UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and will provide funding over the next 2 years up until March 2025. Its mix of revenue and capital funding that can be used to support a wide range of interventions to build pride in place and improve life chances.
The UKSPF aims to achieve this through three investment priorities:
- Community and Place
- Supporting Local Business
- People and Skills (including adult numeracy)
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund Prospectus provides a comprehensive overview of the fund.
Shared Prosperity Fund in Carmarthenshire
The Fund will provide an additional £32m additional investment to help deliver against some of Carmarthenshire’s key strategic objectives. A further £6.6 million will be made available for adult numeracy initiatives through Multiply.
The Shared Prosperity Fund will provide new opportunities for local communities, support the development and growth of local businesses as well as supporting the recovery of our town centres.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and will provide funding over the next 2 years up until March 2025. Its mix of revenue and capital funding that can be used to support a wide range of interventions to build pride in place and improve life chances.
The UKSPF aims to achieve this through three investment priorities:
- Community and Place
- Supporting Local Business
- People and Skills (including adult numeracy)
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund Prospectus provides a comprehensive overview of the fund.
Shared Prosperity Fund in Carmarthenshire
The Fund will provide an additional £32m additional investment to help deliver against some of Carmarthenshire’s key strategic objectives. A further £6.6 million will be made available for adult numeracy initiatives through Multiply.
The Shared Prosperity Fund will provide new opportunities for local communities, support the development and growth of local businesses as well as supporting the recovery of our town centres.
Shared Prosperity Fund opportunities
Sustainable Communities Fund
Rural Innovation Fund
Developing Place
Supporting Local Businesses
See how funding will be delivered in Carmarthenshire
Useful Links and Documents
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund: outputs and outcomes definitions
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund Additional Information
- Carmarthenshire Local Investment Plan
- Regional Investment Plan
- Carmarthenshire Economic Recovery & Delivery Plan
- Carmarthenshire Innovation Strategy
- South West Wales Regional Economic Delivery Plan
Shared Prosperity Fund opportunities
Sustainable Communities Fund
Rural Innovation Fund
Developing Place
Supporting Local Businesses
See how funding will be delivered in Carmarthenshire
Useful Links and Documents
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund: outputs and outcomes definitions
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund Additional Information
- Carmarthenshire Local Investment Plan
- Regional Investment Plan
- Carmarthenshire Economic Recovery & Delivery Plan
- Carmarthenshire Innovation Strategy
- South West Wales Regional Economic Delivery Plan
Rural Innovation Fund
Carmarthenshire’s Rural Innovation Fund is designed to get local people, businesses and communities involved in delivering sustainable, yet innovative solutions to address some of the economic, social and environmental challenges facing rural areas.
This revenue fund provides an opportunity for organisations delivering services or working with rural communities to pilot new ways of working or trial ideas that tackle rural issues aligned with key identified priorities.
Only organisations delivering in rural wards are eligible to apply. Please check whether your delivery area is eligible.
Eligible activity
- Facilitation - support to organisations and groups to help them develop their own skills and expertise.
- Pilot Projects – small scale and time limited activities (no longer than 12 months) aimed at testing out a concept
- Research – revenue costs for a combination of staff time and consultancy costs to undertake the background research for a specific problem or issue
Who can apply?
- Constituted Voluntary and Community Groups
- Registered Charities
- Not for profit organisations
- Social Enterprises
- Local branches of national third sector organisations can apply using the parent body’s Constitution but must have their own local Bank Account.
- Town and Community Councils can apply for community projects that are additional to normal statutory responsibilities which will benefit the community.
- Public Sector Bodies
- Education establishments
What is on offer?
- Maximum award of £45k
- Maximum 12-month delivery period
Application Pack
- Call 1 - Closing Date: 29/03/2023 - Budget allocated for Call: £250k NOW CLOSED
- Call 2 - Closing Date: 26/04/2023 - Budget allocated for Call: £250k NOW CLOSED
- Call 3 - Closing Date: 29/09/2023 - Budget allocated for Call: Amount subject to remaining unallocated budget
To discuss your proposed project, please e-mail RDPSirGAR@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Rural Innovation Fund
Carmarthenshire’s Rural Innovation Fund is designed to get local people, businesses and communities involved in delivering sustainable, yet innovative solutions to address some of the economic, social and environmental challenges facing rural areas.
