Funding
West Northants is an area where funding for businesses is and will always be a top priority. Employers in this area have benefited from a variety of funding streams over recent years to increase productivity & innovation, to progress to net zero and to expand and scale.
For 2025-2026, West Northants has received £1.8m of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and £410k of Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).
The South Midlands Capital Growth Grant
This new round of grant funding has been created to help South Midlands businesses invest in innovation, adopt new technologies and unlock new opportunities.
Grants available range from £500 – £25,000.
These new capital match-funded grants have been created to support new products and/or services, reduce carbon emissions and help companies safeguard and create jobs. The South Midlands Capital Growth Grants will cover a maximum of 50% of the total price of the project.
Businesses interested in applying are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to the Growth Hub, outlining the project and the amount of funding required.
CLOSED for 2026.
Connect to Work
West Northamptonshire Council is proud to lead the Connect to Work Programme as the Accountable Body for the South Midlands region.
Connect to Work is a voluntary employment support programme that helps people with disabilities, health conditions, or other barriers to find and keep sustainable employment, running for the next 12 months delivering personalised, person centred, one-to-one support to help people find and retain jobs.
Whether you are looking to return to work, start a new career, or gain the skills and confidence to take your next step, Connect to Work is here to support you.
Skills Bootcamp is a flexible, short-term training programme covering up to 90% of the cost of training for SME’s and up to 70% for larger employers.
Those over 19 years old either looking for work, to gain new skills while employed or self-employed can apply. Training is focused across six key sectors:
- Construction
- Transport & Logistics
- Life Sciences
- Leadership & Management
- Digital & Technology
- Hospitality & Tourism
British Business Bank
The British Business Bank is powering UK growth by helping small businesses to prosper and grow. Small businesses are crucial to the UKs economy and the Bank, backed by the government our mission driven helping smaller businesses get the finance they need to start, scale and stay in the UK.
Encouraging lending through Start Up Loans for new entrepreneurs and Government-backed guarantees that reduce risk for finance providers, making them more willing to lend.