About the Future Camden Fund
The Future Camden Fund is our programme to support small businesses to build a better future for Camden and its residents. We’re looking to fund new workstreams or projects that support your business, while also creating positive social outcomes in the borough, aligned to our Inclusive Economy priority areas – see ‘Application criteria’ below.
How we will fund small businesses or startups
Small businesses or startups applying to the Future Camden Fund can be awarded an affordable loan or Match Trading grant of up to £50,000. Our affordable loans have a flat interest rate at 5% with a three-year repayment term.
Match Trading matches an increase in sales income, compared to a baseline trading income, with a grant. If you make an extra £10,000 over the next year compared to the previous year, we will award you another £10,000. Businesses will also have access to a package of support to help them grow their business, including one to one time with a consultant and a free marketing video developed for you.
Who can apply
The fund is open to small businesses that believe they have a positive impact on the borough. We are particularly keen to hear from small businesses that:
- work towards a more inclusive and sustainable economy
- are Black and female-owned, as data shows that there can be barriers to funding
Application criteria
Your project should meet the following application criteria:
- Your business is based in Camden or can show that a large amount of your work is done locally and benefits local people
- You are a micro or small business with fewer than 50 employees
- You are registered with Companies House or the Charity Commission
- You have a clear, innovative, and realistic project idea that you would like to fund
Your project should also create positive outcomes aligned to one of the Inclusive Economy priority areas:
- Education and training for local people
- Programmes for young people
- Digital inclusion
- Addressing underrepresentation
- Support for diverse and local businesses
- Access to Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics (STEAM)
- Citizens’ health and wellbeing
- Sustainability, net zero or more ethical choices
If you are applying for Match Funding, there should be a clear trading component to your project. This is income that is earned by selling a product or service.
Find out more in our application pack.
How to apply
The first step is to complete the expression of interest form which should take 5 to 10 minutes. We will be in touch within two weeks of your expression of interest to confirm if you are eligible to apply. Click the link below to register.
Register an expression of interest
If you meet the application criteria, we will invite you to submit a full application.
To do this, we will send you a link to our online application form, along with more guidance on how to best respond to our questions. You will have the option to upload documents such as your business plan, pitch deck, impact report or a video.
Your application will be initially assessed by Council Officers in line with the guidance shared with you, and you will then be informed if you are shortlisted for the panel review or not.
Panel decision
Using an assessment framework aligned to the application guidance, an independent panel of senior council officers and local business experts will decide if you application is successful or not.
Applications will be assessed based on evidence of local impact, how well they support our priority areas, and how they will measure their impact.
Usually there are few follow up questions from the panel before a final decision is made.
Application dates
The fund is open on a rolling basis until all monies have been awarded. The panel will meet monthly to review shortlisted applications. The cut off for the monthly review is the 15th of each month. Any applications received after the 15th of each month will be reviewed the following month.
You may submit an expression of interest at any time. Please note that if we are experiencing a high volume of applications, there may be a delay in reviewing your application, and this will be communicated to you.
Please contact us at futurecamdenfund@camden.gov.uk if you have any questions.