We are delighted to announce the launch of the GBEA Community Grant Programme, which will see a £12,000 fund awarded to support members of the community. 

It is launched in conjunction with the Great British Entrepreneur Awards’ newest partner, SME invoice and accounting software provider, FreshBooks.  

Over the course of 2021, the programme will see 12 entrants secure a £1,000 grant in the form of credit with another member of the GBEA community, helping to support two businesses with each grant. 

The grant will be redeemable with a business operating in the creative space, offering support with marketing, content creation, design, branding and more.

Entrants will be required to submit a video pitching how they plan to make use of the grant, with a public vote determining the recipient of each one. 

The funding partner behind the GBEA Community Grant Programme, FreshBooks, was created in 2003 after founder, Mike McDerment accidentally saved over an existing invoice. He spent three-and-a-half-years growing FreshBooks from his parents’ basement. Since then, over 24 million people have used FreshBooks to send over $60 billion in invoices, on average, saving more than 192 hours a year on accounting. Since launching in the UK in February 2020, FreshBooks has committed to providing its UK customers a formidable experience and is both Making Tax Digital and open banking compliant. 

Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom. Central to its ethos is being more than just ‘an awards ceremony’ – it’s a sense of community, and a thriving ecosystem of support all year round that provide opportunities for winners and finalists to connect and showcase their business. 

Francesca James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: “We have provided a whole host of support to our community in recent years and I’m delighted that our partnership with FreshBooks allows us to provide financial support for the first time. 

“I’m also extremely proud that we are offering these grants in the form of credit with an existing member of the GBEA community. I’m delighted that FreshBooks shares our values of inclusive, community support and I look forward to working with the team as we continue our mission to support and champion the UK’s incredible entrepreneurs.”

Mark Girvan, Chief Commercial Officer at FreshBooks, said: “FreshBooks is excited to kick off this partnership with the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, and is looking forward to connecting and engaging with their network of business owners.

“This partnership will help to provide tools and resources meant to empower entrepreneurs while they manage their business. We can’t wait to see what this year has in store.”