2025
100% FREE
BUSINESS TOOl

Gloucester City and surrounding areas benefit from a supportive ecosystem—encompassing national, regional, and local funding schemes, including grants, government-backed loans, mentoring, and advisory services.
Purpose: Supports city centre regeneration, business development, digital improvements, culture, and green space enhancements.
Amount: Gloucester received £1.97m (including £486,000 in March 2025 allocations) (Gloucester City Council, Gloucester City Council).
Examples: Funding young entrepreneurs, empty-shop pop-ups, business advice, signage improvements, and nature park projects (Gloucester City Council).
Apply: Watch the Gloucester City Council Business Grants page or contact the Economic Development Team (eds@gloucester.gov.uk).
Purpose: Up to £1,000 for local events or projects.
Deadlines:
Round 1: 8 Nov 2024–18 Jan 2025 (for April 2025–March 2026 events).
Round 2: 31 Mar–23 May 2025 (Visit Gloucester).
Apply: Via Visit Gloucester’s Business Support page on Animate: Explore.
Purpose: Matches SMEs adopting digital technologies in manufacturing.
Amount: Up to £20,000, plus mentoring, internships, and digital roadmapping (Visit Gloucester, SoGlos).
Eligibility: Manufacturing SMEs with ≤250 employees and £50m turnover.
Apply: Register via Made Smarter Southwest partners.
Purpose: Revenue grants to expand childcare places for under‑3s (staffing, resources, IT).
Window: 28 Jan–14 Feb 2025 via County Council portal (SoGlos, Gloucestershire County Council).
Amount: £500–£25,000; fixed 6% interest; mentoring included.
Eligibility: UK residents, trading under 36 months.
Apply: 👉 https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan
Support: Free business advice, mentoring, workshops (net zero, innovation) (The Growth Hub Gloucestershire).
Access: Register online; local hubs across Cheltenham, Gloucester, Stroud, etc.
Offers: Support for UKSPF grants, business advice, and capital funding updates.
Contact: Phone 01452 396 974 or eds@gloucester.gov.uk (Gloucester City Council, Gloucester City Council).
Use GOV.UK Business Finance & Support tool to explore national schemes.
Contact Growth Hub for tailored guidance.
Register for updates on Gloucester Business Grants page.
Identify your goals – e.g., event funding, manufacturing digitalisation, childcare expansion.
Find matching schemes – national, county, city, or sector-based.
Confirm eligibility – check business type, location, size.
Gather documents – plans, forecasts, quotes, project details, evidence of impact.
Apply – through council, Growth Hub, Visit Gloucester, or County Council portals.
Follow up – track deadlines, respond promptly to enquiries.
Network & Mentor: Use Growth Hub events, peer learning, and the GMAX Card networking platform.
Stay Informed: Subscribe to newsletters from Gloucester City Council, Growth Hub, and GOV.UK.
Leverage Local Events: Apply early for Animate Explore small grants and collaborate with Visit Gloucester.
UKSPF Grants & Council Support: eds@gloucester.gov.uk, Phone 01452 396 974
Animate Explore Fund: via Visit Gloucester’s business support – see Animate: Explore page (Cotswold District Council, The Growth Hub Gloucestershire, Gloucester City Council, Visit Gloucester)
Made Smarter Grants: via regional Made Smarter partners – see news on grants (SoGlos)
Early Years Sufficiency Grant: apply through Gloucestershire County Council (Gloucestershire County Council)
Start‑Up Loans: https://www.gov.uk/apply-start-up-loan
Growth Hub Gloucestershire: https://www.thegrowthhub.biz (The Growth Hub Gloucestershire)
🔹 What grants are available in Gloucester?
UKSPF city projects, community Animate Explore grants (≤£1,000), Made Smarter manufacturing grants (≤£20,000), and childcare sufficiency grants for under‑3s.
🔹 When can I apply for the Animate Explore fund?
