Kent and Medway Business Fund Small Business Boost

Small Business Boost

The Kent and Medway Business Fund (KMBF) Small Business Boost is now accepting pre-applications.

This scheme is funded by recycled loan payments from the former Regional Growth Fund schemes:

  • Expansion East Kent
  • TIGER
  • Escalate.

About KMBF Small Business Boost

The KMBF Small Business Boost offers 0% interest loans between £26,000 and £99,000.

We welcome applications from small and medium-sized businesses (SME) in Kent and Medway, who are start-ups or in the early stages of growth.  Established businesses or those looking for a larger loan can apply for a KMBF Standard Loan.

A loan can help to develop new or expand existing products, services or processes. In turn, this can create jobs, drive growth, and improve productivity.

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Find out about how to apply for a Small Business Boost loan - video transcript

Terms of the loan

The loan terms are:

  • A 10% administrative charge is applied on payment of funds.
  • It must be between 20% to 30% match funded from private sources such as business reserves or bank loans
  • You may be asked to provide security subject to a level of risk assessment, the recommendation of the Investment Advisory Board sub-group and at the discretion of the council.
  • All eligible businesses can have a loan repayment period of 5 years or less.

Eligibility

You can apply for a loan if you:

  • are a sole trader, partnership, limited company or a not-for-profit business
  • are a start-up, business in the early stages of growth or a business with a good track record
  • are based in, or looking to locate to Kent (including Medway)
  • are seeking between £26,000 and £99,000
  • are creating sustainable jobs
  • may be protecting sustainable jobs
  • currently have fewer than 250 employees
  • are currently viable, not in difficulty and not subject to collections or collective insolvency proceedings
  • are developing or expanding products, services, or processes that will lead to new jobs, deliver business growth and improve productivity
  • can identify innovation within your project
  • are able to provide between 20% to 30% match funding from private sources.

Who cannot apply

You cannot apply if your business is:

  • a franchise
  • an organisation engaged in political activity or lobbying at any level or activity of an exclusively religious nature.

Restrictions do apply to primary production and processing of agricultural products - read section 6 of our guidance for applicants below for further information.

Apply for a Small Business Boost

Before completing the pre-application form, we recommend that you read our guidance for applicants (PDF, 1.0 MB).

Complete the pre-application form

Pre-applications opened on November 21 2023 and will close when funds run out.

If you have any questions about your pre-application email kmbf@kent.gov.uk. For general, financial or premise advice visit our business support page.