The Leeds Innovating, Enterprising and Thriving Grants Programme, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and managed by Leeds City Council, is passionately empowering diverse entrepreneurs and businesses in Leeds, UK, through grants, training, and mentorship.
This vibrant initiative supports eight ambitious projects, including efforts by Unity Property Services, Trust Leeds, Future Transformation, and FinTech North, to foster innovation and sustainable growth across various sectors and communities within the city.
What is the Leeds Innovating, Enterprising and Thriving Grants Programme and how does it support business growth?
The Leeds Innovating, Enterprising and Thriving Grants Programme, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supports business growth by providing grants, training, mentoring, and resources to diverse entrepreneurs. It empowers underrepresented groups, fosters innovation, and helps new and established businesses overcome barriers to success.
Supporting Inclusive Business Development in Leeds
The city of Leeds has taken a significant step toward fostering inclusive economic growth with the launch of the Innovating, Enterprising and Thriving Grants Programme. This initiative, managed locally by Leeds City Council and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, confirms financial backing for eight ambitious projects. These projects are geared towards providing tailored support for individuals from diverse communities, helping them to nurture their business skills and entrepreneurial ideas.
The programme encompasses a wide array of training, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing activities. Organisations are now equipped to deliver workshops on vital topics such as financial literacy, marketing, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The intention is to empower both new and established businesses, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs, to overcome traditional barriers and achieve sustainable growth. In doing so, the initiative not only uplifts individual participants but also enriches the broader business landscape of the city.
According to Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, “These grants are a great example of how the council can support people from different local communities as they look to carve out their own niche in the world of business.” The strong response to the council’s call for applications underscores the demand for such programmes, with dozens of public, private, and third-sector organisations submitting proposals tailored to Leeds’s unique economic landscape.
Diverse Projects Driving Community Impact
The grants programme, with awards ranging from £25,000 to £36,000, is supporting eight organisations dedicated to serving underrepresented and marginalised groups. Among them, Unity Property Services stands out for its commitment to delivering workshops, mentoring, and networking events focused on empowering disadvantaged communities. Their approach is holistic, targeting pre-start, early-stage, and established businesses to ensure continuity of support throughout various business development phases.
Trust Leeds is another notable beneficiary, with its enterprise support initiatives aimed particularly at women. The organisation’s programme covers essential topics such as financial literacy and marketing, providing entrepreneurs with the skills needed to launch and sustain micro-businesses. This strong emphasis on female entrepreneurship is designed to address gender disparities in the local business ecosystem.
Future Transformation is leveraging its grant to deliver AI workshops, youth innovation bootcamps, and ‘challenge labs’ where participants co-create technology-driven solutions to environmental challenges. By focusing on the intersection of technology and sustainability, this project is positioned to contribute significantly to Leeds’s ambition of becoming a greener city. Their offerings not only build technical skills but also encourage collaborative problem-solving among young innovators.
Cultivating Creativity and New Business Models
The creative sector in Leeds also benefits from tailored support through the grants programme. For instance, Come Play With Me is focused on strengthening the music sector’s infrastructure by delivering training and mentoring to creative entrepreneurs, particularly those from marginalised backgrounds. By fostering a more inclusive music industry, the project helps ensure that diverse voices are represented and supported within Leeds’s thriving creative economy.
Startling delivers innovation guidance and business support through a mix of peer-to-peer learning, one-to-one mentoring, and themed masterclasses. Their personalised approach is designed to address the unique challenges faced by each participant, making innovation accessible and actionable for a wider range of entrepreneurs. This focus on practical learning aligns with the broader mission of the grants programme to provide tangible, real-world business benefits.
SHINE, another grant recipient, is championing women in business with a comprehensive package of expert advice, workshops, mentoring, and networking. Their introduction of a new AI-enabled community platform further distinguishes their approach, facilitating knowledge exchange and community building among female entrepreneurs. Such initiatives are vital for nurturing a supportive ecosystem where women can thrive and contribute to Leeds’s economic dynamism.
Breaking Barriers and Building a Future-Ready Workforce
The grants programme also addresses issues of social exclusion and employment barriers. Offploy, for example, is dedicated to supporting individuals who face significant challenges in entering the workforce, such as long-term joblessness or mental health struggles. Their combination of business skills training and e-learning resources is designed to open up pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for people who might otherwise be left behind.
FinTech North is driving innovation in the financial technology sector by running mentoring, peer-led learning, and leadership development programmes. Their focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs and early-career professionals aligns with Leeds’s broader goals of inclusivity and future-proofing the workforce. By emphasising leadership in fintech and adjacent sectors, the programme helps participants adapt to rapidly changing job markets and technological landscapes.
Applications for these grants underwent a rigorous evaluation process, involving a diverse panel with a strong track record in innovation, business support, and social change. This process ensured that funding was allocated to initiatives with the greatest potential for impact. As Councillor Pryor noted, “The work being done by the projects won’t just help individual businesses, it can benefit Leeds as a whole through the creation of jobs and the cementing of the city’s already impressive reputation as a centre for innovation.”
Resources and Further Reading
For individuals and organisations interested in learning more about the Innovating, Enterprising and Thriving Grants Programme or applying for future rounds, please visit the Leeds City Council business support page. Additional details about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and its objectives can be found on the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund portal.
To explore further resources for Leeds entrepreneurs and discover upcoming events, check out:
- Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership
- West Yorkshire Innovation Network
- FinTech North events and insights
For those interested in supporting or participating in any of the above-mentioned projects, direct contact links and programme-specific information are available through the respective organisational websites and social media channels.
- The Leeds Innovating, Enterprising and Thriving Grants Programme is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and managed by Leeds City Council.
- This initiative supports eight ambitious projects with grants, training, and mentorship to empower diverse entrepreneurs and businesses in Leeds.
- The programme provides tailored support to individuals from diverse communities, nurturing business skills and entrepreneurial ideas.
- Grants range from £25,000 to £36,000 and support organizations dedicated to serving underrepresented and marginalized groups.
- The projects aim to foster innovation, sustainable growth, and inclusive economic development across various sectors in Leeds.