MrsDLewis #FundingFriday MrsDLewis - Debbie Lewis

Matt is a conservation professional with nearly 20 years experience in the heritage sector, including a background in local authority conservation, town centre regeneration, grant funding and the charitable sector. Matt currently works as conservation officer for North Kesteven district council providing specialist advice on heritage and conservation matters and managing the delivery of third party grant schemes for commercial and domestic properties. Matt is also chair of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation East Midlands Branch.

Under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), grants are now available to owners and occupiers of commercial properties within Sleaford town centre. The purpose of the grant scheme is to help reverse the decline and enhance the historic environment in Sleaford conservation area through offering funding towards targeted repairs, reinstatement and replacements of shopfronts. The scheme will focus on reinstating lost or damaged features of historic properties, with a particular emphasis on reinstating traditional shop fronts where modern frontages have been installed.

However, grants are available for a wide range of works and can extend to other elements of building frontages, including on upper levels, such as the repair and replacement of windows and doors, roof repairs, repairs/renewal of leadwork, repair or replacement of rainwater goods, structural and non-structural repairs to external walls, brickwork/stonework cleaning, repair or replacement of external features such as masonry and repainting. Grants can also be used towards repaired or replaced shopfront fascias and signage in line with the Sleaford Shopfront Design Guide.

Where to find out more;

https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/planning-building/planning/conservation-heritage/sleaford-shopfront-grant-scheme

 

As Rural Business Development Manager, Will Dallimore is the first point of contact for rural businesses wanting advice, support and funding.

Will says: “Whatever your question, challenge, opportunity or experience is as a rural business, I am here to help and highlight the support available to you.

“This includes information on funding programmes such as the Farm Transformation Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

Don’t hesitate to contact me at William.Dallimore@ngagesolutions.co.uk or on 01494 927167

This project is part-funded by the UK government through the Shared Prosperity Fund. 

Will specialises in rural business support and funding programmes. He has an in depth knowledge of diversification with a particular interest in sustainable land management, food production and processing.

Vicky's back to talk about the latest grant funding available for those in the SEMLEP region.

Digital Future First advisors like Vicky connect businesses in the South East Midlands area with free access to digital consultancy, Government Business incentives and a range of funded training provision. 

They connect to inspire and inform SME businesses about digital growth and training opportunities. All partners in the project are equal opportunities employers.

To connect with Vicky or to find out more: vicky.clark@digitalfuturefirst.co.uk

Vicky Clark senior business advisor at Digital Future First joins me to discuss SEMSUP (South East Midlands Start-Up Programme) led by Wenta. This project focuses on social enterprises and startups across the South East Midlands region with match funding between £1k-£3k to grow your business in a digital future.

For applications or enquiries please contact vicky.clark@digitalfuturefirst.co.uk 

Sim is a Business Growth Advisor at Warwickshire County Council and delivers a number of grant schemes available to businesses in the county including capital, green and digital creative funds. 

Sim also delivers an access-to-finance support programme assisting SMEs that are seeking debt, grant and alternative finance from both local authority and private sector sources.

For more information or to connect please email: simeonlee@warwickshire.gov.uk

Rachel Hayward is the owner and lead consultant of Ask the Chameleon, a multiple award-winning consultancy committed to supporting SME’s and charities to increase turnover, gain recognition and exposure through writing winning bids, contracts, tenders and business awards. The company has secured £38m in funding for clients since 2015 and many prestigious awards including the Queens Awards.

The company has won awards in its own right, including British Business Awards Micro Business of the Year 2022, Female Entrepreneur of the Year – East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women 2021, DerbyshireLive Professional Services Company of the Year 2021, and Federation of Small Businesses Micro Business 2020.

Ineligible for Covid19 business support, Rachel co-created the Swap Shop during the pandemic with Huub and think3, to help small businesses and charities swap skills with each other to survive during lockdown.  With over 1100 members, it has now evolved into the hookup for the post-Covid business world.

Rachel is a mentor on the Help to Grow programme for the University of Nottingham, a mentor for student entrepreneurs for the University of Derby, the Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire Area Lead for the FSB and a small business representative on the D2N2 LEP Business Advisory Group. She is also Chair of Annabel’s Angels, a volunteer-led charitable trust supporting families undergoing treatment for cancer, and an Associate Lecturer in the Business School at the University of Derby.

The link to the tender ebulletin is on her website https://www.askthechameleon.co.uk/sign-up-for-our-tender-alerts/