What Grants are there for starting up a Graphic Design business ??

sleek

What Grants are there for starting up a sole trader Graphic Design business ??

I have looked on the web and can't find anything, either it cause im in the south of england (oxfordshire) and my council doesn't do grants, or the grants are aimed more at artists that show work in exhibtions...

i don't know where to look next
I need the money to buy equipment and to get some advertising/flyers and things printed.

ekgraphics

https://www.ekgraphics.co.uk - my online portfolio !!!
Thanks for your help in advance !

Mark7799

Try Business Link www.businesslink.org.uk (I think)

How old are you? Prince's Trust may still offer grants if you're aged 18-30

Have you got your own money to put into this? 100% grants are rarely, if ever, available.

Have you prepared your business plan - a pre-requisite for any grant application?

sleek

Prynhawn da -diolch yn fawr am eich amser!
but i tired the princes trust (im 26) and they said that they don't do grants anymore!
And business link - couldn't help me either- no grants for my type of business or in my area Oxfordshire (orignially from the Rhondda Fach)

So im a bit stuck where to go next- don't want to get into debt for this- but will be able to match a £1000 - £2000 grant.

Is there any other options open?

Thank you

vivatifosi

On the stationery and flyer front, why don't you approach a printer, offer to do some free graphic design or work for them for a day or so and get your stuff free? You may find that they will put work your way once you're up and running.

I'm not a graphic designer, I'm a researcher, but I've done similar with my business reasonably successfully. Its not just an opportunity to get things cheaply, but to network too.

Mark7799

sleek wrote: »

Prynhawn da -diolch yn fawr am eich amser!
but i tired the princes trust (im 26) and they said that they don't do grants anymore!
And business link - couldn't help me either- no grants for my type of business or in my area Oxfordshire (orignially from the Rhondda Fach)

So im a bit stuck where to go next- don't want to get into debt for this- but will be able to match a £1000 - £2000 grant.

Is there any other options open?

Thank you

Unfortunately no - you're going to have to be an entrepreneur literally. The other places you MAY get grants are likely to be so restrictive by their conditions that borrowing may be a better option.

overdrawn30

Have a look on the Business Link website for the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme.

I believe this is a Government initiative to help people like you and me setup a business, I believe it works on the basis that you apply to participating lenders under this scheme, who determine if you are eligble for this.

If you are approved for a loan to start the company up, the Government provide the security to the lender if you have no security etc for the loan in the unlinkely event that it all goes belly up.

Might be worth a look?

HelzBelz

Not really a grant, but you could try signing up for a specialist recruitment agency as a temp, this would let you get some money in to pay for flyers etc and you could turn work with them down if you're busy.

bylromarha

There was something called the national enterprise scheme which gave you a £1500 grant if you went on a 10 week business course. I've done a google and looked through my emails, but have lost all the details of it...sorry.

http://www.westmidlandsfinance.com/Default.aspx?

is where I got the info from, so have a trawl through there and it may link you to something relevant in your area.

And whilst the Princes trust don't offer grants, they do offer low interest loans if you're under 31 and have been unemployed for over 6 months. The interest is around 3%, so peanuts compared to anything you'll find on the high street.