The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) proactively supports Mission-delivery: pushing power out to communities everywhere, with a specific focus to help kickstart economic growth and promoting opportunities in all parts of the UK.
The UK government’s Autumn Budget announced a further £900 million of funding for local investment by March 2026. All areas of the UK are receiving a further allocation of UKSPF – helping places take advantage of the Fund’s flexibility and plan now for delivery from April 2025. Burnley has been allocated £1,638,379 to support a wide range of projects across the three investment themes below.
Communities and Place
There are two themes under the priority of Communities and Place; these are Healthy, Safe and Inclusive Communities and Thriving Places. Its scope includes improving health and wellbeing, reducing crime and the fear of crime and bringing communities together.
Supporting Local Business
The scope of this theme includes advice and support to business, enterprise culture and start-up support.
People and Skills
The scope of the Employability theme includes supporting people, including those who are economically inactive, to progress towards and into sustained employment and support for young people who are at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
For more information visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus – GOV.UK and UK Shared Prosperity Fund 2025-26: Technical note – GOV.UK
What we will deliver
All of the projects listed below have been or are subject to the submission and approval of a suitable business case.
Community & Place
- Burnley Community Grant Scheme will provide small grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 to community groups and third sector organisations to deliver a range of projects around improving place, accessibility, healthy lives, green spaces, arts, culture, heritage and sports. If you’d like to receive a grant application pack please contact Heather Starkie at heather.starkie@bprcvs.co.uk.
- Investment will be made into the town’s Heritage Action Zone on Lower St James Street working with property owners to restore disused and underused properties with significant heritage work.
- Supporting initiatives leading to support Burnley’s Culture 2027.
- Town centre, environment and canal-side projects.
- Youth engagement and outreach programme.
Supporting Local Business
- Growth Lancashire – Burnley Business Hub – providing universal business support for new and growth businesses ranging from workshops and webinars to business clinics and peer to peer sessions including one-to-one support.
- Burnley Manufacturing Technology Programme – specialist one-to-one support for all sectors of manufacturing will be available, aligning seamlessly with Made Smarter to identify opportunities for digitalisation of IR4.0 tech to drive productivity, net zero transition, green growth markets, and improving value added activities leading to growth. Tools and techniques around leadership & management will also be available. Contact Martyn Hardacre for an initial discussion at mhardacre@burnley.gov.uk.
People and Skills
The Burnley Together Steps to Employment project will continue to provide tailored support for Burnley residents who unemployed or who are out of work, including those who want a job but have not recently sought work, and those who are the most dis-engaged, maybe with additional barriers to employment.
The project will target young people, the over 50s, BAME (Black Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities, and the long-term unemployed. There will be an additional focus on women, those with disabilities and those who are not in education, employment or training or at risk of becoming so.
Support will include careers advice, coaching, emotional therapy, health programmes, digital job searching and training courses.
Adult numeracy courses will be available for Burnley residents looking to build confidence with numbers, manage money, improve workplace skills, access further education or employment, or support their children with homework.
For more information contact Kim Isherwood at kisherwood@calico.org.uk.
If you would like to know more about accessing support on any of the above projects please use the contact details provided.
For any other information please contact Burnley Council’s Project Manager – Samantha Smallridge – ssmallridge@burnley.gov.uk
