Business Section!Business
Business Finance
 
Finance and grant initiatives are available at a number of levels for firms wishing to expand or those looking for initial funding to get a business idea underway.
 
Crewe Development Agency
Provides financial assistance to all sizes of organisations within the Borough. Unsecured loans can be provided for up to 50% of the eligible capital expenditure of the product. The Development agency can be contacted through the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce. For more information please contact:

South Cheshire Chamber
Enterprise House
Wistaston Road Business Centre
Crewe
CW2 7RP
Les Briers
01270 504700
www.southcheshirechamber.org.uk/
 
Selective Finance Initiative: Tier 3 funding is avialable in selected areas of the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich. To be eligible the business must be small (typically less than 50 employees) or medium (50 to 249 employees) and eligible project costs of up to £1,500,000. The amount of grant eligible is 15% gross for a small enterprise up to £100,000; 7.5% for medium enterprises up to a maximum of £100,000. The funding is administered through the North West Development Agency. For more information click here.
 
North West Development Agency
http://www.nwda.co.uk/ 
Additionally a number of regional grants are available, subject to qualifying criteria. Cheshire County Grants Database - click here to access the Cheshire County Council grants and loans section. This provides information on funding schemes available on both a national and local level in addition to grants and loans information that maybe available with preferential terms.
 
Cheshire 4 Business
www.open4business.cc/cheshire 
The Small Firms Loan Guarantee scheme enables a business to get a loan which would otherwise be turned down because of lack of security. Loans range between two and ten years and for sums between £5,000 and £100,000 for new businesses or up to £250,000 if a business has been trading for more than two years. The government guarantees 75% of the loan, for which the borrower pays the government a two percent premium. To apply for the scheme applications are made directly to one of the participating banks or lenders. For more information, including an information booklet please visit:
 
Small Firms Loan Guarantee
www.dti.gov.uk/sflg/
The following sources provide further information:
 
Business Link
Grants and Business Support including the Business Support Directory
www.businesslink.gov.uk/support  
 
j4b
Find grants and loans for your business
www.j4b.co.uk/ 
 
Princes Trust
Financial support and advice
www.princes-trust.org.uk/
01727 813769