UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund

Find out more about funding opportunities and grants offered by the Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government's ambitious levelling-up agenda. In total, £2.6 billion of new funding is being allocated across the entire UK to support local priorities, build pride in place, support high quality skills training and increase life chances through business growth, productivity and employment.

Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)

Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is a top-up to the UKSPF budget. Its focus is on addressing the challenges rural areas face, aiming to increase productivity and strengthen rural economies and communities. Like UKSPF, the rural fund supports the government's levelling-up agenda. Unlike UKSPF, it has no revenue funding element. Instead, it focuses solely on supporting capital projects within small businesses and community infrastructure projects.

What are these funds designed to do?

Ultimately it will lead to visible, tangible improvements to the places in North Norfolk where people work and live by supporting local priorities and targeting investments where they have the most significant impact. They are designed to help new and existing rural businesses develop improved community infrastructure to benefit local businesses and residents. 

Who will manage the funding?

Local authorities will contractually manage the funding, which can be used to support capital and revenue projects. Both UKSPF and REPF must be spent  by 31 March 2025 .

What supports the fund ideas?

Underneath the aim of Building Pride in Place   and Increasing Life Chances ,  the following three UKSPF investment priorities have been set:

  • Community and Place
  • Supporting Local Business
  • People and Skills

What does this mean for North Norfolk?

In North Norfolk, the fund will be managed by North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) and its partners. Money will be made available in grants to businesses and community groups to support a range of outcomes. The grants will require an element of match funding, and all spending must be made up-front, and the grant claimed back. 

Our district's programme includes a range of strands that focus equally on community groups and businesses. It is hoped that this will deliver a range of projects, support and grant awards, from smaller amounts of under £15,000 to larger, more complex projects up to £100,000. In some instances, the money will be spent on organisations that can deliver a different opportunity. It may be in the form of guidance, support or marketing. 

Grants and support provided by NNDC through UKSPF and REPF

North Norfolk Sustainable Communities Fund

The Council established the North Norfolk Sustainable Communities Fund to reflect and support the Council's priorities regarding climate change and the environment. This fund, which has environmental and community sustainability at its heart, aims to help build strong and sustainable communities and ensure the long-term future and wellbeing of our communities here in North Norfolk. 

Eligibility

Community groups

Grant details

Up to £15,000

Fund aims

Provides funding for new or improvements to existing community and neighbourhood infrastructure projects, including those that increase communities' resilience to natural hazards, such as flooding. The grant could cover capital spend and running costs.

Find out more

Visit NNDC Sustainable Communities Fund to learn more about the grant, what funding is available and how to apply.

Go Digital Programme

The North Norfolk Go Digital funding programme offers free digital business support.

Your business will be matched with a digital adviser where you will get expert advice on how to:

  • best sell your products online
  • use social media to reach new customers
  • attract new visitors to your website

They will also advise on how different digital tools can benefit your business and the best homeworking options for your team. Your adviser will complete a digital audit of your business and produce a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations.

Eligibility

Small and medium sized businesses

Grant details

Advice, digital audit and a grant of up to £500 to help implement a digital action plan. Available from April 2023 to March 2025 (subject to available funding).

Fund aims

Strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems and supporting businesses at all stages of their development to sustain, grow and innovate, including through local networks.

Find out more

To learn more about the Go Digital programme, including how to apply, visit Norfolk County Council's website.

Visitor Economy Support Programme

Through membership opportunities, marketing activity, and increased online activity, the fund will help increase visitor numbers and enquiries.

Fund aims

Funding for developing and promoting wider campaigns encouraging people to visit and explore the local area.

Find out more

Visit the Visit North Norfolk website

Rural Business and Communities Grant: Communities

The Rural Business and Communities Grant is for community groups looking to support the development of small to medium infrastructure projects such as the refurbishment of spaces, small capital build projects or the purchase of equipment, tools or machinery.

Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility

Any community groups, community interest companies, town and parish councils, voluntary groups and charities.

