The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 47: Feb/March 2020 | Page 10

SWLEP SWLEP New funding for entrepreneurs setting up rural firms Funding is being offered to help entrepreneurs start new businesses in rural areas of the UK. Forest Holidays has partnered with the Prince’s Countryside Fund to create the new Rural Start-Up Fund, with the aim of supporting new business ventures in rural areas of the UK. The scheme is intended to help entrepreneurs overcome the challenges associated with setting up and working in rural settings. Are you Brexit ready? A total of £5,000 is available in 2020, to be awarded to one winning business or shared between a number of rural start-ups. In addition to financial support, winners will have the opportunity to receive mentoring support from a member of the Forest Holidays team for 12 months. Get your business ready for Brexit with the Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub Entrepreneurs who are embarking on a new business venture in rural areas of the UK will be eligible to apply. Applicants must be able to demonstrate how their business will, in some manner, support rural communities, promote conservation of the countryside or support rural sustainability. The Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub has received business readiness funding from the Government to offer free Brexit support, advice and information to businesses in the area. If you have a specific industry question that you need answers to, the Growth Hub offers access to tailored advice, including: Export documentation requirements Customs declarations Migrant worker processes Regulatory requirements e.g REACH Certification and Licensing Supply Chain implications Sector Specific Regulations e.g. EASA Trusted Trader approaches e.g. AEO status cashflow management Access to finance Exchange rate mitigation The Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub Navigators also offer free advice and guidance on all other areas of business. Contact the Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub Support Team on 01793 698005 or email: [email protected] “We urge anyone who wants to know how Brexit will affect their business and needs to make preparations to contact one of our Growth Hub Navigators” 10 www.tbeswindonandwilts.co.uk Bruce McKendrick, Chief Executive Officer of Forest Holidays, said, “Inevitably, one of the biggest barriers to setting up a new business is the initial financial commitment and business support needed. “Our new start-up grant programme aims to give entrepreneurs and start- up businesses the help required to overcome these initial challenges to grow their business locally.” To find out more about the Rural Start-up Fund and to apply visit: www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk/how-we-help/startupfund