IEE Employer Fund

The Integrated Employer Engagement (IEE) Employer Fund is a small grants programme designed to support micro-businesses across the City Region, with workforce development, job growth, upskilling and career progression.

The fund is delivered collaboratively with regional Business Gateway teams. 

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2025 IEE Employer Fund

Applications for our IEE Skills Innovation Fund open on Monday 25th of August and close on Friday 29th of August.

This year's IEE Skills Innovation fund offers small grants of up to £5,000 to companies to create, development and implement new and innovate skills projects and solutions which will aim to create and retain jobs, enable staff upskilling and employee career progression.

Examples of fund spend are, but not limited to:

  • Innovative Skills Projects
  • Training and Skills Development
  • Curriculum and Learning Resource Design
  • Recruitment Practice Development
  • Workplace Readiness and Engagement
  • In-house training programme development
  • Internal Assessor/Verifier upskilling.

We welcome submissions from microbusinesses (9 employees or less) across East Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Midlothian, Scottish Borders & West Lothian. Applicants must be 18 years or older to be considered eligible.

Please review the documents below before applying, and send your application in before the deadline. We do encourage applications to be sent as early as possible due to the volume we receive.

If you have any queries, email the IEE team at ieeemployerfund@capitalcitypartnership.org.

Previous IEE Employer funds

These funds are no longer active for applications

2024 IEE Employer Fund

This fund looked at supporting Business Growth for businesses in the process of developing their company who had been trading between 12-36 months. The fund could also be used for digital, Net Zero, sustainability development/help and support.

2023 IEE Employer Fund

The fund supported Start Up businesses in job growth, stability or creation. Applications were open for owners 18+ years of age, who were registered with Business Gateway’s Planning to Start Portal and in the process of developing their company and should have been trading for no longer than 24 months.

2022 Start Up Fund

The fund supported applications from Start-Up businesses. It was for individuals aged 18 years and over, established over the last 18 months. Applications from sole-traders was also welcome.

2022 Social Enterprise/Community Interest Companies Fund

This fund supported Social Enterprises/CiCs to develop their business towards changing the world for the better. To build a fairer society and more inclusive economy.

2021 (Start Up/Wellbeing fund)

Start up: The fund was to support applications from Start-Up businesses. Particularly for individuals 25+ who had started their company due to an indirect impact of COVID-19.

Wellbeing: The fund was to support micro businesses secure funding to develop staff wellbeing, maintain and enhance employment. And help them re-adjust to different working practices and to prevent any future absences.

2020

The fund supported micro businesses secure funding to assist their business to trade safely under new government guidelines. To maintain employment, prevent redundancy or allow staff to work from home efficiently.