The deadline for applications is 5pm on 26 February 2027 although the fund will close to applications sooner if fully committed.
- Application forms are issued by the Council’s Business Gateway service after an initial discussion to confirm your suitability for this grant. In the first instance you should complete the Business Funding Enquiry Form
- Grants are awarded at Argyll and Bute Council’s discretion.
- Any payment received is taxable and must be declared to HMRC as appropriate as part of the tax return for the business
- Any costs incurred or committed to prior to a written offer of grant being issued and accepted are ineligible
- Only one application per business can be made
- Where there is more than one owner of the business, for example in a partnership or limited company, details of all the other individuals involved in the business must be provided
- Each application will be assessed on its individual circumstances. The Council reserves the right to determine whether a business constitutes a genuinely new venture.
What we mean by a “Genuinely New” venture
The grant is designed to support businesses that are creating new economic activity, rather than continuing or re-establishing an existing business or self-employment. You cannot apply for this New Business Grant if you are already self-employed as a sole trader, a partner in a partnership; or a Director of a Group of Limited Companies, even if this is part-time.
- If you have previously been self-employed, you will normally not be eligible to apply for a New Business Grant unless you have not generated any income from self-employment during both the current and previous tax year. You will be required to provide evidence of this through your most recent tax return
- If you are already a Director of a Limited Company and are setting up a new Limited Company, you will only be eligible to apply for a New Business Grant where the new Limited Company is a) Taking on new business premises or new full-time staff b) Not within a Group of Companies and c) There is no substantially similar activity with your established Limited Company
- Directors of a Group of Companies are not eligible to apply for a New Business Grant to establish a new company within that Group. In these circumstances, you should instead explore eligibility for a Small Business Development Grant at Group level.
- You will be ineligible if your new business is substantially similar to a business you already operate or previously operated; has simply changed name or legal structure; eg from sole trader to Limited Company; is restarting a previous business activity; or involves taking over an existing business with limited change.
You should read the terms and conditions before making an application.