Round 2 runs from 31 March to 23 May 2025, covering projects from August 2025 onwards (Gloucester City Council, Visit Gloucester).
🔹 Who qualifies for Made Smarter grants?
Manufacturing SMEs in Gloucestershire with ≤250 employees and ≤£50m turnover (SoGlos).
🔹 How do I access business mentoring and support?
Register at the Growth Hub for free one-to-one mentoring, workshops, and net‑zero/business planning support (The Growth Hub Gloucestershire, The Growth Hub Gloucestershire).
🔹 Can I get support if I run a nursery or early years setting?
Yes—sufficiency revenue grants were available from 28 Jan to 14 Feb 2025 via the County Council (Gloucestershire County Council).
🔹 What loans are available?
Apply for up to £25k via Start‑Up Loans, with fixed 6% interest and free mentoring.
🔹 What documents do I need?
Business plan, financial forecasts, project statements, cost breakdowns, eligibility proof, and (if relevant) managerial evidence.
🔹 How can I stay updated on new funding?
Sign up for Growth Hub, Council, and NHS/Early Years bulletins and alerts via GOV.UK.
🔹 Where should I start?
Define your project.
Explore relevant grants/loans.
Confirm eligibility.
Contact Growth Hub or the Council team.
Prepare applications.
Apply and follow up promptly.
Value Ad helps new businesses save 50% to 80% on essential services like marketing and
development. These savings act as an alternative investment, fueling growth.
Service providers gain valuable initial customers, helping them grow and attract investment.
It's a win-win for everyone!
This App/website is not affiliated with any government agency. We collect and organize information from publicly available government websites and provide direct links to these official sources.
For accurate details and to apply for grants or loans, please visit the relevant government websites linked within the App/website.
What is Value Ad?
Value Ad is an innovative policy designed to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between two key groups: new businesses and service providers. This policy helps startups save significantly on essential services while enabling service providers to gain valuable traction and growth opportunities.
How is it a Win-Win Deal?
For New Businesses:
Cost Savings: Startups can save 50% to 80% on essential services such as website development and marketing. This means they don’t need to invest heavily upfront, making it easier to launch and grow their business.
Alternative Investment: The money saved through these discounts can be reinvested into other critical areas of the business, acting as an alternative investment that fuels further growth and development.
For Service Providers:
Initial Customer Base: Service providers, often tech startups themselves, can attract a significant number of initial customers by offering their services at a discounted rate. This helps them build traction and demonstrate value, which is crucial for attracting venture capital (VC) funding and other opportunities.
Marketing Efficiency: By providing affordable services, service providers do not need to spend heavily on marketing to acquire new customers. The discounted services themselves become a powerful marketing tool, bringing in customers who can spread the word and enhance the provider’s reputation.
Growth and Expansion: Attracting more customers through Value Ad helps service providers expand their client base and build long-term relationships, which can lead to increased revenue and business growth.
Alternative Investment for New Businesses:
For new businesses, the significant cost savings achieved through the Value Ad policy effectively serve as an alternative investment. Instead of spending large amounts on website development and marketing, they can leverage the affordable services provided by service providers. The saved funds can be redirected into other strategic areas of the business, enhancing overall growth and sustainability.
Benefits for Service Providers:
Service providers benefit from the Value Ad policy by gaining access to a ready pool of new customers who are drawn by the discounted rates. This initial customer base is crucial for:
Building Traction: Demonstrating product or service viability to potential investors.
Securing Funding: Enhanced customer traction and a growing user base can make the service provider more attractive to venture capitalists and other funding sources.
Market Penetration: Establishing a presence in the market quickly and efficiently without heavy marketing expenditures.
In Summary:
Value Ad is a strategic policy designed to create a win-win scenario for both new businesses and service providers. By offering significant discounts on essential services, startups can save and reinvest those savings, while service providers gain crucial initial customers and market traction. This mutually beneficial arrangement supports the growth and success of both groups, making Value Ad a powerful tool for business development and investment.
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