Reopen Scheme - A Meanwhile Enterprise Grant

Are you a business owner or part of a community group looking for space in Breckland? Or perhaps you're eager to showcase your business at a local market day?

Breckland Council is offering grants of up to £8,000 through the Reopen Scheme - A Meanwhile Enterprise Grant to help launch, grow, or bring your business to our high streets.

While Breckland's commercial vacancy rate is lower than the national average (around 10% compared to 13.9%), empty units still affect the vibrancy of our high streets. That's why, through the Future Breckland programme, we're committed to revitalising our town centres and supporting local entrepreneurs to bring fresh ideas to life.

There are two types of grants available:

Vacant High Street Shop Grant
Market Town Stall Grant

Our Meanwhile Programme has already helped a number of businesses breathe new life into previously vacant properties — and yours could be next.

Grant Information	Vacant High Street Shop	Market Town Stall
Description	To support businesses or community groups by helping them occupy an empty high street shop in one of our market towns or substantial villages (Mattishall, Necton, East Harling, Shipdham & Weeting)	To support businesses or community groups by helping them start up and occupy a market stall in one of our market towns.
Min/Max Grant Award	Up to £8,000	Up to £1,000
Match Funding Required	Minimum of 25%	Minimum of 25%
Evaluation Criteria	Occupies an empty high street shop in one of our market towns or substantial villages Dereham, Attleborough, Thetford, Swaffham or Watton OR Mattishall, Necton, East Harling, Shipdham & Weeting Your business has not already signed a lease or moved into the vacant property Some indication of location will be required. All required planning permissions in place, including compliance with the Breckland Market Town Shopfront Design Guide (PDF, 10 MB)(opens new window) Enterprises which offer a diverse or new business model to the High Street/Breckland will be prioritised Jobs created/safeguarded Would not be achievable without the grant Sustainable Business model Growth potential Delivers economic, environmental and/or social benefits	Occupies a market stall in one of our market towns on a regular day Your business does not already occupy a stall within the market town you are looking to be located Jobs created/safeguarded Would not be achievable without the grant Sustainable Business model Growth potential Delivers economic, environmental and/or social benefits Enterprises which offer a diverse or new business model to Breckland will be prioritised Commitment to regular market attendance in at least one of our market towns.
Grant Can Cover	6 months' rent (paid up front upon evidence of a signed lease) Costs associated with the setup of the business for example, equipment, till, painting, signage, shelving, (paid following proof of spend) Stock or vehicles cannot be funded	Costs charged by the Town Council for the rental of the pitch, table and gazebo for a period of 6 months maximum of 1 stall, 5 days a week, at any or all of our market towns Costs associated with the set-up of the stall for shelving, payment methods, health and safety equipment, insurance, membership of National Market Traders Federation, storage, lighting and signage (paid following proof of spend) Stock or vehicles cannot be funded
Evidence Required	Show how you will spend the grant responsibly and how it demonstrates good value for money A Business Plan showing; what the business will do, how it will operate, who the customers are and how the business will reach them, what outcomes will be achieved and how the business will be financially viable over time Signed lease and proof of spend (once the grant has been confirmed) Any funding given, may be subject to clawback if the business ceases trading in the high street location within a 6 month period of opening	Show how you will spend the grant responsibly and how it demonstrates good value for money A Business Plan showing; what the business will do, how it will operate, who the customers are and how the business will reach them, what outcomes will be achieved and how the business will be financially viable over time Receipts of spend including pitch fees etc and set up expenditure (once the grant has been confirmed) (payable on monthly basis)

We encourage you to contact us at businessdevelopment@breckland.gov.uk before submitting your application, so we can offer tailored support and guidance

We strongly encourage all applicants to attend a free online business start-up & self-employment course, provided by Kick Off in Business before submitting an application - for more information, visit Kick Off in Business (opens new window). Alternatively, we have provided guidance on completing the required documentation for the application form within our Business Toolkit