Young people in Devon can now apply for personal and business Grants worth up to £2,000!

The South West Enterprise Fund is now awarding Grants to 16-30 year olds in Devon; helping them get into training and employment, or set up their own business…

Are you currently not in employment or training?
Do you want to start your own business?
Are you a young entrepreneur?

Together with the South West Enterprise Fund, and the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, we are providing opportunities for young people in Devon to access two different Grants; to support them into training and employment, and with establishing/developing their own business.

How does it work?

Scroll to find out more about our ‘Enterprise Grant’ or ‘Training and Employment Support Grant’ opportunities. Apply, by downloading the Grant application forms, and emailing them to the relevant contact.

After receiving your form; our team, together with our Youth Council, will review your application. We may also invite you to a meeting (either on Zoom or in person) to tell us, in more details, about your Grant application. If this is the case, we will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time.

If you are awarded a Grant, it will be paid directly to you by bank transfer. You need to spend your Grant within one year and provide feedback on the impact of the Grant six months after you received it.

Grant donations will vary, depending on individual applications and requirements.

For more information on the South West Enterprise Fund, and for tips on submitting your application, please visit https://www.swef.uk/apply-now

The Training and Employment Support Grant

APPLY FOR A GRANT WORTH UP TO £500

Helping young people in Devon get into employment or training

The Training and Employment Support Grant is for any young person aged 16-30 years old who is entering training, an apprenticeship or starting a job after being unemployed.

This Grant will help young people pay for any essential item/s which may help to remove barriers to accessing or remaining in training or work.

Employment and mentoring support will also be given to all Training and Employment Support Grant recipients who also qualify under Young Devon’s existing support programmes.

Apply now

To apply for a Training and Employment Support Grant, please download and complete the below form, and email it to our team at participation@youngdevon.org

If you have any questions, or need help filling out this form, please get in touch by emailing our team at participation@youngdevon.org

Download the Training and Employment Support Grant application form

The Enterprise Grant

APPLY FOR A GRANT WORTH UP TO £2,000

Helping young people in Devon start or develop their own business

The Enterprise Grant is for any young person aged 18-30 years old who wants to establish their own business, or develop their new early stage business that has been trading for less than two years. This Grant is for young people who do not have access to any other source of funding.

Businesses made up of a team of young people are also eligible for a Grant.

For supporting young entrepreneurs with early stage business start-up costs; this Grant can be used for equipment, materials, stock or services you need in order to get your business running, but not for salary or living costs.

The Enterprise Grant does not exceed £2,000 per person, and it is not necessary to apply for the full amount.

Grant requirements:

• This Grant must be used for costs directly related to your business.
• You must be planning to start your own business within the next 6 months, or are currently running your own business which has been trading for no more than 2 years.
• The Grant is to aid with start-up expenses such as the purchase of equipment/machinery, the printing of marketing material and the purchase of initial stock.​
• Grants cannot be used to pay existing debts.
• If your business has already been trading; you must be able to demonstrate what time and resources have already been directed towards the business.
• Each funding requirement/proposed expense must be itemised, with links or evidence of the cost of item/s provided.

As part of the Enterprise Grant scheme, the South West Enterprise Fund provides each Grant recipient the opportunity to join a network of peers who are also in the early stage of starting their business to share ideas, experiences and learn.

All successful applicants will also receive a year membership to the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce; providing chances to make professional connections and contacts in a wide, local business network.

Apply now

To apply for an Enterprise Grant, please download and complete the below form, and email it to to our team at info@youngdevon.org

If you meet the above criteria, you can use this form to apply for funding to support your Enterprise idea. 12 months funding can be for any amount, but must not exceed £2,000.

You’ll need to tell us about your business in your application form. You can also attach a business plan in your email that you’ve already written.

If you have any questions, or need help filling out this form, please get in touch by emailing our team at info@youngdevon.org

Download the Enterprise Grant application form