Grant details

From £10,000 to £50,000. Available from July 2023 to March 2025 (subject to available funding). Grants are offered at a 75% intervention rate. Therefore the minimum project size would need to be £12,500 up to a maximum of £62,500. Applicants can also apply for bigger projects with a larger % match. For example, if the project size is £150,000. grant £50,000, match £100,000.

Fund aims

The programme provides funding to help community groups to do one of the following:

  • improve their infrastructure
  • develop, restore or refurbish buildings or spaces supporting cultural, heritage or historic-led activity
  • develop space that enables social action or a volunteering activity or programme

How to apply

Please read the guidance. New Anglia Growth Hub is delivering this grant scheme. Please contact them in the first instance.

You can also call New Anglia Growth Hub on 0300 333 6536 to register your interest. An adviser will talk with you about your project and help you with your application.

Rural Business and Communities Grant: Businesses

The Rural Business and Communities Grant is designed to support the development of larger capital projects such as the refurbishment of buildings, small capital build projects or the purchase of equipment, tools or machinery to expand growth, move towards net zero or diversify business activity.

Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility

Any businesses, community interest companies and social enterprises.

Grant details

From £10,000 to £100,000. Available from July 2023 to March 2025 (subject to available funding). Grants are offered at a 50% intervention rate. Therefore the minimum project size would need to be £20,000 up to a maximum of £200,000. Applicants can also apply for bigger projects with a larger % match. For example, if the project size is £350,000, grant £100,000, match £250,000.

Fund aims

Funding (capital grants) for small-scale investment, including capital funding for net zero infrastructure for rural businesses and diversification of farm businesses (outside of agriculture). It is designed to encourage the expansion or scale-up of these businesses, which could involve converting farm buildings into other commercial or business uses.

How to apply

Please read the guidance. New Anglia Growth Hub is delivering this grant scheme. Please contact them in the first instance.

You can also call New Anglia Growth Hub on 0300 333 6536 to register your interest. An adviser will talk with you about your project and help you with your application.

Business Support and Advice Programme

This programme has been designed to offer one-to-one business advice by a qualified and trained advisor through the New Anglia Growth Hub.

We are hopeful that through our programme, we will be able to offer the following:

  • a hands-on approach to business growth queries
  • supporting funding applications
  • specialist business coaching advisers to sharpen your management and leadership skills

Applications are on a first-come, first-served basis and delivered locally. We'll come to you. All of these services are free at the point of delivery.

Eligibility

Small and medium-sized businesses

Grant details

Advice and support. Available from July 2023 to March 2025 (subject to available funding).

Fund aims

Strengthening local entrepreneurial ecosystems and supporting businesses at all stages of their development to sustain, grow and innovate, including through local networks.

Find out more

Visit New Anglia Growth Hub

Other grants and support available from April 2024

Cost of Living and Energy Efficiency Programme

The North Norfolk Cost of Living and Energy Efficiency Programme is in the process of being finalised. It will be a 1 year programme available from April 2024 to March 2025.

Through this programme, we hope to offer support to households to reduce the cost of living, including measures to improve energy efficiency and combat fuel poverty and climate change.

Find out more

More information on the detailed scheme will follow.

Decarbonisation and Growth Programme

The North Norfolk Decarbonisation and Growth Programme is in the process of being finalised. It will be a 1 year programme available from April 2024 to March 2025.

Through this programme, we hope to offer support to local businesses to help with decarbonisation, improving the natural environment whilst growing the local economy.

Taking a whole system approach to invest in infrastructure to deliver effective decarbonisation across energy, buildings, transport, and beyond, in line with our legally binding climate target. Maximising existing or emerging local strengths in low-carbon technologies, goods and services to take advantage of the growing global opportunity.

Find out more

More information on the detailed scheme will follow.

Skills and Training Programme

The North Norfolk Skills and Training programme is in the process of being finalised. It will be a 1 year programme available from April 2024 to March 2025.

Through this programme, we hope to offer a rich and varied offering for local businesses. The aim is to provide tailored support to help people in employment, including supporting and retaining groups likely to leave the labour market early.

Find out more

More information on the criteria and how to apply will follow.