High Peak Accelerator

Introducing High Peak Accelerator

High Peak Accelerator is a fully funded business support project, designed to help businesses across the High Peak to start, sustain, grow and innovate through a range of different support.

The project is led by East Midlands Chamber and funded through a proportion of the District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocation. The project, which runs until 31 March 2025, offers support to all businesses across the district, with added support for high-growth and scaling businesses looking to innovate.

What support can I access?

Working with an experienced business adviser, eligible businesses can access a range of support including:

• 1-2-1 advice, mentoring and diagnostic support on areas of relevance to your business.
• Training and workshops: providing you with the latest learning and tools in areas such as digital skills.
• Grant funding: helping you identify and apply for funding to help you grow, increase efficiencies and build a sustainable business for the future.
• Networking and peer support: for example, through East Midlands Manufacturing Network which has a dedicated Dales and Peak forum. 
• Energy saving and improvement audits providing you with a full asset register and an action plan on how to save costs.
• Growth vouchers: all now allocated.
• Help to Grow - Management course: £750 joining fee subsidy for this 12-week executive development leadership and management programme (together with the Government’s 90% support, this covers 100% of the costs).

Energy Audit or Decarbonisation Grants

Investing in measures to reduce your energy costs and becoming greener really does pay dividends when it comes to future-proofing your business.

There are two immediate ways in which the Accelerator project can help you:

1. Reviewing your business’s energy consumption through an energy audit. Our expert consultant will review your gas and electricity bills as well as fuel consumption if you have a large fleet of vehicles. They’ll conduct a site visit using equipment such as cameras, infrared temperature sensors, energy monitors and temperature data loggers to collect information and collate it into an energy savings opportunity report.
   
   Once you have this intel, you can start to implement the appropriate changes or use it as supporting evidence for a decarbonisation grant application.
    
2. Our Decarbonisation Grant offers a capital grant of up to £20,000 towards agreed energy-saving measures. Funded at 50% of costs, the grant can be used to increase productivity, purchase equipment, introduce new processes and techniques, export, and introduce new products or services.
   
   Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

To register your interest in either the energy audit or decarbonisation grant, please complete the Expression of Interest form.

SME Innovation and Growth Grant Funding

Grants up to £10,000 are available to SMEs located within High Peak Borough Council area, who are looking to grow their businesses through innovation.

Funding may be used to support all areas of business innovation leading to the creation of new products, services, markets, and an increase in employment (new jobs).

Deadline for applications is 10th November 2024

Rural Business Development Grant Funding

Capital Equipment Grants of up to £10,000 are offered to established Rural businesses located within High Peak who are looking to grow or diversify.

Funding is available to support all areas of rural business development leading to the creation of new jobs, products, services and markets, and to help boost community cohesion.

Deadline for applications is 10th November 2024

Click here for full details on both of the above grants or if you have any questions, please email ukspf@highpeak.gov.uk

How do I sign up?

Tapping into the support on offer couldn’t be easier.

If your business is based in the High Peak area, simply complete the form below to register your interest, and a Business Adviser will be in touch to learn more about your business and to explore what support is most appropriate for you.

Accelerator Events

Find out more about the programme through our range of events covering the following themes:

• Email Marketing, CRM and Automation
• Finance & Funding
• HR & Employment Law
• Leadership & Management
• Marketing
• Organic Search
• Paid Digital Advertising
• Sales
• Social Media & Content Marketing
• Sustainability
• Website & eCommerce

Visit our Events Page to find out more about the full programme of Accelerator events

*The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6b 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.

Find Out More

If you would like to know more about the support available from D2N2 Growth Hub, please complete the form below.