UK shared prosperity fund

Get information about the shared prosperity funding available in North Yorkshire.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the government’s levelling up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the country. The ambitions are based around the government’s 3 investment priorities: communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Shared Prosperity in North Yorkshire will enable our people, communities and businesses across our rural, coastal and urban areas to harness the opportunities to thrive and prosper. North Yorkshire has been allocated £16.9million to spend on programmes and projects through UK Shared Prosperity Fund as well as £5.4million from Rural England Prosperity Fund - a capital only programme targeted at rural areas but technically with many of the same objectives as UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

As we update this prospectus, we aim to set out the priorities for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund spend in North Yorkshire over the 18 months – the funds will be brought together to create the desired impact. All inclusions are consistent with the feedback and the information we have gathered from direct consultation and/or through our previous requests for ‘expressions of interest’.

The original ambitions and interventions set out in the  local investment plan (pdf / 2 MB) submitted to the government in July 2022, remain important strategic guidance for us today.

The delivery of this programme will be guided by our core principles that are embedded across all activities: 

  • community wealth building
  • net zero and circular economy 
  • health and wellbeing 
  • inclusive economy 
  • good work

Objectives of the fund

Both funds support the government’s wider commitment to level up all parts of the UK by delivering on each of the levelling up objectives: 

  • boosting productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector especially in those places where they are lagging behind 
  • spread opportunities and improve public services, especially in those places where they are weakest 
  • restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where they have been lost
  • empower local leaders and communities, especially in those places lacking local agency

For further information please see the government website: 

    Eligibility

    Eligible organisations include - partnerships and individual organisations, including voluntary, community, private and public sector organisations, including town and parish councils. 

    Projects must be delivered by a legally constituted organisation that can receive public funds.

    All providers will be asked to complete a declaration around subsidy control .

    How to get involved

    We are now 18 months into the programme, and we are on track in terms of planning, consulting and profiling the spend.

    As you can see from the table below, we are currently in Year 2 and working on programme contracting of up to £5.4million; much of our prospectus relaunch and planning work is therefore focused on understanding the potential of a significant spend in Year 3.

      2022-2023 (year 1) 2023-2024 (year 2) 2024-2025 (year 3) Total
    North Yorkshire allocation
    (UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund)    		 £2,050,117 £5,454,510 £14,856,919 £22,361,546
    Revenue £1,845,105 £3,567,201 £8,594,084 £14,006,390
    Capital £205,012 £1,887,309 £6,262,835 £8,355,156

    This prospectus will set out the headlines of what opportunities are going to be available over the coming weeks. More detail will be released as soon as we open application requests so please keep checking the website and/or register to receive information to stay connected. 

    Current ways to engage: 

    • keep an eye on our website by searching for the Shared Prosperity information page
    • consider your need for a feasibility study - we are always interested in hearing about what you think needs to be explored, particularly in communities and place
    • watch out for opportunities to register your specific interests
    • register to receive alerts and announcements including calls for projects by contacting us

    North Yorkshire's 5 local priorities

    Building on the work of the investment plan and our first 18 months experience of the funds, this prospectus identifies 5 continuing investment priorities, based on the sub-region’s key strategic strengths and areas for development: 

    • tackling rurality and inequalities
    • building pride in our places
    • boosting productivity
    • decarbonising our communities and economy
    • enabling access to an active labour market

    Communities

    Community grants programme

    The community grant programme is for local grass roots activities, community engagement projects, training, projects or events that contribute to one or more of the following priorities: 

    • increased local community action, engagement, and participation
    • increased community resilience
    • increased opportunities for volunteering
    • financial inclusion
    • improved access to facilities and services - particularly in rural communities
    • development of local action plans and local networks and partnerships

    Financials

    • funding available:
      • 2023/2024 - £300,000
      • 2024/2025 - £300,000
    • revenue funding 
    • grants anticipated from £2,000 to £20,000
    • assessment panel every 2 months 
    • once open, applications will be welcome until 30 September 2024 - all projects will have to be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available early October - no applications will be reviewed before launch.

    We are particularly interested in applications that provide services, opportunities, and positive experiences for young people (16+) and families. 

    The fund is open to not-for-profit organisations including charities, community groups, faith groups and social enterprises.

    Village halls and community buildings grants

    A capital grants fund to improve facilities in community buildings and village halls that result in greater community participation and levels of volunteering. The fund will support improvements to buildings and purchases of large capital equipment.

