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Who can apply?

What criteria you and your business should meet in order to apply for funding through this scheme.

SME Status

You must be a small or medium sized enterprise, and not have previously received funding from Round 1 of this scheme.

[Sole traders, Limited Liability companies, CICs & Partnerships are also elegible.]

Established & in Harlow

Your business must be based in the district of Harlow, Essex and have been trading for at least 1 year at the time of application.

You must also possess a UK Bank Account in the name of the Company.

Financially stable

Your Company must be able to cover the entire project cost, upfront. You will reimbursed for the Granted amount, upon submitting proof of payment of all relevant invoices.

You should not be insolvent.

Local business matters.

“Supporting local businesses here in Harlow is an important part of this council’s mission. Enabling our local businesses to more effectively navigate the digital landscape, so that they can continue to succeed, is extremely important to us. That’s why I’m proud to be announcing the next round of our Digital Boost Grants, which will provide Harlow businesses with thousands of pounds to strengthen their digital offering.”

Councillor Michael Hardware

[Cabinet portfolio holder for economic development]

What does the Boost Grant fund?

Understanding where your idea(s) can fit into all of this.

Websites & Mobile apps:

  • If your business has been operating happily without a digital window – but you’re now starting to feel that it’s time to move online – then the Harlow Boost Grant could be your perfect opportunity. The grant offers individuals and SMEs alike a springboard to getting online with a dynamic website or mobile app without the full financial heartache. Websites can be anything from a 1-page introduction to you and you services, or a simple interactive booking form, to a full-suite brochure site showcasing your work. A mobile app on the other hand could see you condensing an existing website down into a system that people can connect with your business whilst on the go, or give you the opportunity to explore something entirely new.

E-commerce platforms:

  • Think shop, but without the brick & mortar. It’s not actually as complex as you may think in taking your inventory and products live and into the digital space – and there are a whole series of benefits in doing so. A simple e-commerce website can open your shop up to a whole new customer base and also offer you deeper insights into which of your products are most viewed, valuable to consumers, or are on stock-watch.

Custom-to-requirement type systems [MISs, CRMs and more]:

  • Is your business looking for a piece of software to add to the arsenal to automate an annoyingly repetitive, or cripplingly slow process? Or are you simply looking for a system to database & share your client projects amongst all your team members? A custom-to-requirement system is a perfect example of a development which could be funded for the benefit of your business and customer client base.

Search engine optimisation [SEO]:

  • A sad reality of the digital world is that you can have the most practical product out there, showcased in a visually stunning and content rich website, YET very few people know about it. Welcome to the world of SEO: the missing link between a top-shelf product or service and getting it seen. The Harlow Grant provides the opportunity for you to have your existing site content reviewed and re-written to ensure it’s “hitting the mark” – whilst also giving you the chance to fold in some pretty nifty software & tools to support the ongoing maintenance & support of your SEO ranking.

Wildcards:

  • Don’t exactly see what you’re looking for above – or have something a bit funky, edgy or a whole lot different in mind? The grant team are willing to explore funding opportunities for those less traditional developments, so long as they fit under the digital service umbrella. Why not ask us for our opinion on your idea and find out whether it meets the requirements?

Money matters:

This is a match funding scheme.

What does that mean for you? A match funding scheme means that you must match the amount awarded to you under the grant, with your own funds.

i.e should you win £1,000 under the grant, you must commit £1,000 of your own own money to accompany this.

£2,500 is the maximum award under this scheme.

What is not covered by the fund:

Hardware

Sorry, this includes the purchase and / or hire of any physical hardware.

Pre-existing Technology & Systems

If you’ve already done the work to craft and build your own website, database or mobile app, then the grant will not retroactively cover this. They will also not cover any associated maintenance costs for pre-existing systems.

Recurring costs & subscriptions

These include business & operating costs such as: salaries, rent, utilities and domain purchasing.

Marketing & Consultancy

Although SEO is covered by the grant, paid advertising (Google Adwords, Facebook ads, etc.) is not. Furthermore, the grant will not cover additional consultancy expenditure.

Ready to apply?

Why not schedule a meeting with us to go through your idea.