ACVO Opportunities
Funding
Social Entrepreneurs – Step Up
About this fund
Step Up is a repayable funding programme for early and growth stage social enterprises (less than six years old) that require financial support to strengthen and sustain trading.
The fund is specifically aimed at social enterprises that want to repeat or scale ideas that have previously delivered revenue growth for their business.
Step Up provides awards between £5,000 – £30,000 through a 0% interest loan. Please see the fund guidance document for more information.
Funding can be used for:
- purchasing more stock or equipment
- running marketing campaigns
- hiring a venue for an event or course
- purchasing capital items e.g. vehicles
- hiring/training staff
Fund type
- Type of funding:
- Loan
Who can apply
Social enterprises with:
- a registered office in Scotland
- operating primarily for the benefit of people or communities in Scotland
- asset-locked constitution and registered with Companies House, OSCR, or the Mutual Public Register.
- business bank account in the name of the social enterprise
- a board of directors/trustees, of who no more than half are related to one another or employed by the enterprise
- incorporated for less than six years
- evidence of successful trading and the potential to become financially sustainable
- evidence of the direct, measurable social or environmental impact it has delivered
When to apply
Apply at any time.
Step Up will be closed between 15th and 31st December every year and no decisions will be taken in this period, but you can still apply.
How to apply
Complete an online application form along with supporting documents (see fund guidance).
You will hear about the outcome within 3 weeks.
Exclusions
- Step Up is awarded from the same fund as Boost It/ Pivot Fund and therefore enterprises that have already received the lifetime limit of £50,000 as a Boost It/ Pivot Fund award are ineligible for Step Up.
- political campaigning
- the advancement of religion
- essential start-up costs e.g. incorporation
- retrospective costs
- new product or service design costs
- staff entertainment costs
- business consultants or coaches
- feasibility studies, planning costs, major capital projects
- market research
Looking for support with funding?
Identifying funding opportunities and writing grant applications can seem overwhelming, especially when the future sustainability of your group is dependent on gaining funding support.Â
Our supportive Funding Officer, Claire Shaw, can help your organisation with every step of the funding application process, from carrying out funding searches to proofreading your application.
Share this opportunity
Social Entrepreneurs – Step Up
