Support and grant funding for community projects, small businesses and charities in rural Wiltshire
Are you working on a project or venture that is making Wiltshire an even better place?
From dance workshops to play projects, community pubs to farmers markets and everything in between – if you’re working on a small business/charity or community group in rural Wiltshire – this programme is here to help you make a significant impact within your community.
Whether you’ve got an idea for a new initiative and need support to get started, or you’re already established and need help to evolve and grow, our dedicated and fully-funded support delivered by expert trainers will put you on the path to success.
This programme is funded by Wiltshire Council and the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is being delivered by the University of Bath, The Future Smiths, and TechSPARK.
Local Ventures. Community Connections. Lasting Impact.
Find out more about our support sessions
All sessions are designed to add value and deliver a hands-on approach for passionate non-profits, social enterprises and small business change-makers across Wiltshire.
As a rural community, we understand that travelling can be an issue, so we deliver our workshops online as often as possible.
Rural Hubs - The Complete Workshop for Rural Enterprises
Upcoming dates:
Tuesday 28 January, 10:00 - 15:00, Online
Tuesday 25 February, 09:30 - 14:30, Online
Tuesday 11 March, 09:30 - 14:30, Online
Tips and strategies to help you build, grow and develop.
We'll be covering the following (and much more!)
Foundations - create a solid foundation for your venture.
Impact - shape a truly impactful venture for your customers and community.
Momentum - plan for a sustainable future and explore options for growth.
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We'll take you through examples of successful venture models in the market, innovative ways you can bring in revenue and how to apply them to your venture.
This is a peer-driven session; we'll be comparing experiences, sharing ideas and working together to support each other's ventures.
Book your place
To book your place for any of our upcoming sessions, view their links below:
Toolbox Series
Take your lunch break to the next level with our new Lunchtime Toolbox Series - a practical, no-pressure way to learn valuable skills in just 60–90 minutes.
AI for Grants: Find, Write & Win with Confidence
Upcoming date: Wednesday 22 January, 12:30 - 14:00
Online
Struggling with grant applications and how to structure them? Feeling overwhelmed by AI? Don’t worry - you’re not alone!
In this hands-on session, Blue O'Connor from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) will guide you through real-life examples of how AI tools can help you:
Find the right grants quickly
Write compelling application
Create presentations in a flash
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Discover how AI tools can simplify your grant application process, saving you time, reducing stress, and boosting your chances of success.
This session is perfect for anyone who finds writing grant applications daunting or time-consuming, organisations eager to simplify the grant process and achieve more in less time, or curious minds interested in getting started with AI tools but unsure where to begin.
This isn’t a formal, high-pressured session—it’s a friendly, welcoming space where you can learn how to save time, reduce stress, and unlock exciting funding opportunities with ease.
Demystifying SEO
Upcoming date: Tuesday 4 February, 12:30 - 14:00
Online
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. What it is, is vital in helping your website work harder for you.
Led by Jenny Claxton from Redspark Digital, you’ll walk away with practical, jargon-free strategies that you can implement immediately. Discover:
What SEO actually is (and isn’t)
How search engines rank websites
How to use keywords effectively
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Whether you’re a startup trying to grow your audience or a nonprofit seeking to engage supporters, this session will break down SEO into simple, actionable steps to help your website work harder for you - without needing a big budget or technical expertise.
How to Use AI to Save Time and Money
Upcoming date: Tuesday 25 February, 12:30 - 13:30
Online
AI can enhance workflows, boost innovation and deliver better results, so why aren’t you using it? This interactive workshop will guide you through the fundamentals of AI and how to get the most from it.
You’ll leave the session with the confidence to use AI to its full potential, from copy to design, marketing to social media. Discover:
Inspiration for simplifying the creative process
Fresh perspectives on human-AI collaboration
Ideas for new service offerings and client engagement models
The common pitfalls to avoid during AI adoption
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Perfect for startups and nonprofits, this session is designed to give you a head-start when using AI for all things creative.
You’ll explore how this groundbreaking tool can help you save time and money on your start-up’s journey.
Marketing Without a Budget
Upcoming date: Thursday 27 February, 12:30 - 14:00
Online
Having limited resources can sharpen your focus and teach you invaluable lessons about your audience.
This session, led by Sara Harrod, will show you creative marketing strategies to reach your audience and grow your brand utilising the resources you already have. Discover:
How to make marketing with a limited budget possible
Creative ways to reach your audience
How to leverage your network
Ways to get creative with your content
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This session teaches budget-free marketing through creativity, collaboration, and community.
You'll learn to maximise social media, leverage your network, and refine strategies without a budget.
Gain actionable ideas to create meaningful content and grow your brand. This session is perfect for startups and nonprofits looking to market effectively on limited resources.
