Delivering for your community
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) funding allocation for 2025/26 is just under £1.5 million.
Over the coming months, we’ll be using the UKSPF and REPF funding to:
- deliver investment in town centres
- support for local community projects with capital funding
- provide support for businesses and rural communities
- enhance skills for local people
| Programme | Capital | Revenue | Total by fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| UKSPF | £214,998 | £949,429 | £1,164,417 |
| REPF | £318,499 | £0 | £318,499 |
Here’s a guide to the UKSPF and REPF activity 2025 to 2026
Town centre investment
- £80,000 total fund – £20,000 of REPF capital allocated to Sandy, Potton, Ampthill and Shefford town councils for town centre investment projects examples are: town centre benches, improvements and new signage
- £30,000 total fund – £7,500 of UKSPF revenue each to Sandy, Potton, Ampthill and Shefford town councils for community and heritage projects
- £50,000 for highways improvements, delivering small projects in Central Bedfordshire town centres
- £154,988 for bringing vacant town centre units back into use
Community grants
- £150,000 (£75,000 from UKSPF and £75,000 REPF) has been allocated for community grants aimed at local groups, parishes and town councils (now closed to applications) – read more about community grant funding
- Flood alleviation – £98,500. Flood mitigation and impact reduction measures made up of £40,000 UKSPF and £58,500 REPF capital
Community energy
- £31,000 allocated to local community energy groups focussed powering up and powering down projects and a group purchasing solar power scheme (such as Solar Together)
Supporting local businesses – £330,000
We’re helping hundreds of Central Bedfordshire businesses with free, specialist advice on start-up and growth, innovation, developing trade and export, and decarbonisation.
Business innovation
- Businesses will receive innovation and technological support to improve productivity and help in adopting new or improved products or services
Further information, including eligibility criteria is available by the University of Bedfordshire.
Entrepreneurship and start-up
- To support those in the process of starting up, and for start-up businesses (including social enterprises). Delivery will help potential entrepreneurs to be business ready and understand what they need to know about self-employment
Further information, including eligibility criteria is available via WENTA.
Export support
- To help businesses be export-ready and engaged in new markets
Further information and enquiries to Bedfordshire Chamber of commerce: Central Bedfordshire International Trade Support.
Business de-carbonisation
- To provide advice, guidance, mentoring and training, which will result in new or improved de-carbonisation and/or net zero plans
Further information, including eligibility criteria is available via Cranfield University.
Business growth
- Supporting established businesses with growth potential through the development of business growth plans and the adoption of new or improved products or services
Further information, including eligibility criteria is available via Cranfield University.
People and skills – £380,000
We are supporting hundreds of local residents improve their employability free of charge through:
- Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA) and Be Positive are providing continuation of employment support for economically inactive residents, improving their opportunities for employment
- BESA is also providing Green Skills training for young people through the Installation Assurance Authority (IAA) and SSG Training
Find out more about UKSPF
Contact
If you would like further information about business support available through UKSPF, email: ukspfbusinesssupport@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
