Business Connection Fund

This project isn't just about funding – it’s about a meaningful exchange of expertise. We are bringing together the sharpest commercial minds and the custodians of our historic landmarks to share knowledge, build resilience, and celebrate local history.

• What Businesses Bring: Strategic planning, digital marketing, corporate governance, project management, and commercial expertise to help local heritage assets thrive.

• What Heritage Brings: Inspiring historic spaces, traditional building skills, educational enrichment, deep community roots, and unique team-building backdrops.

The grant is flexible, allowing businesses and heritage partners to co-create a project that fits their goals. Here are four ways you can collaborate but the possibilities are endless:

• Skill-Sharing & In-House Training - Utilise inspiring historic spaces for your corporate training sessions, or have heritage experts deliver fascinating history and traditional skills talks.

• Mutual Volunteering & Mentoring - Share your professional business skills to help a heritage site with its operations, or participate in cross-organisational volunteering days that benefit both your team and the heritage site.

• Bespoke Corporate Events - Design a tailored networking, client, or team-building event held within the unique, unforgettable backdrop of a Derbyshire heritage site.

• Employee Wellbeing & Tours - Invest in your workforce. Use funding to secure private tour tickets for a business-wide employee day out, connecting your team with the fabric of local history.

Step 1: Apply

Click the link at the top or bottom of this page to fill out our quick online partnership form outlining your project details and budget requirements (up to £1,000). Don’t worry if you haven’t identified a heritage partner we can help you with that.

Step 2: Response

Receive a response from the Derbyshire Makes team, secure your funding, and start making an impact!
Eligibility Note: This programme is strictly for businesses, social enterprises, and heritage organisations located within Derbyshire. (this excludes Derby City)

Don't let your ideas sit on the shelf. Partner up, share your skills, and unlock up to £1,000 to fund your joint project today.

Simple Application form - Click Here to Apply Now

Every heritage organisation is different, and the opportunities available can be shaped around the skills, interests and needs of your business.

The examples below illustrate the types of partnerships that could be developed.

Interested in connecting with one of the featured heritage organisations? Email tricia@artsderbyshire.org.uk to start the conversation.

Friends of Cromford Canal

There are plenty of volunteer opportunities at Cromford Canal that we could work with Derbyshire businesses to develop. This could include working parties, tour guides, and more. We are also interested in working with an organsiation to advise us advertising our work at Cromford Canal.

Find out more about Cromford Canal

Children's Country House at Sudbury

We would like to work with Derbyshire businesses to develop volunteering opportunities with a particular focus on family and arts public facing events. We can develop these opportunities to suit local businesses.

Find out more about The Children's Country House at Sudbury

Cromford Mills

There are a variety of ways we would like to work with businesses in Derbyshire.

A few examples in ways we can connect include: a heritage experience package - this could include a free one-off meeting room hire with a guided heritage tour. Also with behind the scenes access to some spaces, an insight into our regeneration proposals.

We could develop a learning and expertise 'exchange' with expertise in charity governance, charity finance, grant funding, heritage-led regeneration, partnership working, volunteer management, community engagement.

There are many ways we could work together and we look forward to developing the perfect project.

Find out more about Cromford Mills

Creswell Crags

Creswell Heritage Trust is looking to develop both short and long-term partnerships with businesses across Derbyshire.

These could include annual passes, guided tours, wellbeing workshops, meeting and room hire packages, team away days, and other bespoke experiences that connect your workforce with one of Derbyshire's most significant heritage sites.

We look forward to working with you.

Find out more about Creswell Crags