    Financials

    • funding available:
      • 2023/24 - £100,000
      • 2024/25 - £450,000
    • capital funding 
    • grants anticipated from £5,000 to £49,000
    • assessment panel every 2 months 
    • once open, applications will be welcome until 31 March 2024 - all projects will have to be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available early October - no applications will be reviewed before launch.

    The fund is open to not-for-profit organisations who operate village halls and community buildings that are available for use by the whole community.

    The funding for this programme is from the Rural Prosperity Fund and excludes the towns of Scarborough, Harrogate and Knaresborough.

    Sport and active travel programme

    To increase participation in active travel and create more access and opportunity to take part in sport and physical activity.

    Financials

    • funding available:
      • 2023/24 - £150,000
      • 2024/25 - £575,000
    • a mix of revenue and capital funding
    • grants anticipated from £3,000 to £20,000 - match funding will be discussed with each applicant
    • assessment panel will review application monthly - end of the month
    • once open, applications will be welcome until end of September 2024 - all projects will have to be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available from 1 October when the fund will open

    Applications should consider impacting the following groups: 

    • culturally diverse communities
    • those on low incomes
    • people with long term health conditions
    • disabled people
    • young people

    Place

    Building pride in our places grants programme

    With strong links to North Yorkshire Council’s priorities, this programme is focused on:

    • investing in high streets and town centres, where projects align with the needs and interests of community groups, local businesses, or other town centre stakeholders
    • strengthening our arts, cultural and heritage assets, and supporting activities that enhance local pride amongst residents 
    • supporting the development of the visitor economy in our key destination localities

    Financials

    • total funding allocation:
      • 2023/2024 - £1,300,000
      • 2024/2025 - £3,000,000
    • capital and revenue funding
    • applications between £15,000 and £400,000 will be considered
    • appraisal panel every 2-3 months
    • for projects with total costs over £25,000, applicants are advised to secure 50% match funding

    Next steps

    This programme is open to local authorities, town and parish councils, national park authorities, public sector organisations, social enterprises, voluntary and community sector organisations, and registered charities.

    This programme has been open for applications for ‘Building Pride in our Places’ projects since April 2023 and remains open to new applications. 

    Due to high demand for funds, applicants are advised to make any enquiries as soon as possible. New applications to this programme should be submitted no later than the end of December 2023.

    All projects must be fully completed by 31 March 2025.

    Boosting productivity

    Small business grants

    The aim of this fund is to increase business growth, productivity, investment and sustainability in the North Yorkshire region, creating and safeguarding jobs. Improved connectivity and business diversification projects are included, as well as projects that contribute to decarbonisation, reducing emissions to net zero and nature recovery objectives.

    Grants will be given for lasting asset projects, such as buildings or equipment. Examples of eligible projects could include purchase of machinery, converting buildings to other uses, creating tourism, business or natural hazard protection infrastructure.

    Financials

    • capital funding available:
      • 2023/2024 - £525,000
      • 2024/2025 - £1,575,000
    • applications for funding between £1,000 and £10,000 are likely to be considered
    • match funding requirements will be confirmed
    • all projects will have to be fully completed by March 2025

    Next steps

    • this fund is expected to open for applications in October 2023
    • new and existing businesses, including farms, can apply
    • projects that deliver the greatest economic, environmental and social benefits will be prioritised
    • funding cannot be used to support projects that have received funding from other DEFRA schemes
    • grants cannot be used for revenue (running) costs

    Decarbonisation

    Green skills training programme for careers leaders

    To fund the design and delivery of a training programme for careers leaders, supporting their increased knowledge and confidence in green skills and careers advice. This activity will focus on but is not limited to the delivery of training to careers leaders in schools and colleges, as well as independent careers advisors.

    Financials

    • funding available: 2023/2024 - £25,000
    • all revenue funding
    • all delivery must be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available from October when the fund will open.

    We are looking for a lead provider to undertake this intervention.

    Applications are welcomed from partnerships, individual organisations and include voluntary, community, public and private sector organisations.

    Green construction skills - retrofit training programme

    Research/consultation has shown a significant amount of social housing across North Yorkshire is in need of retrofitting, including renewable heating systems, ventilation and insulation. This fund aims to address the lack of current workforce with the necessary skills to undertake the work by developing and delivering a comprehensive training programme. The programme will focus on (but not be limited to):

    • retrofit assessor training
    • retrofit co-ordination and management
    • trades/operatives training in renewables installation and maintenance - including Solar PV and air source heat pumps
    • support to become MCS accredited

    Financials

    • funding available: 2023/2024 - £215,000
    • revenue funding
    • all delivery must be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available in January 2024.

