Derby Accelerator

Introducing Derby Accelerator

Derby Accelerator is a fully funded business support project, designed to help businesses across the city of Derby to start, sustain, grow and innovate.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)* and East Midlands Chamber. It is worth £1.6m and is being delivered by the Chamber and is managed by Derby City Council.

The project, which runs until 31 March 2025, offers support to all Derby City businesses, regardless of their stage of development.

What support can I access?

Working with a seasoned 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:
  • Start-Up Grants of up to £2,499 at an intervention rate of 100% for pre-starts that require funds to launch or develop their new business. The grant can fund revenue items such as website development, marketing support and collateral, brand identity, IT and office equipment.
  • Business Growth and Innovation Grants: revenue and capital grants of between £2,500 and £20,000 at an intervention rate of 50% to fund business innovation and growth opportunities linked to the creation of jobs, new to the firm's technology or processes, access to new markets or decarbonisation. Projects must create or safeguard at least one new FTE job.
  • Business Growth & Innovation Wage Subsidy: 50% of costs up to a maximum of £20,000 to cover the costs of a new employee up to and including 31st December 2024.
  • High Street Capital Grant: businesses on the high street looking to fund the cost of shop and business frontage improvements may be eligible to apply for a grant of up to £2,499 at an intervention rate of 100%. Projects must create or safeguard at least one new FTE job.
• Networking and peer support: for example, through the East Midlands Manufacturing Network
• Energy audits
• Growth vouchers: offering up to £2,000 (100% funded) for specialist consultancy and training (linked to the strategic plan developed with your business adviser. Available on a first-come, first-served basis).
• 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).
• Innovation Support: offering a range of dedicated innovation workshops and grants, including Access to Angel and Investor Networks through the University of Derby's Innovation Accelerator

How do I sign up?

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

If your business is based in the Derby City Council 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
• Website & eCommerce
• Sustainability

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.