Sustainable travel grants for businesses 2019-20
This grant round is now closed - no further applications will be considered.
Watch this space for details of possible forthcoming grant rounds.
To apply for a sustainable travel capital grant, please complete our short travel behaviour questionnaire and the capital grant application form, and submit these online by midnight on Monday 30th September 2019.
How much funding can we apply for?
You can apply for grants of up to £5,000 per workplace, subject to available funds and a competitive bidding process. Please note, however, that if your scheme has been quoted for less than £5,000, we will award for the quoted amount, not the full £5,000.
Higher bids over £5000 may be considered, subject to at least 50% match funding and a strong business case demonstrating innovation and modal shift.
What can the funding be spent on?
This is capital funding that can be used for any physical feature within the grounds of the workplace. It should support the aims, objectives and targets within your workplace travel plan and encourage sustainable travel to and from work or aim to reduce or eliminate the need to travel altogether. We encourage you to be creative and innovative with your ideas for funding. A few examples include, but are not limited to:
- cycle storage
- showers, lockers, and changing room facilities
- bicycles and gear for the office
- electric charging points
- signage and road markings
- footpath and cycle-path improvements
- bus stop facilities
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to apply for this funding you must:
- be registered as a business with relevant VAT number etc. or a local authority, or a public service organisation e.g. NHS;
- have a business bank account to which any funds would be paid;
- have at least two employees on your payroll;
- have fully completed and submitted our travel behaviour questionnaire and grant application form, and upload evidence of any planning application should you require planning permission;
- have a place of business in Kent which employees work from (not a home address) and, if the property is leased, have approval from the landlord to implement the proposed measures;
- be able to fully implement and invoice your scheme by Friday 28th February 2020 (if planning permission is required, please bear in mind that this may affect your timescale);
- be able to provide evidence of other funding sources should you choose to use this grant as match-funding for a larger project;
- be able to provide evidence that the grant amount requested will be enough to deliver the project (by including quotes from suppliers to your bid).
How to apply
- Register your business on the grant website.
- Login to your account and complete the travel behaviour questionnaire.
- Ensure you have a quote for the scheme, and include this as part of your application.
- Include evidence of a planning application should you require planning permission.
- Complete and submit the application by Monday 30th September 2019.
We will contact you by Friday 18th October 2019 with the outcome of your application.
If we have our own travel plan, can we use this instead of completing the questionnaire?
You are welcome to upload your travel plan to support your application; however, you must also complete the questionnaire.
The site of my workplace is outside of Kent, can I still apply?
Unfortunately, this funding only supports workplaces located in Kent.
If our business has multiple sites, are we required to fill out an application for each site?
Yes, you will be required to submit an application for each site for which you seek funding.
If we were previously successful in receiving a grant, can we apply again?
Yes, you are welcome to apply again this year; however, we will give first consideration to businesses who have not yet received a grant.
How will applications be assessed?
All applications will be objectively scored by the Transport Innovations team in KCC Highways and will be assessed on the information provided on your Application Form. Please note that applications demonstrating innovation and the ability to create modal shift will be given preference.
All applicants will be informed by email of the outcome of the assessment process by the end of September.
All provisionally successful applications may be required to allow a site visit or to provide additional information or clarification of project proposals, prior to final grant award.
What happens if I am successful?
- Successful applicants will be notified by email and will be asked to complete an online Agreement form, outlining the key Terms and Conditions of the grant.
- You will need to provide a brief update to your account on a monthly basis (from mid-November) outlining progress of your project or work as it occurs. Reminders will be sent prompting you to complete these.
- Ensure you complete the work by Friday 28th February 2020.
- Upload your invoice on business letter headed paper, as well as photographs of the completed work, and all receipts and contractors' invoices by Friday 28th February 2020, so that we can proceed with your reimbursement.
- You will receive a reimbursement once this process is complete.
When will we be reimbursed?
Businesses will be expected to fund all projects up-front and invoice Kent County Council on completion of the works.
You will be required to upload all relevant contractors' invoices and receipts, photographs of the works, and an invoice to Kent CC on your business letterhead by Friday 28th February 2020.
You will receive reimbursement as soon as this process is complete.
What are the dates I need to know?
The deadline to apply is midnight on Monday 30th September 2019.
Grant application outcomes will be notified by Friday 18th October 2019.
If you are successful, you must accept your grant by Friday 25th October 2019.
Work must be complete and contractor receipts, photographs and an invoice on your business letterhead must be uploaded by Friday 28th February 2020.
Who can I contact for further advice and clarification?
Lindsay Reynolds
Transport Innovations
email: admin@kentsmartertravel.co.uk
phone: 03000 418 181