    We are looking for a lead providers to design and deliver the programme of training existing workforce across North Yorkshire.

    This programme is being developed jointly with York City Council UK Shared Prosperity Fund and will provide training opportunities in both York and North Yorkshire.

    Applications are welcomed from partnerships, individual organisations and include voluntary, community, public and private sector organisations.

    Community climate action programme - support

    The aim of this strand of the community climate action programme is to address knowledge and funding gaps, enabling the development of community-led climate action projects in North Yorkshire. The support provided will include:

    • trusted specialist advice - for example, identifying projects, accessing investment, developing climate action plans, overcoming challenges
    • place-based decarbonisation plans, either for community buildings or via a ‘whole-place-approach', for example a village or community setting

    Organisations may use the advice and decarbonisation plans provided to help them apply for capital or revenue grants via the community climate action programme (grants).

    Financials

    • decarbonisation plans must be completed before February 2025
    • up to 20 decarbonisation plans will be funded

    Next steps

    Applications for this programme will open on 25 September 2023.

    Voluntary or community organisations can apply, including charities and parish/town councils.

    For decarbonisation plans, priority will be given to organisations with no plan already in place, rather than those wanting an updated one.

    Place-wide decarbonisation projects must evidence community engagement.

    Community climate action programme - grants

    The aim of this strand of the community climate action programme is to provide revenue and capital grants for greenhouse gas reduction or climate adaptation activities, for example, minimising waste, shifting to low carbon transport.

    Financials

    • grant funding between £1,000 to £49,000 available at 80% (for instance, 20% match funding is required)
    • total revenue: £60,000 (2023/2024) and £110,000 (2024/2025)
    • total capital: £200,000 (2023/2024) and £510,000 (2024/2025)
    • projects must be delivered before February 2025

    Next steps

    Applications for this programme will open on 25 September 2023.

    Voluntary or community organisations can apply, including charities and parish/town councils.

    Projects need to be aligned with at least one of our climate change strategy priorities of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preparing for climate change and supporting nature.

    Place-wide decarbonisation projects must evidence community engagement.

    Business sustainability programme - support

    The aim of this strand of the Business Net Zero Programme is to address knowledge and funding gaps that are currently preventing North Yorkshire-based micro, small and medium sized businesses, under 250 staff, including sole traders and CICs, from taking effective action on net-zero. The support provided will include:

    • trusted specialist advice, for example, business models, adaptation plans, legislation
    • sustainability audits, including advice on action areas

    Businesses may use the advice and net zero sustainability audits provided to help them apply for capital or revenue grants via the Business Sustainability Programme (grants).

    Financials

    • audits must be completed by February 2025
    • up to 50 audits will be funded

    Next steps

    Applications for this support will open on 25 September 2023.

    Businesses can apply for one or more strand of support.

    Business sustainability programme - grants

    The aim of this strand of the Business Net Zero Programme is to address funding gaps that are currently preventing North Yorkshire-based micro, small and medium sized businesses, under 250 staff, including sole traders and CICs, from taking effective action on net-zero. The support provided will consist of revenue and capital grants.

    Financials

    • capital grants of between £500 to £49,000 at 60-80%, such as match funding is required, will be available for activity in the following areas:
      • energy: decarbonising our energy system, including increasing renewable energy generation, energy efficiency and grid infrastructure, and shifting towards low carbon transport
      • circular economy/minimising waste: making the most of our resources, buildings and people
      • natural environment: enhancing our environment and supporting nature to thrive
      • activity must support climate mitigation, such as reducing and sequestering greenhouse gas emissions, and/or climate adaptation, such as preparing for the changing climate
    • total revenue: £60,000 (2023/2024) and £110,000 (2024/2025)
    • total capital: £510,000 (2024/2025)
    • projects must be completed by February 2025

    Next steps

    Applications for this fund will open on 25 September 2023.

    Businesses can apply for one or more strand of funding/support.

    Projects need to be aligned with at least one of our climate change strategy priorities of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preparing for climate change and supporting nature.

    Elderly people’s residential care homes net zero audits

    This programme will address funding and knowledge gaps preventing North Yorkshire-based elderly peoples residential care home businesses taking effective action on net-zero and aid the development and delivery of net-zero interventions for this sector. It will provide support through decarbonisation audits. These audits will review energy efficiency, heating systems, renewable energy generation and storage options, low carbon transport, circular economy opportunities and supporting nature initiatives.

    Businesses may use the audit recommendations provided to help them apply for capital or revenue grants via the shared prosperity funds Business Sustainability Programme (grants).

