LEAP Small Business Grants

Secure up to £5,000 to help your business become greener
This round of LEAP has now closed as the fund is oversubscribed.

LEAP grants are a small injection of funding aimed at start-ups and small businesses based in Horsham District.

  • Grants of up to £2,000 are available for projects which will help future-proof your business.
  • Green LEAP grants of up to £5,000 are for climate-friendly projects which you can demonstrate will not only help future-proof your business but also achieve your business’ climate ambitions.

Please note: if you are approached by consultants offering to help with your application for a fee, you should contact us first as we are able to offer support for free. If you have any queries including clarity on the process of applying, what constitutes a LEAP or Green LEAP project and further support on connecting the project to achieving your business's climate ambitions through your business plan, please contact our Economic Development Team at BusinessDevelopment@horsham.gov.uk.

Contents

Eligibility requirements

What eligibility requirements must I meet to apply for LEAP funding?

To apply, your business must meet all the following requirements:

  • Be registered with Companies House or HMRC
  • Have less than 20 employees (FTE)
  • Be in Horsham District
  • Able to meet the match funding requirement: Minimum 25% of total project cost
  • Able to provide a fully costed, 3-year business plan. Watch our How to write a Business Plan video to help you do this.

To access up to £5,000 through Green LEAP you must also:

  • Have a climate-friendly business project idea
  • Be able to evidence how the project will help your business achieve its climate ambitions.
  • Have shown in your business plan, how your Green LEAP project is connected. Watch our How to write a Business Plan video to help you do this.
Can I use LEAP funding retrospectively?

No, a LEAP grant cannot go towards project expenditure that was spent prior to the date of application.

I’ve received a LEAP grant before, can I apply again?

Previous LEAP grant recipients are invited to apply, however those already in receipt of two grants will only be able to access a third grant through Green LEAP for a climate-friendly project. Only one Green LEAP grant can be accessed per business.

What types of projects can a LEAP grant fund towards?

Grants of up to £2,000 are for projects which will help future-proof your business.

Eligible project expenditure includes equipment, building works, e-commerce, etc. You can also use LEAP funding to take on an apprentice.

What types of projects can a Green LEAP grant fund towards?

Green LEAP grants of up to £5,000 are for climate-friendly projects which you can demonstrate will not only help future-proof your business but also achieve your business’ climate ambitions. Strong applications will include, but are not limited to:

  • Carbon calculations
  • Detailed evidence of energy saved and how this will be achieved
  • Information on any infrastructure required to facilitate the project

Examples of climate-friendly projects could include, but are not limited to:

  • Switching to LED lighting
  • Reducing water use (e.g., fitting flow restrictors on taps, rainwater harvesting)
  • Creating space for nature at your workplace
  • Insulation
  • Renewable energy solutions (e.g., Solar PV, Ground/Air Source Heat Pumps)
  • Switching to sustainable products/packaging
  • Solutions to help reduce, reuse and recycle waste
  • Installing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points
Image of solar panels on a roof
Solar PV project by local business Jacob's Bagels in Pulborough
What project expenditure is ineligible?

LEAP grants CANNOT fund towards ‘business as usual’ expenditure, planning costs, salaries (unless this is for an apprentice), overheads, rent or stock.

LEAP Success Stories

Be inspired by some examples of how local businesses have been using their LEAP or Green LEAP grants to help future-proof their business.

Read Success Stories

Cabin pressure spirits

Kinder Business Directory: Sustainable suppliers for business

Is your business applying for a Green LEAP grant and seeking local suppliers for your climate-friendly project?

Check out the new Kinder Business Directory, which lists local businesses that offer products or services that can help your business become more sustainable. Developed in collaboration with Kinder Living CIC.

Access the directory

Kinder Business Directory

If your business offers sustainable products or services to other businesses and you would like to be included on the Kinder Business Directory, please email business@kinderliving.co.uk.

Use LEAP funding to take on an apprentice

Where can I access advice on taking on an apprentice?

If you are interested in taking on an apprentice and need some advice, you can:

How much LEAP funding can I access for an apprentice?

LEAP grants of up to £2,000 are available for apprentices currently, subject to funding.

What evidence do I need for my LEAP application?

Any business wanting to take on an apprentice should have a training provider in place and should be able to evidence that an agreement is in place to provide the ‘college’ training. If conducted in house, the trainer would still need to be accredited.

If you do not have evidence for either of those, you must at least be able to demonstrate that an initial discussion with a training provider has taken place and that the course was suitable and available.

Apply for LEAP funding

How do I apply?

Applying is easy.

All you need to do is:

  1. Join the West Sussex Business Hub.
  2. Watch our 'LEAP - How to write a Business Plan' video to help you write your business plan.
  3. Fill in our online application and attach your business plan, when live.
LEAP Small Business Grants
What do I need to include in my application?

In your application you will need to include the following:

  • Details of the project you are applying for and how it will help establish or future-proof your business and achieve your climate ambitions.
  • The timescale of the project you are intending to use the funding for. Please note that successful applicants will be given until March 2025 to complete their projects.
  • A breakdown of how you will use the grant, plus your own financial contributions.
  • Your fully costed, 3-year business plan. If you require business plan advice, please watch our How to write a business plan video. You can also visit the Government website and find more useful links on our Start Up Local page.
When are applicants notified of a decision?

Applicants are notified of a decision within 6 weeks of submitting their application.

Grant money release dates

This round of LEAP has now closed as the fund is oversubscribed.

Further rounds may be announced at a later date, subject to funding.

To make sure you're the first to know when the next LEAP funding round opens, sign up to our Business email newsletter.

Help to write a business plan

Sign up to the West Sussex Business Hub and watch our guidance video where Mike Clare from Intrinsia takes you through how to write a business plan, so you can prepare in advance and apply for a LEAP or Green LEAP grant with confidence. You will need to watch this video to access the online LEAP Application Form.

Watch the video trailer below.

You can also access additional support through our Business Training Programme, including a four-part video series on creating a strategy for business growth and the opportunity to access 1-2-1 support to help build your strategy.

Funded by UK Government

The LEAP Small Business Grant Scheme is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.