Grant & Funding Support

Grant support is available to East Ayrshire businesses.

East Ayrshire Net Zero Support grant

The East Ayrshire Net Zero grant is a non-repayable grant which should cover 50% of the approved project expenditure, up to a maximum of £3,000.

This is intended to help businesses in their transition to net zero carbon emissions by assisting small to medium sized businesses with the implementation of energy and resource efficiency improvements and can be used following activity:

• green skills training
• purchase of equipment that would contribute to energy saving
• renewable energy installations, for example solar, ground or air source heat pumps
• waste management or recycling
• lighting systems
• roof and building insulation
• low energy heating

Eligibility criteria for the Net Zero support grant

To apply for this grant you must:

• be based in East Ayrshire
• have been trading for at least 12 months
• employ between 3 and 49 people
• be working with Business Energy Scotland (BES) or the University of Strathclyde and have completed a business energy efficiency audit delivering a carbon reduction plan

We contributed to a Low Carbon Challenge Fund (LCCF) programme managed by University of Strathclyde. This service also allows small and medium sized enterprises businesses to access up to seven hours of free support around carbon reduction and energy efficiency which ultimately provides a carbon reduction plan for the business.

To discuss the East Ayrshire Net Zero Support Grant, please email business@east-ayrshire.gov.uk to arrange meeting with a business adviser.

Energy Audit Voucher Scheme

Energy Audit Voucher Scheme is for small to medium sized businesses based in East Ayrshire.

This will provide up to £2,500 of financial grant support to help businesses address specific, immediate priorities in direct response to the combined challenge of the rise in energy costs and the Climate Change Emergency. It will enable business to gain a bespoke audit of their business, buildings, processes and practices to enable them to make changes that will reduce energy consumption and their carbon footprint.

The Scheme aims to fund the costs associated with an energy audit to support businesses to save money on their energy bills and help them reduce their carbon emissions and help tackle climate change.

Eligibility criteria for the Energy Audit Voucher Scheme

Businesses can apply for grant funding to commission suitably qualified consultants to undertake an energy audit to:

• identify where large amounts of energy are being consumed and provide guidance of how to reduce energy consumption
• investigate interventions to building infrastructure that could reduce energy consumption and reduce the business’ carbon footprint
• advice on how to adapt their business model to deliver a new or amended service/product offering that reduces energy consumption

Applicant business (including social enterprises) must be based in East Ayrshire and operate from commercial premises.

Home-based businesses will not be eligible.

Eligible businesses must also be a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (up to 250 employees).

East Ayrshire Recruitment Incentive grant

The grant can support private and third sector employers with a grant of up to £5,000 towards the costs of recruiting and employing an East Ayrshire resident who meets eligibility criteria. The funding can be used to recruit an employee for a new job or a modern apprenticeship and can cover a range of costs such as wages, training and travel.

This grant is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Eligible jobs will:

• offer a minimum of 26 weeks employment/52 weeks apprenticeship
• guarantee a minimum of 16 hours per week
• provide a contract of employment
• ensure employees are paid at National Minimum/Living Wage or preferably at the Real Living Wage rate

Eligibility criteria for the Recruitment Incentive grant

Eligibility criteria:

• the employer needs to be a small to medium sized enterprise based in East Ayrshire
• employers who hold Employee Liability Insurance
• the employee must be 25 years and over (excluding the Modern Apprentice (MA) programme) currently not in employment, education or training
• the employee must fall into one or more of the participants barriers:
• • above 54 years of age
  • armed forces veteran
  • asylum seekers
  • care experienced/care leaver
  • criminal convictions
  • disability
  • employed status affected by coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • from employment deprived area (SIMD)
  • homeless or affected by housing exclusion
  • living in a jobless household
  • long term unemployed
  • long term physical illness / condition
  • low income employed
  • low skilled
  • material deprivation
  • mental health issues
  • migrant with a foreign background
  • no or limited work experience
  • primary carer of an older person
  • refugee
  • rural
  • substance related conditions
  • under 25 years of age (relates to MA only)
  • underemployed

How employers can apply

A maximum of three applications per employer per year can be made. Please contact employability@east-ayrshire.gov.uk on how to apply.

Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF)

The Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund (ASIF) is an Ayrshire Growth Deal revenue project aiming to address skills gaps across the region and will support key growth sectors and priority groups to deliver regional, inclusive, economic growth.

The fund provides an opportunity to increase business productivity, ensuring current and future skills are developed to contribute to delivering a regional economy where individuals have the necessary skills. Employers can apply for up to £1,800 per person.

Eligibility criteria for the Ayrshire Skills Investment Fund

Employers and must meet the criteria set out to target priority sectors and priority groups.

Applications supporting skills development within the following priority sectors are invited:

• engineering
• digital
• visitor economy
• clean growth

These sectors may change as other priorities emerge.

The following priority groups have been identified using the Ayrshire Inclusive Growth Diagnostic:

• young people
• females
• people with long term health conditions
• people in low paid employment

How to apply for an ASIF grant

The first round of the fund opened on 23 October 2023. Further funding rounds will be available on a rolling programme.

Employers can contact fairworkayrshire@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for more detail or for any support completing the form.