    Financials

    • up to 30 Net Zero audits will be funded
    • audits must be completed by February 2025

    Next steps

    Applications for this support will open on 25 September 2023.

    Micro, small and medium sized businesses, under 250 staff, can apply.

    Farm sustainability programme

    The aim of the farm sustainability programme is to support farm businesses to become more financially and environmentally sustainable. This programme is currently being developed, using the findings of the ‘Farm Energy Audit Pilot’. Support may include farm energy audits, farm carbon footprints, specialist advice around precision agriculture techniques and regenerative agriculture practices.

    Financials

    • up to 50 audits will be funded
    • audits must be completed by February 2025

    Next steps

    Applications for this support are expected to open in November 2023 and further information will be provided then.

    Farm businesses with up to 50 employees can apply.

    Priority will be given to farms ready to implement the recommended sustainability measures.

    Local energy advice demonstrators project

    The Local Energy Advice Demonstrators programme will be piloted in seven neighbourhoods around the towns of Stokesley, Harrogate, Pickering, Skipton and Selby. It will focus on specific streets, villages and neighbourhoods where studies have highlighted priority areas and where interest in tackling climate change through retrofitted schemes has been shown.

    Households in these pilot areas can apply for a free ‘whole house plan’ survey of their homes. Advice will be given on what is needed to make homes more energy efficient and support provided to draw up a retrofit action plan.

    Free training will also be available for people upskilling or reskilling to work as retrofit assessors, coordinators and installers and other retrofit-associated trades. For information on this, see decarbonisation - supporting people and skills green construction skills – retrofit training programme.

    Financials

    • up to 325 retrofit action plans will be funded
    • retrofit action plans must be drawn up by February 2025
    • the shared prosperity fund is contributing to a wider programme funded by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero

    Next steps

    Applications for this fund are expected to open in November 2023 and further information will be provided then.

    People and skills

    Engaging and progressing people

    This fund is aimed at the development and delivery of key worker specialist intervention support model designed to break down barriers for:

    • economically inactive people to help them move towards education, training, and employment
    • people in work to support them to stay in work and progress their career

    The activity will focus on but not be limited to:

    • key worker support
    • mental/physical health support
    • financial wellbeing support
    • employability support and training
    • information, advice and guidance

    Financials

    • funding available: £2,000,000 - 2024/2025
    • all revenue funding
    • application guidance will be provided imminently
    • all projects developed under this programme, including all partner delivery must be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Our preferred option is to seek a lead provider to develop, coordinate and manage a delivery partnership of providers covering both the key worker role and specialist intervention support for both inactive residents and those in work.

    Applications are welcome from partnerships, individual organisations and include voluntary, community, public and private sector organisations.

    Applicants should consider the following activity:

    • keyworker support
    • mental/physical health support
    • financial wellbeing support
    • employability support and training
    • information, advice and guidance

    Increasing levels of digital inclusion

    This funding will provide support to enable voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, including community groups managing village halls and community buildings, to access resources and training to become ‘digital hubs’. The aim of the support will be to:

    • improve levels of digital connectivity for local facilities
    • support volunteers to become digital buddies 
    • increase the level of community engagement, confidence, and skills to access digital services

    Financials

    • support available: 2024/2025 only
    • revenue and capital support and funding
    • application process will open January 2024 with further details of the full opportunities being provided when the fund opens
    • individual venues will be asked to register their interest in becoming a hub before an individualised plan is developed
    • all delivery must be completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available in January 2024. 

    This programme will entail providing digital training for local people as well as supporting people to access online services whilst staying safe online.

    Community based information advice and guidance

    To improve access to high quality information, advice and guidance for residents, those both working and non-working, within their local communities. This funding will support the development and delivery of training for workers and volunteers to be more confident in their information, advice and guidance support offer. Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations across North Yorkshire will be able to access support and resources to build capacity in and improve access to information, advice, and guidance for local people.

    Financials

    • funding available: 2024/2025 only
    • revenue funding/support
    • organisations will be asked to register their interest in being included in the offer in January 2024 with further details of the full process and an individualised action plan being developed
    • all delivery must be completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available in January 2024 when the fund will open.

    This funding is available to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. 

    Support will be accredited and non-accredited.

    Direct delivery and support will commence 1 April 2024.

