Isle Of Wight Council Relaunches Small Grants Programme For 2025

The Isle of Wight Council is inviting applications for the 2025 round of its small grants programme, aimed at supporting small and medium-sized businesses across the Island, with a total of £150,000 available.

2025 Funding Round: Applications Now Open

Grants of £15,000 to £50,000 are available for capital projects that must be delivered by 31 January 2026.

As before, the funding will be awarded through a competitive application process, and applicants must contribute at least 50% of the total project costs.

Applications are open now and will be accepted until 31 August 2025. Interested applicants are encouraged to read the full guidance document to determine eligibility and then complete and return the application form. Both documents can be found [here].

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, chair of the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure committee said:

"We really welcome this fund, to enable our businesses to grow and develop.

“The last round was a success and oversubscribed, so it proves that we have businesses on the island ready to invest and innovate.

“I encourage businesses from anywhere on the island to look at the guidance and see if it's a good fit before they apply."

2024 Funding Round: Impact and Achievements

The relaunch follows a successful 2024 funding round, which saw £250,000 awarded to 10 small and medium-sized businesses.

These grants were made possible through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), which allocated just over £536,000 to the Isle of Wight in September 2022.

The REPF supports the government’s Levelling Up White Paper and Future Farming Programme, acting as a rural top-up to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Of the total allocation, £286,000 was invested in four major capital projects, including:

• A livestock collection centre and refrigerated lorry, identified as critical rural infrastructure supporting local farming businesses.

• A rural creative centre, enhancing opportunities for the Island’s creative industries.

• An ecology and eco-engineering learning hub, promoting environmental stewardship through art and ecology.

These projects have had a significant positive impact on rural organisations across the Island -contributing to job creation, income diversification, and overall rural sector growth.

The programme also leveraged over £250,000 in private sector investment into the Island’s rural economy.

Graham Biss, Vice Chairman of the Royal Isle of Wight Agricultural Society (RIWAS), said:

“The support received from the Isle of Wight Council via IW Rural Fund was key to the creation of the IW Collection Centre at the County Showground.

“It is intended that the Centre will support the Island‘s livestock sector during this challenging time and will be the future home for the Gilten Market and County Show Livestock Section. The building is an important investment for the future.”