Shared Prosperity Fund
Overview
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was a Government funding programme designed to support local communities, businesses and skills development, initially forming part of the UK’s wider “Levelling Up” agenda. In Cheshire West and Chester, the Council was allocated £12.6 million for delivery between April 2022 and March 2025, supported by a locally-developed Investment Plan agreed with stakeholders.
A one-year transition allocation (2025–2026) of approximately £3.6 million allowed selected projects to continue temporarily beyond UKSPF’s initial lifespan.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has now closed, with no confirmed successor funding programme in place as of June 2026.
Programme aims
Across the borough, UKSPF investment focused on three core priorities:
- Communities and Place – strengthening local pride, culture and infrastructure
- Supporting Local Business – helping businesses grow, innovate and create jobs
- People and Skills – improving employability, skills and access to work
These priorities aimed to:
- Improve life chances and wellbeing
- Empower communities and voluntary sector organisations
- Support business resilience and growth
- Help residents access employment, training and opportunities
Key delivery themes
Investment focused on improving neighbourhoods and community capacity through:
- Funding for community buildings, green spaces and heritage assets
- Support for arts, culture and local identity projects
- Initiatives promoting volunteering, social action and inclusion
Impact:
- Nearly 60 projects funded, ranging from major capital improvements to grassroots initiatives
- Enhanced community infrastructure and engagement across the borough
Key outputs:
- 237 community organisations received grants
- Over 3,700 volunteering opportunities supported
- Over 65,000m2 of green or blue space created or improved
- 83 tourism, cultural or heritage assets created or improved
This theme focused on helping residents access employment and develop skills, particularly those facing barriers:
- Support for economically inactive adults
- Targeted interventions for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)
Programmes included:
- Skills training and employment support
- Mentoring and confidence-building
- Job readiness and career guidance
Key outputs:
- 1,201 people received employment support
- 2,467 people supported to access education
- 926 economically inactive people engaged with keyworker services
For details on the ongoing work of our Skills & Employment team, more information can be found on our Skills & Employment web pages.
Business grants focused on support for the following themes:
- Start-Up and Micro businesses
- Decarbonisation
- Innovation
- High Growth
Key outputs:
- 66 business decarbonisation plans developed
- 26,286m2 of low carbon energy infrastructure installed
- 318 potential entrepreneurs assisted
- 168 new businesses created
- 420 jobs created
Additional information on the Supporting Local Business theme can be found on our Let’s Talk Business portal.
A complementary rural funding element supported:
- Small businesses and farms through capital grants
- Community infrastructure in rural areas
- Improvements to local productivity, connectivity and services
Key outputs and impact:
- 752m2 blue green land improved with 9 amenities improved
- 35 grants awarded
- 33 micro businesses supported
- 21 jobs created or safeguarded
