related service companies only. Applicants are restricted to apply for a maximum of two of the three schemes

Rates Equivalent Grant
Grant support can amount to 50% of the first year's business rates subject to a maximum of £10,000.

Capital Investment Grant
Grant support can amount to 50% of eligible costs on plant and equipment up to a maximum of £10,000.

Jobs Creation Grant
Grant support can amount to £1,000 per job created for unemployed Hartlepool residents up to a maximum of £10,000.

For further information or to request an application form, please contact:

Hartlepool Enterprise Team
Hartlepool Enterprise Centre
Brougham Terrace
Hartlepool
TS24 8EY

E-mail  : info@investinhartlepool.com
Tel      : (01429) 867677

The Business Security Grant Scheme is part of the Hartlepool Borough Council Business Grants Package and is available to all businesses based within the Borough of Hartlepool.

The grant is ONLY available to businesses involved in some form of manufacturing or the associated service sector.

The fund is designed to help businesses to implement security measures to their premises and sites.

Eligible security works can include:

• CCTV
• Security Alarm
• Roller Shutters
• Security Doors
• Window Grilles
• Security Fencing
• Security Lighting

The grant is available to cover 50% of total eligible costs up to a maximum of £2,500 for the purchase and installation of security equipment as recommended by the Crime Prevention Officer.

For further information or to request an application form, please contact:

Hartlepool Enterprise Team
Hartlepool Enterprise Centre
Brougham Terrace
Hartlepool
TS24 8EY

E-mail  : info@investinhartlepool.com
Tel      : (01429) 867677

If you are a female resident in Hartlepool who is setting up your own new business or new form of self-employment, you can apply for up to £500 for advertising and publicity to help promote your new business.

For further information or to request an application form, please contact:

Hartlepool Enterprise Team
Hartlepool Enterprise Centre
Brougham Terrace
Hartlepool
TS24 8EY

E-mail  : info@investinhartlepool.com
Tel      : (01429) 867677

The Access to Markets Project aims to encourage and support businesses that would like to trade both regionally and nationally with the view to eventually trading overseas.

As part of this initiative funding in the form of a grant is available to all businesses based within or setting up in the Borough of Hartlepool via the Access to Markets Fund.

A grant of up to 50% of the costs of a project, with a maximum grant of £2,500 is available to eligible activities including:

• Attendance at Exhibitions - for businesses looking to hire space at a UK exhibition.
• Publicity Materials - to produce new publicity materials, including brochures and leaflets. Additionally, the cost of exhibition stands can be considered.
• Bespoke Marketing Exercises - assist towards the cost of specialist marketing exercises, including the purchase of specialist mail listings or research into specific markets.
• Websites - assist towards the cost of developing a website, provided this support is not available elsewhere.

For further information and/or to request an application form, please contact:

Hartlepool Enterprise Team
Hartlepool Enterprise Centre
Brougham Terrace
Hartlepool
TS24 8EY

E-mail  : info@investinhartlepool.com
Tel      : (01429) 867677

The bursary/grant scheme has been established to assist new and young businesses within Hartlepool to develop their business using technology.

Who can Apply
Business start-ups and developing SME's who have been trading for a minimum 6 months and maximum 24 months. All beneficiaries must be Hartlepool businesses or residents.

Assistance Available
ICT start-ups, start-ups using technology and existing businesses who wish to use technology to develop their company can apply for financial assistance, up to £2,000 towards the purchase of equipment, training, research and development of products, consultancy, software etc. The bursary is granted on a 50/50 basis - 50% provided by the fund and 50% by the beneficiary. You will need to provide proof of match funding.

For further information and/or to request an application form, please contact:

Hartlepool Enterprise Team
Hartlepool Enterprise Centre
Brougham Terrace
Hartlepool
TS24 8EY

E-mail  : info@investinhartlepool.com
Tel      : (01429) 867677

There are other financial assistance schemes available to businesses such as grants as well as venture capital and loan equity from a variety of support organisations both in the North East and nationally.

For further details of what is currently available for your project please contact us

Business Link
Business Link can tell you about the range of Solutions for Business and other support available for new or existing businesses. They can help you understand your business needs, direct you to the right support, and help you apply for funding, subject to eligibility and criteria. Business Link can be contacted on (0845) 600 9006 or www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast

For further details and to check availability, eligibility, criteria and terms, please contact the organisations on the telephone numbers provided above.