East Suffolk Council
UK Shared Prosperity Fund
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a government scheme aimed at kickstarting economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK. Full details of the fund are available in the UKSPF Technical Note.
East Suffolk delivered a £2.75m UKSPF programme during the period 2022-25, in which it successfully delivered:
Town Centre investment
- £390k across multiple projects/ towns
- Focus on high street improvements & facilitating events
Communities
- £240k support for Ease the Squeeze programme
Business Support
- 286 East Suffolk businesses supported via Growth Hub
- 208 start-up businesses supported
- 89 businesses funded to support net zero adaptations
Skills
- 478 economically inactive people trained in life and work ready skills
- 269 gaining qualifications/ course completion
- £470k awarded to local colleges/ businesses to fund capital training projects
For 2025-26 East Suffolk have been allocated a further £900,552 to focus on supporting: communities & place, support for local business and people & skills interventions.
During 2025-26, East Suffolk Council will be delivering the following support:
Communities and place
| Project | Further information |
|---|---|
|
Ease the Squeeze programme |
Funding towards Field to Fork Growing Spaces Grants, Warm Welcomes and Cooking on a Budget classes. |
|
Targeted work in our most deprived communities |
A programme that will provide a 1-2-1 mentor to tackle issues such as worklessness and poor health. |
|
Lowestoft Safer Streets programme |
Young persons focus of the programme to support them in accessing wider support packages. |
Support for local business
| Project | Further information |
|---|---|
|
East Suffolk Start-Up Business Support Service |
MENTA have been commissioned who can work with entrepreneurs, self-employed, early-stage SME's or start-up and early-stage social enterprises based within East Suffolk or seeking to re-locate to East Suffolk by providing them with expert guidance, practical workshops and tailored support.
Please visit: Our Programmes – menta.org.uk for more information. |
|
New Anglia Growth Hub |
YTKO Limited have been commissioned to provide the Suffolk element of the New Anglia Growth Hub. They will provide business support and scale-up / high growth support to all businesses of any size and sector within Suffolk. In addition to this there will be specific workshops & support on AI and digital / tech / communications.
Please visit: Norfolk and Suffolk business support for more information. |
|
Net zero business support |
Groundwork East will be providing Suffolk wide consultancy and energy efficiency audit service for local businesses.
Please visit: Sustainable Business Service - Groundwork for more information. |
|
East Suffolk Business Resilience grant scheme |
Grants of £2,500 - £5,000 are available for small-to-medium sized businesses within the district to access capital and revenue funding to support their long-term business resilience requirements, including consultancy needs and projects that support business adaptions, transformation, cost reductions and digital infrastructure. The overall aim of the funding is to strengthen local businesses performance and increase their chances of survival. Please carefully read the guidance and contact the New Anglia Growth Hub to discuss your project and check your eligibility and access the application form. |
|
East Suffolk Start-Up Business grant scheme |
East Suffolk Council are offering an opportunity to start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs within the district to apply for funding to support them in purchasing capital assets that will support their business start-up and early-stage development ambitions. The grant sits alongside our existing start-up business support that is provided by MENTA, who can work with entrepreneurs, self-employed, early-stage SME's or start-up and early-stage social enterprises based within East Suffolk or seeking to re-locate to East Suffolk by providing them with expert guidance, practical workshops and tailored support. To be eligible to apply, applicants must first access support via MENTA to ensure that their project is suitable and to ensure the business has access to as much support as possible to enhance their future success. Please visit: Our Programmes – menta.org.uk for more information. Grants of between £500 - £2,500 per application are available. Please carefully read the guidance before applying and access the application form here. |
People and Skills
| Project | Further information |
|---|---|
|
Apprenticeship Suffolk |
Suffolk wide agreement to fund the delivery of the Apprenticeship Suffolk service |
|
THRIVE for young people |
Suffolk wide contract to support economically inactive & active young people to gain & sustain employment & overcome a variety of socio-economic barriers. |
|
Youth Employment Service enhanced |
The Youth Employment Service (YES) supports 16-24 year olds in East Suffolk to make their next steps into work, education or training. The funding will provide additional support for high or 'hidden' areas of deprivation in East Suffolk.
Please visit the website. |
|
Locally led skills programme |
East Suffolk Council will be funding and delivering:
|