    Attracting new investment through strategic growth, specialist skills programme

    To fund the development and delivery of training to businesses and their supply chain who are working within the 5 priority sectors identified as being critical to delivering economic growth in the region. These are:

    • agri-tec innovation
    • sustainable energy and bioeconomy
    • digital technology, data and creative industries
    • advanced manufacturing including transport technology
    • health, life sciences innovation

    We are seeking innovative approaches to the delivery of training in all 5 areas in order to meet the practical needs of these industry sectors.

    Financials

    • funding available: £288,000 - 2024/2025
    • all revenue funding
    • applications will be welcome from September 2023 until November 2023
    • feedback given from January 2024
    • all delivery must be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    We are seeking a lead providers and applications are welcome from partnerships, individual organisations and include voluntary, community, public and private sector organisations.

    Examples of vocational qualifications include but are not limited to:

    • warehousing
    • scaffolding
    • construction vehicle licenses

    Training that can be supported by this funding:

    • technical and vocational qualifications and licenses
    • courses up to level 2 - higher level training dependent on need and funding
    • identifying needs, gaps and potential solutions/bespoke responses.

    Support for young and older people

    An innovative grant pot that can support projects to provide additional targeted and intensive support to young people and older people to help them access, sustain and progress in training and employment. 

    Priority areas for work will include: 

    • pre 'not in education, employment, or training' preventative work with young people 14-18
    • support for graduates
    • support for young people 18-24 including mental health support
    • support for over 50s to re-engage in labour market
    • intergenerational programmes 

    Financials

    • funding available: £336,000 - 2024/2025
    • all revenue funding
    • application process will open January 2024 with further details of the full process being provided when the fund opens
    • all delivery must be fully completed by 31 March 2025

    Next steps

    Full guidance will be available in January 2024 when the fund will open.

    Applications are welcome from partnerships, individual organisations and include voluntary, community, public and private sector organisations.

    Application process

    In the development of this prospectus, we are making some changes to the way you can start a conversation with us about your project ideas and how you can apply for funding. As each programme opens, there will be a clear outline of how we would like you to apply. Please do not send a pre-application or a full application prior to the opening of the relevant programme. The team are working on guidance information to support applicants in applying to each programme.

    If you have already sent an expression of interest during 2023, it is not necessary for you to complete an additional pre-application form. After reviewing the information in this prospectus, please contact us if you think your project fits with one of our open programmes. 

    If you are registered with us to receive updates you will be notified when programmes officially open. We'll also add updates on programme activity to this page.

    Pre-application

    An introduction to your organisation/business, and an outline of your ideas and timescales. The pre-application process will be used for programmes where thematic lead officers wish to have a conversation with potential applicants before proceeding to full application.

    Please clearly indicate which programme you are intending to apply to. The pre-application will be initially screened by the UK shared prosperity fund team to ensure it fits with the overall objectives of the North Yorkshire shared prosperity fund, before being passed to the relevant thematic lead officer for progression. 

    Pre-applications may lead to full applications to one of our programmes or a recommendation and signposting to alternative funding opportunities and support.

    Where applicants are not applying for grant funding, but are interested in applying for an audit, requesting support, or working with officers to develop a ‘plan’, the  pre-application form (pdf / 271 KB) /  pre-application form (docx / 180 KB) will be used to register your interest.

    Full application

    Full applications may follow a pre-application and conversation with thematic lead officers, or they may be requested at the beginning of the process. If a full application is required in the first instance, this will be made clear in the individual programme guidelines as they are released.

    There are two options for full applications:

    You should use these supporting documents to help answer any relevant questions:

    Feasibility studies 

    For applicants wishing to be considered for feasibility study work, particularly within communities or place, we have adjusted the standard application paperwork to ensure you are giving us the information we need to consider your application appropriately.

    Multiply

    Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, funding has also been allocated for the adult numeracy programme Multiply for which North Yorkshire has been allocated £2.6m up to March 2025. The overall objective of the Multiply programme is to increase the levels of functional numeracy in the adult population across the country. At a national level, the programme aims to increase adult participation in numeracy courses, increase the number of adults achieving maths qualifications (up to, and including, Level 2) and improve labour market outcomes.

    You can read more information in our  Multiply investment plan (pdf / 973 KB) or by watching a recording of our Multiply online briefing session from 4 August 2023.

    Contact us

    For more information, please contact us.

    Data protection

    Please note that by submitting a pre-application or full application form, you are consenting to any personal data collected being processed by North Yorkshire Council and shared with partners involved in the delivery of UK shared prosperity fund. This includes the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and its contractors. The personal data will be held for the purposes of contacting applicants and assessing applications. You can find out about your data protection and subject access rights on our website.

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