Business Incentive Grant

In Test Valley, we are committed to encouraging the strength and vitality of our local economy, with prosperity as one of our corporate priorities.

We are striving to create a conducive environment for new businesses and the Business Incentive Grant (BIG) is intended to make a positive contribution towards the cost of creating a small business.

What is the Business Incentive Grant?

BIGs are grants of £750 available to new business start-ups. Grants must be approved before the business has started trading and will be paid to the business bank account after we are satisfied that the business has been trading for a minimum of 6 months.

Who qualifies?

You can quality for a BIG if your business is a new start-up and:

the business will be located within the borough of Test Valley
the owner will work for the business permanently on a full-time basis (minimum 30 hours per week) as their only job.

Any other rules?

You must apply for the grant no later than eight weeks after starting trading
The grant is only open to new start-up businesses and not those under new management, or those registered under a new name, or with a new governance structure where they will continue the activities of an existing business
Applicants on voluntary and temporary zero hours contracts may be considered for the grant
Any planning/building control/licence or other necessary consent must be obtained. If you are unsure about requirements, please contact the duty planning officer via Do I need Planning Permission? | Test Valley Borough Council, the building control department via buildingcontrol@testvalley.gov.uk or check licensing requirements via Licensing & Regulation | Test Valley Borough Council
Only one TVBC business grant per business will be paid. Workers may still qualify for skills grant
Only one TVBC business grant per applicant will be paid in any 5-year period (Skills grants may still be payable)
The grant will only be paid after the business has been trading for at least 6 months; if the business opens on a reduced rent agreement, this trading period will be extended to a minimum of 9 months
You need to contact us after 6 months of trading to provide evidence of trading and request a council visit
A Test Valley Borough Councillor will visit you and have their photograph taken with you when the grant is paid. This will be publicised by TVBC via a press release and may be used in other promotional material produced by TVBC
If your business has a premises that is visited by the public, you must agree to display a window sticker confirming funding by us, after you have received your grant and for a minimum period of 1 year.

Process

You will receive two visits from us: the first to establish your eligibility and the second after the minimum period of trading
Normally you will receive a decision about the award of a grant within 20 working days of the first visit
Prior to our visit, you will be asked for documentary evidence that the business is still trading, e.g. accounting records, invoices, receipts, business bank statements
Second visits must take place within one year of the initial visit unless a delay is specifically agreed
Following the second visit and approval of the grant payment, you will be contacted by a Test Valley Borough Councillor to arrange a visit or meeting.

When will I get the money?

Approximately 6 months after the initial visit, please contact us to arrange a second visit, unless a delay has been agreed. If our officer is satisfied that the business is operating, your grant will be paid to your business bank account.

For Information

If you are in receipt of means-tested benefits, including from us, it is your responsibility to notify the relevant agency, including our Revenues Service when you start a new business. You are advised to contact the Planning & Building Service to enquire whether planning consent is required for the premises from which you intend to run the business, and the Valuation Office Agency to find out if Business Rates are payable. Planning consent and business rates will not always apply, so don't let that put you off from starting a business. If you intend to work from home, you should ask your Housing Association or landlord if they need to know you are starting a business. If you are unsure of what licences or permits may be needed for the business, please contact us.

How do I apply?

Please see the link on this page for an application form.

For further information, please contact us.

Annex 1

Terms and Conditions of a Business Incentive Grant

The business must be a new start-up, not a business under new management, or registered under a new name, or with a new governance structure where it will continue the activities of an existing business
The business must be located within the borough of Test Valley
The owner must work for the business permanently on a full-time basis (minimum 30 hours per week) as their only job
The date of the application must be no later than eight weeks after the business started trading
Any planning/building control/licence or other necessary consent must be obtained
Grants will only be paid to business bank accounts
Only one TVBC grant per business will be paid (workers may still qualify for skills grants)
Only one TVBC business grant per applicant will be paid in any 5-year period
The business must show evidence that the business has been trading for a minimum of 6 months before the grant is paid
The applicant must contact the us after 6 months of trading to arrange a council visit and provide evidence of trading
The grant will be delayed if the business is on reduced rent; in these circumstances the payment will not be made until the business has been successfully trading for a minimum of 9 months
If no contact has been made a year after grant approval, the grant offer will be withdrawn unless a delay has been agreed
The successful applicant must agree to meet with a Councillor or their representative when the grant is paid, and have a photograph taken for a press release and promotional use by us
If the business has a premises that is visited by the public, a window sticker confirming funding by us, must be displayed for a period of a minimum of 1 year after the grant has been paid
No activity which may be construed as radicalising or encouraging people into terrorism will be permitted to receive any grant. Should any allegation be received, or if we have reason to suspect noncompliance, we will investigate and may decide to cancel, modify or withdraw any offer or grant made to ensure compliance with the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
Businesses are not eligible for a BIG if receipt of the requested grant from us will exceed the Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) threshold for the business as specified in section 36(1) of the Subsidy Control Act (2022). The total amount of 'Minimum Financial Assistance' (MFA) received over a rolling period of three fiscal years should not exceed £315,000 per business at company group level (including the grant you are applying for)
If awarded with a BIG, the business will be required to declare this funding in future applications for public funding over the following three fiscal years.
Applicants on voluntary and temporary zero hours contracts may be considered for the grant at the discretion of the council.

Data Protection

The council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers and may share information provided in order to prevent or detect fraud.

Any personal data you supply on this application form will be used for purposes in connection with the grant scheme and to provide information or advice to support your business including our business newsletter; it will not be transferred outside of the European Economic Area. Should you decide you do not wish to receive our newsletter, you can unsubscribe by clicking the unsubscribe option at the bottom of the newsletter. Further information on our data protection policy can be found at GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation | Test Valley Borough Council

Last Updated: 10 April 2025