Business grants available include:
- Chorley Apprenticeship Grant
- Business Energy and Road Net Zero Support Scheme
- Shop Front Improvement Grant
- Chorley Business Investment for Growth (BIG) Grant
- Choose Chorley Relocation Grant
- Retail and Hospitality Support Grant
Chorley Apprenticeship Grant
The Chorley Apprenticeship Grant is to be used to support eligible businesses to create an apprenticeship position within their organisation.
This can support a new or existing member of staff access training through an apprenticeship course.
The total value of the grant is £1,500 and this will be paid in 2 instalments.
The business must by an SME and operate in Chorley, further eligibility criteria applies.
Businesses are advised to wait for a decision on their grant application before advertising the vacancy.
To register your interest please email edu@chorley.gov.uk.
View more information on apprenticeships.
Business Energy and Road Net Zero Support Scheme
Eligibility
The Business Energy and Road Net Zero Support Scheme is open to businesses based and operating in the borough of Chorley.
The Business Energy Grant can only be used to fund capital expenditure on specified equipment that has been identified by an energy audit as reducing energy use/costs and delivering a contribution to carbon reduction. The grants cannot be used to fund energy bill payments.
An energy audit will need to be undertaken as part of the grant process, which the council will fund and arrange.
There are 3 levels of grant available, the award for approved applications will depend on the cost of the equipment specified in the energy audit.
Grant categories will be:
- £500 (for expenditure of £500 to £999)
- £1,000 (for expenditure of £1,001 to £1,999)
- £2,000 (for expenditure of £2,000 and above).
The grants will fund a contribution of up to 100% of the approved costs of measures up to the maximum grant of £2,000.
Grants (for approved applications) will only be paid on completion of the work and on receipt of a paid invoice and receipt for the approved, eligible equipment.
If you are interested in having an energy audit completed and the grant scheme, please contact edu@chorley.gov.uk or call us on 01257 515300.
Shop Front Improvement Grant
The Shop Front Improvement Grant is available for comprehensive visual improvements to the frontage of a vacant retail property in Chorley.
The property must be in the designated Chorley town centre boundary or within one of the borough's designated local retail centres.
A business (or the property landlord) can apply for up to 75% of the total eligible project net costs up to a maximum of £10,000 grant.
To apply for this grant, in the first instance please contact our Business Engagement team to discuss your potential application by email to edu@chorley.gov.uk or call us on 01257 515300.
View the Shop Front Improvement Grants guidance notes for more information.
Chorley Business Investment for Growth (BIG) Grant
The Chorley BIG grant can be used to support eligible, expanding Chorley businesses making capital expenditure and creating new jobs.
The grant can contribute to the construction of new buildings; the refurbishment or adaptation of existing business premises, site engineering works, signage, hard/soft landscaping and security improvements.
Businesses can apply for 50% of the total eligible project costs, with a maximum grant of up to £10,000. Grant award is subject to output requirements including number of jobs being created within the business.
To apply for this grant, in the first instance please contact our Business Engagement team to discuss your potential application by email to edu@chorley.gov.uk or call us on 01257 515300.
View the Chorley BIG Grant guidance notes for further information.
Choose Chorley Relocation Grant
The Choose Chorley Relocation Grant is to help attract inward investors to the borough, create sustainable local employment and strengthen local supply chains. It is aimed at existing businesses (not new starts) permanently relocating to Chorley from outside of the borough, generating at least 5 sustainable jobs within 24 months of establishing their base.
Grants are available up to a maximum of £25,000. The grant is not available retrospectively and retail businesses are not eligible.
To apply for this grant, in the first instance please contact our Business Engagement team to discuss your potential application by email to edu@chorley.gov.uk or call us on 01257 515300.
View the Choose Chorley Relocation Grant guidance notes for further information.
Please note, all our grants are offered on a first come, first served basis, and cannot be offered retrospectively. Businesses are advised to contact our Business Engagement team to discuss any potential applications at the earliest opportunity.
All grant schemes are subject to availability and eligibility.
Retail and Hospitality Support Grant
The Chorley Retail and Hospitality Support Grant can be used to support eligible Chorley businesses making capital expenditure.
A business case will be required demonstrating the reason for the grant application and how it will improve the business e.g. turnover, footfall, staff number increases, increased productivity etc.
The grant can contribute to items such as external signage and/or improving the external appearance of the premises, including windows, building materials etc for external upgrades etc.
Internally the grant could contribute to improving the function and appearance of the shop floor and/or back office operations along with any equipment and machinery included in the business case reasoning, eg. new fixtures, fittings, storage facilities, tables and chairs, kitchen equipment such as new ovens, fryers, fridges/freezers, worktops, work stations, new infrastructure equipment such as IT and associated software such as online booking system or online shop.
Businesses can apply for a £5,000 grant (this amount is fixed), towards the cost of the project which must be a minimum spend of £5,000. There is a 0% contribution from the applicant regarding the grant amount.
To apply for this grant, in the first instance please contact our Business Engagement team to discuss your potential application by email to edu@chorley.gov.uk or call us on 01257 515300.