Welcome to the Future Proofing Fund Eligibility Checker. This easy-to-use tool will guide you through a number of simple questions to help determine if you are eligible to apply for the fund.
The fund will provide eligible micro, small and medium businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors:
A match-funded grant for capital funding between £5,000 - £10,000, no revenue costs will be eligible for funding The grant is to be used entirely during the financial year 2024 - 2025, The grant is to be invested in measures to future proof the business. This will be achieved through realising cost savings, reducing the percentage of fixed costs impacting the business or increasing revenue.
The total project costs can be any amount, but the Welsh Government grant element cannot exceed 75% of the eligible capital project costs or £10,000, whichever is the lesser amount. The business will contribute the remaining match amount from other sources. Applicants cannot use any other form of grant or funding from any other public sector organisation including the Welsh Government as match funding against this fund (i.e. no duplication of public sector funding).
All awards under the Future Proofing Fund are discretionary and there is no appeals process. Making or submitting an application to the fund does not guarantee all or some of the finance you require.
Awards under the fund are made under the Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) Subsidy Control Regime [Subsidy Control Act (2022)] and, applicants will be required to confirm by way of a signed declaration, that any award made under this fund, will not exceed £315,000 of total MFA assistance cumulated by the applicant/business over this and the previous 2 financial years.
We expect that applications for the fund will open on a competitive call in mid May for a period of 3 weeks or until total value of submitted applications exceeds the budget allocation. Please use this eligibility checker to help gather the necessary information prior to the applications opening.
It is anticipated that all successful applications will be notified by the 31 August 2024.
If offered an award, applicants must complete their project in full and submit their claim with the required evidence of defrayed expenditure by 28 February 2025. We encourage applicants to claim as soon as the project is completed.
If there are any accessibility issues for you that might prevent you from completing the following online questionnaire please call the helpline now on 03000 6 03000 or look at our Digital Communities information for support, otherwise continue to the tool and follow the simple step by step guide.
Is the business located in Wales (either headquartered or have an operating address in Wales) and employing people in Wales?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Next steps
Business Wales online materials are available to everyone and can be found on the Business Wales website .
UK Government Business support website.
Exceptions
Welsh Government wants to help support as many businesses as possible, however there are some businesses and activities that are not currently eligible for the Future Proofing Fund. Please be aware that the following activities are not eligible for the Future Proofing Fund:
The list is not exhaustive but specifically includes:
Gambling and betting
Businesses with a religious or political agenda.
Sexual entertainment venues or services (lap dancing clubs, strippers etc). Welsh Government has a zero-tolerance policy on Sexual Entertainment Venues to reduce misogyny and gender-based harassment and abuse.
Pawn Brokers
Currency exchanges including virtual currencies including Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency or crypto asset businesses, Money Service Businesses (MSB) –eg foreign exchange and consumer credit or money lending.
Armaments and defence – including the manufacture and / or selling of guns, firing ranges, shooting clubs
Banks/Building Societies - regulated or unregulated financial investment, loan, foreign exchange or banking businesses
Insurance/Re-insurance activities
Unlicensed scrap metal/unregistered waste management companies
Dormant/ or Shell companies - inactive companies used as a vehicle for financial transaction or kept dormant for future use.
Wheel Clamping Services
Hunting of live animals for sport
Manufacture of tobacco, or products containing tobacco
Does your business fall into any of the categories above?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Does your business operate from a property with a rateable value between £6,001 and £51,000 as of 1st April 2024?
Evidence will be required to be submitted as part of an application.
Please select an option
Yes
No
Further information, advice and support can be found at the resource links below.
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Is the business operating in any of the sectors below?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Does your business size fit into the categories below?
Micro, 1 to 9 employees Small, 10 to 49 employees Medium, 50 to 249 employees This can include the business owner.
Please select an option
Yes
No
We advise you to contact our Business Wales helpline where you can be advised with regards to other information, support and advice.
Business Wales online materials are available and can be found on the Business Wales website.
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays ) Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Other information can be found at the online resources listed below.
Development Bank of Wales Green Business Loan Scheme
Food and Drink: Food and Drink Wales | Business Wales (gov.wales)
Tourism: Tourism | Business Wales (gov.wales)
Do you Employ people using PAYE, which can include the Directors/Owners?
Please select an option
Yes
No
We advise you to contact our Business Wales helpline where you can be advised with regards to other information, support and advice.
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Has the business been trading since 1 April 2023 and still trading (evidenced by financial accounts from the last financial period)?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Information, advice and support from Welsh Government can be found at the links below:
Business Wales Website
Business Wales Finance Locator
Are the premises owned by the applicant business or leased to the applicant business evidenced by way of a premises lease on or before 1 April 2023 and a commitment that extends to at least 1 April 2026?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Information, advice and support from Welsh Government can be found at the links below:
Business Wales Website
Business Wales Finance Locator
Does the business have an annual turnover of at least £50,000?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Are the Rates paid directly by the business to the local authority (i.e. landlord only businesses are exempt from applying to this fund)?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Is the funding request between £5,000 and £10,000 and the amount requested does not exceed 75% of the total eligible capital project costs?
Note : As part of your application, you will be required to submit evidence that you have the match funding in place at the point of application.
Please select an option
Yes
No
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Are you able to complete the project and claim funding with supporting evidence by the 28 February 2025 to guarantee grant payment?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Awards under the fund are made under the Minimum Financial Assistance (MFA) Subsidy Control Regime [Subsidy Control Act (2022)] and, applicants will be required to confirm by way of a signed declaration, that any award made under this fund, will not exceed £315,000 of total MFA assistance cumulated by the applicant/business over this and the previous 2 financial years
Can you confirm, that any award made under this fund, would not exceed £315,000 of total MFA assistance cumulated by the applicant/business over this and the previous 2 financial years?
You will be required to sign a self-declaration form.
Please select an option
Yes
No
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
Can you confirm that the business has not applied to any other public funded grant scheme to cover the project costs?
Please select an option
Yes
No
Business Wales Helpline - Telephone: 0300 060 3000bank holidays )Find out about call charges
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau’n Gymraeg / We welcome calls in Welsh
Search the Business Wales website for other resources
Visit and Register on the Business Online Support Service (BOSS) for online courses on a number of subjects.
You may be able to apply for the Welsh Government Future Proofing Fund Grant.
