Tees Valley Business

Tees Valley ERDF Growth Fund
If you are a Small or medium-sized business based in the Tees Valley catchment area with plans to grow & employ more staff then you may be eligible to access grant funding.
You could access up to 55% grant funding for business improvement projects costing between £1,819 – £90,909 (maximum grant of £49,999).
The Fund is managed by the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
It can support businesses in many ways to help grow their business, improve productivity and stimulate growth.
The grants may be used to buy any of the following:
- Tools or machinery
- Computer equipment
- Premises improvement or expansion – capital works and equipment
- External consultancy
- Business growth planning
- Strategy development
- HR strategy & development
- Marketing plans & activities
- Website design & development
- Product or process development diversification
- Financial planning
- Development of systems & procedures
Small Business Leadership Programme
The Small Business Leadership Programme is a fully-funded programme available to Tees Valley businesses delivered online by Northumbria University business school.
It will provide support through a structured curriculum of 90 minute webinars over the course of 10 weeks with access to small business and management experts. The programme will commence in September 2020.
Participants will create peer groups to develop strategic leadership skills, and the confidence to make informed decisions that boost business performance.
The curriculum explores leadership, innovation, employee engagement, operational efficiency, marketing, sustainable practices, and finance.
For eligibility and further details on the curriculum please follow the link:
For further information and support to apply for any of the grants available please contact:
Business Growth Team
T: +44 (0)1642 444366
E: business@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

High Street Support Scheme
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council are offering grant funding support to enable businesses in selected retail premises across Redcar and Cleveland to set up or make a range of improvements. Funding may be available for:
- Shop frontage or internal works
- Internal work to make your business more sustainable
- Making your property more secure
- Making enhancements to upper floors in our town centres to bring them back into business use
- Shop fitting and other capital elements for businesses setting up in our town centres
Bring your business to … grant
A small grant scheme aimed at new or existing businesses looking to set up in our town centres to support with shop fitting and other capital works.
Funding is capped 80% of the agreed total pre agreed project costs up to a maximum of £10k. Applicants must be engaged with our Business Growth Team.
Click here to download guidelines
Welcome to … grant
A grant to support new and existing businesses who wish to create new quality bed spaces in Redcar and Cleveland to support our tourism and visitor economy. Funding may be available for:
- Refurbishment – bringing rooms back into use
- Conversion of a room into a bedroom
- Extensions for the purpose of creating new bedrooms
- Setting up as an accommodation provider
Council contribution will be capped at 60% of total pre agreed project costs (which cannot exceed £30,000 per application) and must not exceed £5k per new bed space created.
Businesses must engage with Visit England linked to future accreditation.
click here to view guidelines
For more information on the above grants, please contact:
Place Investment Team
T: +44 (0)1642 444494
E: placeinvestment@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
“Routes to Employment” grant
A small grant available to support unemployed residents of the borough or those facing redundancy to start their own business.
The grant is designed to support residents in removing barriers to self-employment. To access the grant, a fully developed business plan including financial documents is required, support can be provided to assist in the development of these documents.
The grant can be used to remove various financial barriers and assist in the purchasing of:
- Insurance
- Marketing materials
- Equipment
- Training/Qualifications
To find out more information on these grants and support to apply please contact:
Ainsley Mullen, Enterprise Advisor
Business Growth Team
T: +44 (0)1642 444366