This revenue fund provides an opportunity for organisations delivering services or working with rural communities to pilot new ways of working or trial ideas that tackle rural issues aligned with key identified priorities.
Only organisations delivering in rural wards are eligible to apply. Please check whether your delivery area is eligible.
Eligible activity
- Facilitation - support to organisations and groups to help them develop their own skills and expertise.
- Pilot Projects – small scale and time limited activities (no longer than 12 months) aimed at testing out a concept
- Research – revenue costs for a combination of staff time and consultancy costs to undertake the background research for a specific problem or issue
Who can apply?
- Constituted Voluntary and Community Groups
- Registered Charities
- Not for profit organisations
- Social Enterprises
- Local branches of national third sector organisations can apply using the parent body’s Constitution but must have their own local Bank Account.
- Town and Community Councils can apply for community projects that are additional to normal statutory responsibilities which will benefit the community.
- Public Sector Bodies
- Education establishments
What is on offer?
- Maximum award of £45k
- Maximum 12-month delivery period
Application Pack
- Call 1 - Closing Date: 29/03/2023 - Budget allocated for Call: £250k NOW CLOSED
- Call 2 - Closing Date: 26/04/2023 - Budget allocated for Call: £250k NOW CLOSED
- Call 3 - Closing Date: 29/09/2023 - Budget allocated for Call: Amount subject to remaining unallocated budget
To discuss your proposed project, please e-mail RDPSirGAR@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Sustainable Communities Fund
Minimum grant award: £10k
Maximum grant award £250k
Aim of the fund:
The aim of the Sustainable Communities Fund is to provide the necessary support to help strengthen the social fabric of communities, building pride in place whilst also delivering direct and/or indirect economic benefit.
The project will provide financial support through the delivery of a grant scheme which will support capital and revenue investments.
The grant will focus on the following themes which have been identified as a priority within the County’s Strategic Investment Plan
- Tackling poverty
- Circular Economy
- Wellbeing / Leisure
- Access to Services
- Environment and Green
- Tourism, Culture / Heritage
- Community Engagement
Capital and revenue funding up to a maximum £250,000 will be made available.
Eligible projects
The following are examples of the type of eligible activities that may be considered for funding:
- Funding for new, or improvements to existing, community and neighbourhood infrastructure including local green spaces
- Support for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities.
- Support for active travel enhancement and other small-scale green transport infrastructure projects.
- Funding for the development and promotion of wider campaigns and year-round experiences which encourage people to visit and explore the local area.
- Funding for impactful volunteering and/or social action
- Funding for local sports facilities
- Investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for community groups.
- Community measures to reduce the cost of living including measures to improve energy efficiency, and combat fuel poverty and climate change.
- Funding to support relevant feasibility studies.
- Investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities
Eligible organisations:
- Constituted Voluntary and Community Groups
- Registered Charities
- Not for profit organisations
- Social Enterprises
- Local branches of national third sector organisations can apply using the parent body’s Constitution but must have their own local Bank Account.
- Town and Community Councils can apply for community projects that are additional to normal statutory responsibilities which will benefit the community.
- Public Bodies
Application Deadlines
1st call for applications – now closed
2nd call for applications – now closed
3rd call for applications – now closed
4th call for applications – deadline 19 January, 2024
Application Pack
For applications between £10,000 and £50,000
For applications between £50,000 and £250,000
To discuss your proposed project, please e-mail Bureau@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Sustainable Communities Fund
Minimum grant award: £10k
Maximum grant award £250k
Aim of the fund:
The aim of the Sustainable Communities Fund is to provide the necessary support to help strengthen the social fabric of communities, building pride in place whilst also delivering direct and/or indirect economic benefit.
The project will provide financial support through the delivery of a grant scheme which will support capital and revenue investments.
The grant will focus on the following themes which have been identified as a priority within the County’s Strategic Investment Plan
- Tackling poverty
- Circular Economy
- Wellbeing / Leisure
- Access to Services
- Environment and Green
- Tourism, Culture / Heritage
- Community Engagement
Capital and revenue funding up to a maximum £250,000 will be made available.
Eligible projects
The following are examples of the type of eligible activities that may be considered for funding:
- Funding for new, or improvements to existing, community and neighbourhood infrastructure including local green spaces
- Support for local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities.
- Support for active travel enhancement and other small-scale green transport infrastructure projects.
- Funding for the development and promotion of wider campaigns and year-round experiences which encourage people to visit and explore the local area.
