Any business can apply and all Enterprise Nation ask for in return is that you are profiled on their site so that they can see how things are progressing. There is no need to pay the money back!

So how do you apply?

Visit the Fund101 page on the site and read through all the guidelines.

Good luck!

In 2010, some lovely business owners sponsored a few people to attend the conference. This year we wanted to expand the programme and make it open to as many people as possible.  In this way we hope that it won’t just be mums with great connections who get a sponsored tickets but those who need it most and maybe wouldn’t shout out and ask.

To apply for a scholarship:

Email antonia@businessmumsconference.co.uk with the following details:

• Why you need a scholarship
• How you feel the conference could help you
• What you could do to promote your sponsor
• Whether you also need a travel allowance and how much
• Proof of income (tax credit or income support forms)

NB All information will be in confidence.

All entries must be in by 1st July 2011. Scholarship winners will be announced by 1 August.

Many thanks to the sponsors of each place: BabyTod, Baby Signing Mummy, TotsToTravel and Become A Mumpreneur.

I’m working on a feature for a small business magazine looking at the process of applying for grants and subsidies. I’m looking for small businesses of all kinds to talk about things like:

- how they found out about sources of funding
- the challenges involved in making an application
- whether this kind of funding has made a difference to their business
- advice and tips on successfully winning funding

I’d also be interested in speaking to consultants and other experts who can offer tips to small businesses on this topic.

email Sally: mail @ sallywhittle.co.uk