There are a number of grants and funding opportunities currently available to businesses and organisations across Breckland, from support for bringing vacant high-street premises back into use to funding for community projects and business growth.
Breckland Council’s website brings together its own grant schemes alongside funding offered by partner organisations. One of the schemes currently available is the Reopen Scheme – A Meanwhile Enterprise Grant, which is designed to encourage businesses to make use of vacant high-street premises and market-town stalls.
We look at the Reopen Scheme in more detail below, along with the Community Small Grant Fund and selected funding opportunities from partner organisations.
Reopen Scheme – A Meanwhile Enterprise Grant
Grants of up to £8,000, with a minimum of 25% match funding, are available to help local businesses occupy vacant high-street premises or set up and operate a market stall.
Vacant High Street Shop Grant
This grant is available in Dereham, Attleborough, Thetford, Swaffham and Watton, as well as villages including Mattishall, Necton, East Harling, Shipdham and Weeting.
If you are looking for business premises but have not yet signed a lease or moved into the property, the grant could help with the costs of rent and setting up a new business.
To be eligible, applicants must meet criteria including:
- Having all required planning permissions in place, including compliance with the Breckland Market Town Shopfront Design Guide;
- Creating jobs through opening the business;
- Having a sustainable business model with growth potential; and
- Delivering economic, environmental or social benefits.
If successful, the grant can cover six months’ rent, paid upfront on evidence of a signed lease. It can also contribute towards business start-up costs, although stock and vehicles are excluded.
Applying
Applications require:
- A business plan; and
- Details of how the grant will be used responsibly and demonstrate good value for money.
Applicants are encouraged to contact businessdevelopment@breckland.gov.uk before submitting an application.
For further guidance, Breckland Council’s Business Toolkit provides information on setting up a business, while KickOff in Business offers free online courses covering business start-up and self-employment.
Apply for the Vacant High Street Shop Grant.
Market Town Stall Grant
Similar funding is available for those looking to start a new market stall in one of Breckland’s market towns. Grants of up to £1,000 are available, with a minimum of 25% match funding.
The grant is aimed at those looking to start trading at a market stall for the first time.
Eligibility criteria include:
- Creating or safeguarding jobs;
- A sustainable business model with growth potential;
- Delivering economic, environmental and/or social benefits; and
- A commitment to regular market attendance in at least one of Breckland’s market towns.
If successful, the grant can cover charges for the rental of a pitch, table and gazebo for up to six months. Funding is available for a maximum of one stall, five days a week, in any of the council’s market towns.
Applications require:
- Evidence of how the grant will be used responsibly; and
- A business plan.
Apply for the Market Town Stall Grant.
Both grants will close once the current funding allocation has been fully committed.
Community Small Grant Fund
The Community Small Grant Fund provides grants of up to £250 for local groups and organisations to deliver free, accessible events and activities in Breckland. Funding can be used towards costs such as venue or equipment hire, materials, marketing and activities.
Eligible applicants include community groups, charities, schools, sports clubs and social enterprises, but the fund is not available to individuals or commercial businesses.
For the Autumn 2026 funding period, eligible activities must take place between 17 October and 1 November 2026. A further funding period will run from 13 to 21 February 2027.
Funding from partner organisations
Breckland Council also highlights several funding opportunities delivered by partner organisations. These cover areas including business growth, high-street activity and support for businesses across the local area. Availability, eligibility and application deadlines vary between schemes, so businesses should check the relevant scheme details before applying.
Schemes highlighted by the council include Love Your Market Town, the Jarrold & Sons Growth Fund and Norfolk’s High Street Matters. SWEF Business Grants are also currently available to eligible young entrepreneurs in Norfolk.
SWEF Business Grants
SWEF Business Grants, delivered by Norfolk Community Foundation, are aimed at entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30 who live and work in Norfolk and face financial or other barriers to starting or developing a business.
There are two grants available.
- The Start-Up Grant provides up to £500 for businesses that have been set up less than two years, including those that have not yet generated revenue or have monthly revenue of less than £500; and
- The Business Grant offers up to £2,000 to businesses that have been set up for less than three years and generate more than £500 in monthly revenue.
Funding can be used for a range of costs, including equipment, product development, training, marketing and website or booking system costs. The Business Grant can also contribute towards professional or trade body membership.
Decisions are typically made within eight weeks. Successful applicants will receive the grant in their business bank account, with funds to be spent within one month.
How M+A Partners can help
M+A Partners are unable to process or advise on grant applications, but we will let you know of any funding opportunities in the Breckland area that we receive notification of.
A helpful summary of business grants can be found on the Breckland Council website.