Business Connection Fund
Where business meets living history
WHERE BUSINESS MEETS LIVING HISTORY
Connect your workforce with Derbyshire's heritage landmarks to exchange professional skills, support local preservation, and inspire your team.
Derbyshire Makes History is offering funding of up to £1,000 to support collaboration between local commercial businesses and world-class heritage organisations.
A Two-Way Exchange That Benefits Everyone
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.
How Will You Work Together?
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)
Ready to collaborate and create something historic?
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
Derbyshire Makes History is set up to compliment the wider 3-year Derbyshire Makes programme, with an exclusive heritage focus, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK's heritage.