- Funding for impactful volunteering and/or social action
- Funding for local sports facilities
- Investment in capacity building and infrastructure support for community groups.
- Community measures to reduce the cost of living including measures to improve energy efficiency, and combat fuel poverty and climate change.
- Funding to support relevant feasibility studies.
- Investment and support for digital infrastructure for local community facilities
Eligible organisations:
- Constituted Voluntary and Community Groups
- Registered Charities
- Not for profit organisations
- Social Enterprises
- Local branches of national third sector organisations can apply using the parent body’s Constitution but must have their own local Bank Account.
- Town and Community Councils can apply for community projects that are additional to normal statutory responsibilities which will benefit the community.
- Public Bodies
Application Deadlines
1st call for applications – now closed
2nd call for applications – now closed
3rd call for applications – now closed
4th call for applications – deadline 19 January, 2024
Application Pack
For applications between £10,000 and £50,000
For applications between £50,000 and £250,000
To discuss your proposed project, please e-mail Bureau@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
Supporting Local Businesses
The Supporting Local Business anchor consists of three key elements –
Business start-up and growth grants
As part of their ongoing commitment to supporting economic development and businesses throughout these challenging times, Carmarthenshire County council are delivering Carmarthenshire Business Growth & Recovery Grant which is funded by the UK Government via the Shared Prosperity Fund.
The aim of the grant intervention is to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems and supporting businesses at all stages of their development to start, sustain, grow, and innovate, including through local networks.
- Grants available between £1000 and £10,000.
- Grants of up to £50,000 can be considered on a case by case basis for applications which clearly demonstrate innovation, Research and Development and/or future proofing projects linked to the local innovation strategy
- Each grant award will be based on 50% of eligible costs or a maximum of £5000 per job created and/or £5000 per job safeguarded, whichever is the lesser. (At least one new job must be created and/or one full time equivalent (FTE) job safeguarded, in order to access the grant)
Apply for the Business Start-Up Grant
Apply for the Business Growth and Recovery Fund
Property Development Fund
The Carmarthenshire Commercial Property Development Fund can provide financial assistance for developers towards the construction of industrial and commercial buildings with the primary aim of creating capacity for employment in Carmarthenshire which is funded by the UK Government via the Shared Prosperity Fund. Up to £750,000 is available for eligible projects at an intervention rate of up to 45%.
Priority will be given to applications that will provide tangible benefits to the local economy in terms of:
- Quantity and quality of jobs accommodated/ created
- Area of floor space created
- Amount of land developed
- Number of SMEs accommodated
- Impact of the development on the Welsh Language
- Number of enterprises adopting or improving equality strategies & monitoring systems.
The funding aims to meet the financial gap between the construction costs and the completed market value of the property. The incentive on offer is aimed at stimulating the supply of high-quality business premises within Carmarthenshire by offering funding towards high quality industrial units or office accommodation.
Apply for the Property Development Fund
Business Renewable Energy Fund
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting economic development and businesses throughout these challenging times, as well as becoming net zero carbon by 2030, Carmarthenshire County Council is delivering the Carmarthenshire Business Renewable Energy Fund. The Fund will be a third-party grant scheme, which will provide capital support to businesses towards the purchase of renewable energy systems for their business premises.
The aim of the fund is to support local businesses to be sustainable during these challenging times, to provide assistance for them to grow and prosper whilst helping them on their net zero carbon journey.
- Grants available between £1,000 (minimum) and £25,000 (maximum) towards the cost of the renewable energy system
- Each grant award will be based on no more than 50% of eligible costs
Supporting Local Businesses
The Supporting Local Business anchor consists of three key elements –
Business start-up and growth grants
As part of their ongoing commitment to supporting economic development and businesses throughout these challenging times, Carmarthenshire County council are delivering Carmarthenshire Business Growth & Recovery Grant which is funded by the UK Government via the Shared Prosperity Fund.
The aim of the grant intervention is to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems and supporting businesses at all stages of their development to start, sustain, grow, and innovate, including through local networks.
- Grants available between £1000 and £10,000.
