Small Business Grants

Bit of a long shot but it's an idea that has just popped into my head. I have worked for myself for the past 18 months but working for mainly a charity. Things have changed there and although, I am still going to get work from them, I have been thinking about my future and expanding where I get the work from.

I have sort of trundled along just sticking invoices in every now and then and the work has been sporadic but at certain times - grouse shooting season I get a lot, January-March I get a bit, and then the grouse counts come and I am doing a lot this year. I'm hoping to get some mapping work from April-June as I did some last year, then the grouse counting in July, and then back to August.

For the grouse counts, I really need a 4wd as I need to drive along moorland tracks to save me a hell of a lot of walking. Looking at hiring, it isn't much more to actually buy one. Here's the stumbling block - I don't have the money to buy, or hire one at the moment.

I was bringing Dusty in, and brushing her, and had a bit of a thought, like you do when doing jobs like that, and I thought about small business grants, specifically rural ones (maybe this should be in the rural area). Anyway, does anyone have any experience of them? I have googled and just got a bit confused but imagine I need to start contacting people. However, I don't want to contact people without having a little bit of knowledge.

I am a VERY small business, only earning £2500 in the first year but earning a bit more than that in the second year. It's enough to keep me off the dole anyway!

I would really appreciate any pointers that anyone may have.

Thanks
Helen

Hi Helen, there are grants available in Wales at the mo, but they are usually given based on two things:

Whether you can create jobs
That you match the funding with your own money

I might be worth getting in touch with your local chamber of commerce - they usually know if grants are available in your area.

Good luck!

Thanks. I certainly won't be able to create any jobs but matching the grant may be an option later on in the year during my busy period.

I'll see what I can find for here.

Thanks.

Helen