Business Catalyst Small Grants Program (United Kingdom)

Funding Information

• Their £1,000 (including VAT) Small Business Catalyst Grants are open to applicants who are resident in the UK and have recently completed, or have undertaken a formal mentoring programme, business consultancy or business diagnostic programme, such as (but not exclusive to) the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s in the past 12-months.

Eligible Funding

• The Business Catalyst (Small) Grants support emerging micro-businesses that have growth plans in place but need financial support to move these plans forward to the next stage. Any funds must be used by successful applicants within 12 months of being received.
• Theri Business Catalyst (Small) Grants can be used to help your business to:
  • Purchase new equipment, such as new IT equipment or machinery and tools to produce a new product.
  • Create new services, such as a digital marketing strategy and means of putting this in place (i.e., new brand identity, website development, object photography etc.), to sell a new product or business service.
  • Adopt new processes and new ways of working, such as adaptations to your workshop or access to mentoring to realise a new production process or operation.
  • All proposals must also demonstrate a commitment to successful business growth – whether that is an increase in sales, productivity or profitability, or the potential to create new employment opportunities and an improvement in business processes.

Who can apply?

• The grants are open to individuals who:
  • are on the pathway to being self-employed/sole trader or running a micro-business in the jewellery, silversmithing and allied industries.
  • have recently completed, or have undertaken a formal mentoring programme, business consultancy or business diagnostic programme, such as (but not exclusive to) the Goldsmiths’ Centre in the past 12-months.
  • are located and have/will have a trading address in the UK. They must have a UK bank account in the exact name they are applying in.
  • typically, they would expect the business to have a turnover up to £75,000.
  • dedicated funding will be awarded to applicants experiencing financial difficulty and applicants who identify as belonging to an under-supported group within the industry.
• Groups under-supported or under-represented in the industry include, but are not limited to:
  • Black or minoritised ethnic background (e.g. the Global Majority) including Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.
  • Disabled people including physical, mental health, ‘hidden’ and learning disabilities.
  • Those from a high Index of Multiple Deprivation area (current or childhood residence).
  • Currently or previously a migrant, refugee, or asylum seeker.
• Eligibility for government support:
  • Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) / Personal Independence Payments (PIP)
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit in place of ESA / Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• The Business Diagnostic and Advice sessions for Jewellers and Silversmiths at the Goldsmiths’ Centre are free to attend, if you are experiencing financial difficulty. To prove your eligibility, you will need to apply for one of their Access Grants.

For more information, visit The Goldsmiths’ Centre.