Changes to our support for innovation-based projects

We still support innovative ideas in our area, but we no longer offer a separate innovation and ideas grant program.

You can now apply for funding for innovation projects through one of our 4 new programs:

• economic
• social and community
• environmental
• creative.

These programs support projects that test new ideas, showcase local expertise, create opportunities and drive innovation.

This change makes it easier to choose the category that best fits your project’s main goal. It also means applications are assessed alongside similar projects, giving you a fairer chance of success.

How to choose the right grant

Think about the main purpose of your project, the ‘primary purpose’ test:

• If your project focuses on business innovation across a sector, apply under economic.
• If it supports new ideas for the creative sector, apply under creative.
• If it showcases local expertise on bringing people together or increasing social cohesion, apply under social and community.
• If it explores innovative ideas to help communities respond to climate challenges, apply under environmental.

You can only apply for a project under one funding category, so decide what your project is mainly trying to achieve before applying.