SWEF Enterprise Fund

The SWEF Enterprise Fund awards grants to young people in Merseyside who need support with business costs that they would otherwise not be able to afford, 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. 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 fund offers two grant tiers: Start-Up Grants of up to £500 for companies in very early stages or pre-revenue, and Business Grants of up to £2,000 for sole traders or limited companies that have been trading for less than 2.5 years and show significant dedication. The grants can be used for essential equipment, materials, website building, product development, and training, but cannot be used for salaries, debt repayment, rent, utilities, or ongoing subscriptions.