Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside (SWEF) Grants

SWEF Enterprise Fund (Merseyside)

Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside (SWEF)

The SWEF Enterprise Fund gives grants to young people in Merseyside who need help with business costs they could not otherwise afford. It particularly supports people who are not in education, employment or training. This is a grant, not a loan, so you do not pay it back. You can use the money for essential equipment or materials, website building, marketing, product development and training. There are two grant types, depending on the stage your business has reached. A start-up grant is up to £500, and a business grant is up to £2,000. The fund suits you if you are aged 18 to 30, live in Merseyside, can show a financial need (for example, you receive Universal Credit) and run a new business that has been trading for under three years. Sole traders, limited companies and CICs limited by shares can apply. There are no deadlines. You can apply whenever you are ready, and decisions are made within six weeks. You also get the chance to join a network of peers at the same early stage, so you can share ideas and learn from each other. One thing to plan for: grants are only paid into a business bank account, so you will need one or be setting one up. The fund will not pay for salaries, rent, bills, debt repayment, past purchases or new computers, tablets or phones, though refurbished items may be considered. If you receive a grant, you will need to attend a SWEF meetup, join the SWEF Facebook group, sign up to the monthly newsletter and give feedback after six or twelve months. Official source: https://cfmerseyside.org.uk/grants/swef-enterprise-fund. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.