Deadline Date: June 22, 2026
The Fraserburgh BIG Ideas Fund supports projects that help reduce vacancy levels and increase footfall in Fraserburgh town centre by providing financial assistance to new and existing businesses and organisations bringing vacant premises back into active use.
The fund aims to promote entrepreneurial activity, engage with landlords and property owners to bring premises back into use, encourage innovative uses for town centre spaces beyond retail including health and wellbeing services, shared-use and co-working spaces, increase the attractiveness of Fraserburgh town centre, improve footfall, strengthen community capacity and ownership, encourage long-term legacy activity, and create demand that supports investment in empty commercial properties.
The Fraserburgh BIG Ideas Fund is delivered by Aberdeenshire Council to encourage the revitalisation of Fraserburgh town centre through community and business-led initiatives. The programme is designed to support applicants intending to occupy vacant town centre premises and provide products or services to the public. By helping activate unused units, the project seeks to strengthen the local economy and encourage sustainable community investment.
A total grant budget of £25,000 is available and is expected to be distributed across several projects. There is no minimum or maximum grant amount, and applicants are encouraged to request only the amount required to deliver their project. Match funding is welcomed but not mandatory, and in-kind contributions such as donated labour, equipment, services, or premises use may also be counted as support toward the project.
The grant will be paid in two stages, with 50% released upon acceptance of the grant offer and the remaining 50% paid after evidence of expenditure of the initial payment is submitted. Applicants must provide invoices, receipts, or proof of expenditure such as bank statements for the full grant amount.
Eligible applicants include sole traders, businesses, charities, community groups, and social enterprises that intend to take on a town centre premises and open it for public use. However, property owners cannot apply for funding to redevelop their own premises, as the scheme is not intended to operate as a property investment fund.
Funding may be used for eligible costs including initial rent, stock purchases, marketing, equipment purchase or hire, public liability insurance, fixtures and fittings, window displays, and decoration costs associated with establishing the new activity or service.
For more information, visit Aberdeenshire Council.
