East Sussex Invest 8 (ESI 8)

*This fund is temporarily closed to new applications*

The East Sussex Invest 8 fund is an East Sussex County Council programme to support sustainable business growth in the local economy. The two main aims of the fund are to create local jobs and support businesses to become environmentally responsible. It is delivered by the County Council in partnership with Locate East Sussex.

The fund offers grants and loans for capital investment:

• Grants from £10k to £25k, requiring minimum match funding of 60%.
• Loans from £10k to £100k, require minimum match funding of 50%, with an arrangement fee of £450 for loans up to £25k, or £650 for loans over £25k (note: loans of £25k and over or to start-ups usually require a Directors Guarantee or Charge).
• There is an additional grant of £1.5k for a new accredited apprentice position, a one-off payment with no match or evidence of spend required, limited to one per successful application.

Read the East Sussex Invest 8 guidance note.

NB: East Sussex County Council acting reasonably reserves the right to suspend or close this fund at any time.