Deadline: January 01, 2026
The Rotherham Shopfront Improvement Grant is a funding opportunity offering up to £25,000 to retail and hospitality businesses in Rotherham and surrounding town centres like Maltby, Swinton, Wath, and Dinnington, aimed at improving the exteriors and interiors of their commercial premises to create more inviting town centres and encourage business growth.
The scheme focuses on upgrading the appearance of shops and commercial premises, enhancing the character, value, and appeal of properties, positively impacting the collective appearance of high streets, encouraging business growth, and creating new employment opportunities.
The Rotherham Shopfront Improvement Grant, funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), is designed to make town centres and high streets more inviting and vibrant for both residents and visitors. It offers grants of up to £25,000 that businesses can use for improvements to their town centre shops and commercial premises specifically in Rotherham district and the neighbouring towns of Maltby, Swinton, Wath, and Dinnington.
Who can benefit from this grant includes retail and hospitality businesses that want to refresh or redecorate their exterior, install new shopfront features or signage, improve accessibility to their buildings, or invest in fit-outs that enhance their business offering. Eligible funding targets capital costs such as internal and external refurbishments, repainting, signage, lighting, fit-outs, and accessibility improvements.
The Shop Unit Business Grant (SUBG) is structured to fund up to £25,000. For projects costing over £10,000, applicants must match fund 50% of the balance. This means the grant covers the first £10,000 and matches half of the remaining project costs, sharing the financial responsibility with the business applicant.
Local expertise is available through Secprint, a print and design provider that supports businesses in enhancing their premises with creative design, weather-resistant exterior signage, outdoor barriers, canvas banners, branded wraps, large-format posters, printed wallpaper, and many other internal and external artwork solutions. Secprint specializes in making business spaces welcoming and aligned with the SUBG criteria, offering services from small tweaks to full interior fit-outs.
The grant application process is straightforward. Businesses must contact Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) to begin, where they will receive support from a key account manager or business advisor. Applicants need to gather quotes and supporting documents, including any required permissions, and then submit their completed application form to their RMBC advisor. Once approved, the project can proceed, with Secprint or other suppliers managing the design, print, and installation works.
Eligibility key points include location within the town centres of Rotherham, Maltby, Swinton, Wath, or Dinnington; being a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME); trading for more than 12 months to apply for grants over £5,000; and newer businesses under 12 months still qualifying if they accessed Launchpad support and present a business growth plan. Projects excluding window display equipment, repairs, and security features must be completed by December 2025, with all claims submitted by January 2026. Grants cannot fund retrospective work, so no started work before grant confirmation.
This grant scheme offers a fantastic chance for businesses looking to revitalize their commercial premises, help boost the local economy, and enhance the overall shopping experience within the Rotherham district.
For more information, visit Secprint.