Selling Made Simple
Upcoming date: Thursday 30 January, 12:30 - 13:30
Online
Selling doesn’t have to be pushy or uncomfortable. It’s about building connections, solving problems, and helping others.
Join Dave Kavanagh from Sales Geek to demystify sales and see how simple approaches make all the difference. This session will show you how to:
Build rapport and trust with customers
Master active listening to uncover insights
Address your audience’s real needs.
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This is a welcoming, no-pressure session designed for anyone who finds sales daunting or unfamiliar, and you’ll walk away with the knowledge of how to make selling feel natural and even enjoyable.
Whether you’re just getting started, growing your business, working in an organisation, or just curious about how to build better relationships, this session is for you.
Unlock the Power of Your Brand
Upcoming date: Tuesday 12 February, 12:30 - 14:00
Online
A brand is more than just a logo or tagline. In this session, you will explore the essence of your brand, and create lasting relationships with your audience.
Led by Yola O’Hara from Visually Explained, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of your brand and the next steps to bring it to life. Discover:
The importance of cohesive branding
How to define your brand identity
How to communicate your brand effectively
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This interactive lunch-and-learn session will help you uncover your brand’s identity and the steps you’ll need to take next to bring it to life.
This session is perfect for start-ups looking to establish a brand identify, nonprofits wanting to communicate their mission clearly and build trust with partners, and entrepreneurs and small businesses ready to refine or craft a brand that truly resonates.
Creating Stunning Designs with Canva
Upcoming date: Tuesday 26 February, 12:30 - 13:30
Online
You don't have to use expensive software or a pro designer to produce stunning results. This session will teach you how to create professional visuals regardless of your experience level.
Led by George Chan from Bluefin Films, you’ll have an introduction to Canva’s features and the opportunity to create your first design. Discover:
Why Canva?
How Canva can help you save time and money
The confidence to get into Canva and create your own materials
The core functionality of this software
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George brings his background in digital storytelling and branding to guide you through Canva’s features, from straightforward social graphics to presentations, animations and more.
During the session, you’ll be able to follow along and create your first design, with plenty of actionable takeaways and inspiration for your next project.
This session is ideal for startups and nonprofits wanting to produce great presentations, marketing and graphics.
Discover all sessions
To book your place for any of our Toolbox sessions, view the links below:
Meet the Mentors
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Aimeé actively supports the growth of start-ups within the South West, providing design, oversight and delivery of regional funding and business support programmes. Aimeé has led high-impact initiatives, including >£4m of programmes, such as Scale-up 4 Growth Gloucestershire, the WoE Digital Innovation Fund and START.
Recognised in the top 100 innovators in the South West, winner of the 2023 Business Mentor/Advisor award, and a qualified leadership coach, Aimeé has worked with more than 130 founders as they build their businesses.
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Paula is a wordsmith, and an active member of the Wiltshire business community, hosting her own network in Chippenham and being a key member of many more.
She was a member of the Wiltshire Growth Hub team, hosting their webinar series and supporting our business community.
She loves making connections, helping people with their business challenges and being a part of their journey.
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Charly Patrick is Chief Operations Officer at techSPARK, our not for profit regional tech community.
She previously delivered the highly regarded NatWest Accelerator Programme.
She's worked with and for start-ups through her career and likes to get into the details, working out the finances and interrogating the business plan.
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Lucy has been supporting people on their founder journeys for the last twelve years, initially in Sussex before moving back to the West Country.
She delivered the Wiltshire based Innovation for Growth fund for the University of the West of England, as well as heading up techSPARK Swindon & Wiltshire, and being a part of the innovation support team at the University of Bath.
Her focus is around customers, sales, and the why of every idea - to make sure we create ventures with impact.
Grant funding
We know that grants provide vital financial support for grassroots community projects and small rural businesses – enabling you to launch, sustain and scale your projects.
The aim of the Rural Hubs Grants scheme is to assist rural businesses or organisations in Wiltshire, particularly social enterprises and/or non-profit driven businesses or organisations which provide services in smaller rural places and local firms/farms in smaller rural places which provide, or are intending to provide, a social function and benefit (e.g. retail, hospitality, service-based sectors).
The expectation is that Rural Hubs grants will be between £10,000 and £25,000, although applications above or below these expected values will still be considered.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and places, supporting local business, people and skills. You can read more about the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on the Gov.UK website.
Eligibility
The support programme and grant funding are aimed at not-for-profit social enterprises, charities, small rural businesses, or individuals passionate about community impact in rural Wiltshire. It cannot support ventures from the following areas: Salisbury, Trowbridge, Chippenham, Devizes, Warminster, Melksham, Marlborough, Calne, Corsham, Westbury, Royal Wootton Bassett, Bradford on Avon, Amesbury, Tidworth and Malmesbury.
Do get in touch if you are in one of those areas, there are other support options available.