Website Design Funding North East

Business Funding

for Website Design & Development

Business Funding for North East Businesses

Funding could help your business invest in a new or improved website

Thinking about replacing an outdated website, improving your online presence or developing new functionality for your business?

Eligible businesses across Sunderland, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland may be able to access website design funding towards eligible website design and development projects through the Sunderland Business Support Fund and North of Tyne Business Support Fund.

Paper Voice is a Registered Provider for the Sunderland Business Support Fund and the North of Tyne Business Support Fund.

If your business is considering a new website or a substantial improvement to an existing one, I can help you explore the project, develop the right solution and provide the website design and development services required.

Funding is subject to eligibility, application and approval.

North of Tyne Business Support Fund

The North of Tyne Business Support Fund is available to eligible businesses based in:

Newcastle upon Tyne
North Tyneside
Northumberland

The fund is designed to help businesses access external expertise to improve competitiveness and support business growth.

Eligible projects can include website design and development, making it particularly useful for businesses that have outgrown an existing website or need to improve how they attract and serve customers online.

Depending on eligibility and approval, funding may contribute towards a proportion of the cost of an eligible project.

Find out if you're eligible

Sunderland Business Support Fund

Businesses based within the Sunderland local authority area may also be able to access support through the Sunderland Business Support Fund.

The fund supports eligible projects that can help businesses grow, improve competitiveness and create or safeguard employment.

Website design and development can be eligible for support, making the fund worth exploring if your existing website is no longer supporting the needs or ambitions of your business.

All applications are subject to the eligibility criteria and approval process of the fund.

Find out if you're eligible

What could the funding be used for?

Every business is different, so I don't believe in redesigning a website simply for the sake of making it look newer.

A funded website project should solve a genuine business problem or create an opportunity for growth.

Depending on your requirements and the eligibility of the project, Paper Voice could help with:

A completely new business website
Redesigning an outdated website
Improving the user experience and mobile experience
Developing eCommerce functionality
Online booking or enquiry systems
Bespoke website functionality
Improving customer journeys and calls to action
Restructuring a website around new services or markets
Search engine optimisation and improved website content
Integrating third-party systems and services
Improving website performance and usability

If you’re unsure what your website actually needs, that’s absolutely fine. We can start by looking at your existing website, your business and what you’d like the website to achieve.

Does your website need an upgrade?

A website doesn't necessarily need replacing simply because it's a few years old.

However, it may be worth considering an upgrade if:

Your business has changed. Perhaps you've added new services, moved into new markets or grown significantly since the website was originally created.
Your website looks dated. Your business may have evolved while the website representing it has remained largely unchanged.
It isn't generating enough enquiries. Good website design isn't only about appearance. The structure, content and calls to action should help turn visitors into potential customers.
It doesn't work particularly well on modern devices. A poor mobile experience can make it unnecessarily difficult for customers to find information or contact you.
Updating it has become difficult. Older websites can accumulate outdated plugins, content and functionality that make seemingly simple changes increasingly complicated.
You've outgrown it. You may now need online booking, eCommerce, quotation tools, customer areas, integrations or functionality that wasn't required when the website was first built.

If any of those sound familiar, funding could make this a particularly good time to explore what the next version of your website could achieve.

How Paper Voice can help

Paper Voice has been designing and developing websites for businesses across the North East and beyond since 2014.

I work directly with my clients throughout the project, from discussing the initial ideas and requirements through to design, development, launch and ongoing support.

Rather than starting with a predetermined package, we’ll look at what your business actually needs and develop the project around that.

If the project may be suitable for business support funding, I can provide the information and quotation required for the website design and development element of your application.

Paper Voice is a Registered Provider for the Sunderland Business Support Fund and the North of Tyne Business Support Fund.

TAFE Tractors UK and Ireland website designed and developed by Paper Voice

TAFE Tractors UK & Ireland — website design & development by Paper Voice

Can I get funding towards a new website? Potentially, yes. Website design and development is specifically listed as an eligible type of business support under the relevant NBSL funding programmes.

Your business and proposed project will need to meet the eligibility criteria, and all funding is subject to application, availability and approval. Get in touch with Paper Voice to discuss your website project and I can help you determine whether it may be suitable for one of the available funding programmes.
Which areas are covered by the business support funds? The Sunderland Business Support Fund is available to eligible businesses based within the Sunderland City Council area.

The North of Tyne Business Support Fund covers eligible businesses based in Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland. Please note that funding for the current North of Tyne programme is presently fully allocated, although businesses can register with NBSL to be notified about future funding opportunities.
Can funding be used to redesign my existing website? Yes. Funding isn't restricted to businesses that don't currently have a website. An eligible project could involve redesigning or significantly developing an existing website where the work will help the business to grow, improve competitiveness or become more resilient.

This could include improving an outdated website, restructuring your services, improving the customer journey or introducing new functionality.
How much funding could my business receive? The amount of support available depends on the funding programme, the overall project cost and your eligibility.

Funding programmes and available budgets can change, so I recommend checking the current criteria with NBSL before making any decisions. Paper Voice can provide a detailed quotation for the website design and development work required as part of the application process.
Can Paper Voice apply for the funding for me? The funding application needs to be made by your business directly to NBSL.

Paper Voice can, however, help you define the website project and provide the proposal and quotation required to support your application. NBSL will then assess your business and proposed project and make the decision on whether funding can be awarded.
Can work begin before my funding application is approved? No. If you're applying for funding, you should not instruct Paper Voice to begin the funded work or make any payments towards the project until you have received and signed your Funding Contract.

Starting work or making payments before the appropriate funding contract is in place could make those costs ineligible for grant support.
What types of website projects could be eligible? Eligible projects could include a completely new website, redesigning an outdated website, eCommerce development, online booking or enquiry systems, improved customer journeys, new website functionality, integrations, improved website content and other development designed to help your business grow or become more resilient.

Every project is considered individually, so eligibility cannot be guaranteed. We can discuss what your business needs before you approach NBSL about funding.
Is Paper Voice registered with NBSL? Yes. Paper Voice is a Registered Provider for the Sunderland Business Support Fund and the North of Tyne Business Support Fund.

This means Paper Voice can provide website design and development services for eligible funded projects. Being a Registered Provider does not mean that Paper Voice works for NBSL or that a funding application is guaranteed to be approved.

Interested in finding out more?

If you've been considering a new website or improving your existing one, get in touch.

There’s no obligation to proceed.

We can have an initial conversation about your business, your existing website and what you’d like to achieve. From there, I can recommend what I think would genuinely improve it and you can explore whether your business and proposed project may be eligible for funding.

Let’s talk about your website

Contact Paper Voice today to discuss your project.

Registered Provider

for the Sunderland Business Support Fund
and the North of Tyne Business Support Fund

I am a Registered Provider for NBSL’s Sunderland Business Support Fund and the North of Tyne Business Support Fund helping businesses to improve their competitiveness.

Eligibility and funding are determined by the relevant fund and are not guaranteed. Businesses should not commence funded work until the appropriate application and approval process has been completed.

Registered Provider for the Sunderland Business Support Fund and the North of Tyne Business Support Fund.

Sunderland Business Support Fund North of Tyne Business Support Fund