Locate East Sussex - Financial Assistance

East Sussex is one of the South East Region's prime regeneration areas. In the financial toolkit is a wide selection of assistance to help get businesses started and achieve sustainable growth. In certain areas grants include Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFIE) Tier 3 which can fund up to 15% of eligible capital expenditure. For more information please click on the link which will take you through to a list of financial assistance that may be available to aid in purchasing and fitting-out premises, and in setting up a business.

This document provides information on an indicative basis as a guide to some of the financial assistance which may be available to businesses in East Sussex. The availability of such assistance is dependent upon meeting stipulated eligibility criteria, and this may be changed periodically inline with the restructuring of a scheme, and on there being sufficient uncommitted funds. Locate East Sussex cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information provided or for any omissions.

This is a discretionary grant administered by SEEDA of up to 15% eligible costs of a capital project with small and medium companies only able to apply in East Sussex (i.e up to 250 employees). This could be assistance to purchase a site, improve existing premises, or to purchase machinery etc.

Aim to help small firms with viable business proposals, who have tried to obtain a conventional loan but failed. They are provided through banks and other financial institutions.

Financial assistance may be available to companies wishing to move freight by inland waterways, reducing road traffic movements. The Water Freight Facilities Grant is for companies within Great Britain that wish to move freight by inland waterway instead of by road, and are seeking to invest in new freight handling facilities (or re-invest in existing ones). Value of proposed works and grant award is calculated according to environmental benefit - a measure of lorry miles removed from the road due to freight being moved by water. This discretionary Grant award is calculated using the value of environmental benefit and the need for financial support, determined by a financial appraisal.

(“FSELM”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Finance South East Limited, which in turn was established by the South East England Development Agency. The FSE Accelerator Fund is a £10 million mezzanine loan fund set up to fund small and medium sized companies with the potential for significant growth (early stage, expansion or transition).

This grant, administered by SEEDA, enables the conversion of redundant farm buildings for a variety of uses including light industrial/workshops, office accommodation, self catering and B&B accommodation, children’s nursery and stables livery.

SEEDA can provide financial support for the refurbishment of redundant rural buildings to bring them back into productive business use or to enhance their current business use.

This scheme provides assistance for projects that help to develop more sustainable diversified and enterprising rural economies and communities. The primary aim is to help farmers adapt to changing markets and develop new business opportunities.

A loan scheme provided as a Community Development Finance Initiative (CDFI) aimed at helping micro, small and medium enterprises and social enterprises in order to achieve positive social change and to bring wealth to disadvantaged communities.

A CDFI is an organisation created to tackle financial exclusion and encourage entrepreneurship by making finance available to people who cannot access loans or credit from banks or building societies.

Loans may be provided to assist businesses and social enterprises start up and, if established, to grow and prosper. Once the loan has been provided we will provide invaluable mentoring support throughout the term of the loan.