SWEF Enterprise Fund

The SWEF Enterprise Fund awards grants to young people in Lancashire who need support with business costs that they would otherwise not be able to afford, and particularly those who are not in education, employment or training. This is not a loan scheme and recipients do not need to pay the grant back. The fund offers two types of grants: Start-Up Grants (up to £500) for companies in the very early stages, pre-revenue, or have just begun trading, and Business Grants (up to £2,000) for sole trades/limited companies that have been trading for less than 2.5 years and show significant dedication. As part of the programme, SWEF provides the opportunity to join a network of peers who are also in the early stage of starting their business to share ideas, experiences and learn. The grants can be used for essential equipment or materials, website building, product development, and training, but cannot be used for salaries, debt repayment, rent and utility bills, ongoing software subscriptions, or development of businesses carrying out invasive aesthetic procedures.