Cardiff Council

Cardiff Council provides discretionary financial assistance for new-start and existing businesses and inward investors to support expansion, job creation and innovation. Support is targeted at knowledge based sectors identified by the Council’s Economic Development Strategy including ICT, Bio / Life Sciences, Creative Industries, Financial & Business Services, Manufacturing and Green Technologies. (Support is not offered to retail businesses or those serving purely local markets).

Examples of the type of assistance that could be available to CBTC tenants is outlined below:

Business Development Credit: The Business Development Credit is a grant of £5,000, based on a 50% contribution, available to companies accepted for entry to CBTC towards the cost of strategic business development. This includes items such as business plans, marketing strategies or the acquisition of specialist expertise.

Business Planning or Feasibility Study Grant: Grants of up to £5,000 based on a 50% contribution may be available towards the costs of professional fees incurred in preparing business plans or feasibility studies required to raise large amounts of finance, for example from banks or private investors.

Marketing Grant: Grants of up to £5,000 based on a 50% contribution may be made available towards the professional fees incurred in preparing a Marketing Plan or Strategy in order to promote new products and services. This grant may also be used towards marketing activity, for example materials, exhibitions and campaigns.

Capital Cardiff New Enterprise Start-Up Grant: grants of up to £5,000 based on a 30% contribution towards capital expenditure, which includes equipment, machinery, works to premises, IT infrastructure, Development of IP and R&D. Eligible companies should be under 2 years old and creating at least 3 new jobs over a two year period.

Capital Cardiff Investment Fund: Loans of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available based on a 30% contribution towards project costs. Eligible expenditure includes equipment, machinery, works to premises, IT infrastructure, Development of IP and R&D. Varying repayment periods are available including small capital holidays. Loans are available to both new start and established companies with job creation forecasts.

Capital Cardiff Equity: investment of up to £50,000 is available for innovative, high growth companies that fall into the key sectors. The fund would only look to invest on a top-up / gap basis alongside organisations such as Finance Wales, Fusion IP, Xenos, UK Steel Enterprise, Mackintosh Capital or consortia of private investors.

For further information contact the Business & investment team on 02920 871412 or email businessadvice@cardiff.gov.uk.