Save your business thousands in just minutes. Call Make It Cheaper on 0800 038 3240

How I got awarded a £300,000 grant
Name:
Karen Darby
Company:
Call Britannia
Company profile:
Call Britannia is a UK-based call-centre business with a difference: our aim is to create 10,000 jobs. The Call Britannia model is one of sustainable employment. All employees are given a minimum of six months employment. We act as a talent incubator, equipping our staff with skills, qualifications and work based experience whilst providing a valuable service through paid employment. At the end of this ‘incubation period’ we work with employees to place them in new roles with local employers. Our policy of promoting from within means some of our staff will remain with Call Britannia for longer periods of time. Subject to individual performance and customer demand staff remain employed by Call Britannia until a suitable local employer is identified.
Position:
Founder and CEO
Founded:
January 2009

How I got awarded a £300,000 grant

The challenge

I'd already set up the business on the basis of not getting funding, but then there was a government summit about tackling unemployment where a range of initiatives were being launched. One, the Future Jobs Fund, was a £1bn fund to encourage companies to recruit people aged 18-24 who'd been out of work for nine months or more.

It came up coincidentally rather than me looking for a grant, but we thought that as it fitted the profile of what we're doing - creating jobs in call centres that are perfect for that age group - that we'd put in an application.

But completing a grant application is complicated and it can be time-consuming.

The solution

We committed to employing 45 young people over the next six months, and to giving a level of training and experience that would really help them.

One of my employees had considerable experience in writing government bids at her last job. The process for winning those contracts is very similar to writing bids for funding. I knew Heidi would be more than capable.

We had to put in quite a bit of effort, but for £300,000 it was worthwhile. And I'm very pleased to say we were one of very few, if not the only, private sector organisations that were awarded the grant. And we'll be applying in the second round!

We actually secured the government funding before closing our VC funding. Getting the grant gave us the leverage with our investors, and I think it would have been more difficult with them if we hadn't been given that endorsement by the government.

Key lesson

Outsource the writing of the application if you can, to someone with experience of putting together government bids or grant applications.

There are people who write bids professionally who can help. If you do use a consultant, of course look at what their cost is. You have to make sure the value they bring through the grant justifies their fees. Some companies spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds putting together bids, but if the return is juicy enough it can be worth it.

And remember that it's not just the money that benefits your company if you're awarded a grant, but the endorsement that it bestows upon you as well.

Top tip

Always have a plan B, because if you don't get the grant, you need another way to fund that part of the business.


Find out more about Call Britannia

Smarta Business Builder

To help you on your business journey, we've created Smarta Business Builder, the complete online tools package for growing your business. Website Builder, Business Plans, Accounting Software, Legal Documents and Email - all in one place - from just £20 per month with no contract! Try it out today.