- Grants of up to £50,000 can be considered on a case by case basis for applications which clearly demonstrate innovation, Research and Development and/or future proofing projects linked to the local innovation strategy
- Each grant award will be based on 50% of eligible costs or a maximum of £5000 per job created and/or £5000 per job safeguarded, whichever is the lesser. (At least one new job must be created and/or one full time equivalent (FTE) job safeguarded, in order to access the grant)
Apply for the Business Start-Up Grant
Apply for the Business Growth and Recovery Fund
Property Development Fund
The Carmarthenshire Commercial Property Development Fund can provide financial assistance for developers towards the construction of industrial and commercial buildings with the primary aim of creating capacity for employment in Carmarthenshire which is funded by the UK Government via the Shared Prosperity Fund. Up to £750,000 is available for eligible projects at an intervention rate of up to 45%.
Priority will be given to applications that will provide tangible benefits to the local economy in terms of:
- Quantity and quality of jobs accommodated/ created
- Area of floor space created
- Amount of land developed
- Number of SMEs accommodated
- Impact of the development on the Welsh Language
- Number of enterprises adopting or improving equality strategies & monitoring systems.
The funding aims to meet the financial gap between the construction costs and the completed market value of the property. The incentive on offer is aimed at stimulating the supply of high-quality business premises within Carmarthenshire by offering funding towards high quality industrial units or office accommodation.
Apply for the Property Development Fund
Business Renewable Energy Fund
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting economic development and businesses throughout these challenging times, as well as becoming net zero carbon by 2030, Carmarthenshire County Council is delivering the Carmarthenshire Business Renewable Energy Fund. The Fund will be a third-party grant scheme, which will provide capital support to businesses towards the purchase of renewable energy systems for their business premises.
The aim of the fund is to support local businesses to be sustainable during these challenging times, to provide assistance for them to grow and prosper whilst helping them on their net zero carbon journey.
- Grants available between £1,000 (minimum) and £25,000 (maximum) towards the cost of the renewable energy system
- Each grant award will be based on no more than 50% of eligible costs
Developing Place
Refreshing Town Centre Fund
The Refreshing Town Centre Fund is focused on external improvements to the facades of buildings to improve the visual landscape in the town centres. The fund will be available within the defined red line boundary within the towns of Ammanford, Carmarthen, Llanelli, and Burry Port.
The funding for works to the property will only be available to owners of the freehold or to tenants holding an unexpired term of seven years from proposed date of completion. Leaseholders will have to secure their landlord’s written consent to the proposed works.
The minimum fund awarded £500 whilst the maximum will be £2,000 with an intervention rate of 80%. Eligible works include:
- Decorating façade of building
- Cleaning of guttering
- Replacement of damaged guttering / downpipes
- Renewal of rendering
- Window treatment / replacement
APPLY FOR THE REFRESHING TOWN CENTRE FUND
Events Fund
Working with the Business Improvement Districts and Town Councils within the primary town centres funding will be available to support events and enhance the existing calendar and pilot new events within the primary town centres of Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli. The maximum amount awarded will be £4,000 per event based on a 70% intervention rate.
The purpose of the fund is to increase the number of visitor numbers to the town centres and improve perception of events.
How to apply
To discuss your proposed project and request an application form, please e-mail Towns@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
These projects are part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit Gov.uk.
Developing Place
Refreshing Town Centre Fund
The Refreshing Town Centre Fund is focused on external improvements to the facades of buildings to improve the visual landscape in the town centres. The fund will be available within the defined red line boundary within the towns of Ammanford, Carmarthen, Llanelli, and Burry Port.
The funding for works to the property will only be available to owners of the freehold or to tenants holding an unexpired term of seven years from proposed date of completion. Leaseholders will have to secure their landlord’s written consent to the proposed works.
The minimum fund awarded £500 whilst the maximum will be £2,000 with an intervention rate of 80%. Eligible works include:
- Decorating façade of building
- Cleaning of guttering
- Replacement of damaged guttering / downpipes
- Renewal of rendering
- Window treatment / replacement
APPLY FOR THE REFRESHING TOWN CENTRE FUND
Events Fund
Working with the Business Improvement Districts and Town Councils within the primary town centres funding will be available to support events and enhance the existing calendar and pilot new events within the primary town centres of Ammanford, Carmarthen and Llanelli. The maximum amount awarded will be £4,000 per event based on a 70% intervention rate.
The purpose of the fund is to increase the number of visitor numbers to the town centres and improve perception of events.
How to apply
To discuss your proposed project and request an application form, please e-mail Towns@carmarthenshire.gov.uk
These projects are part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit Gov.uk.
