The grants available include:

• £250 for a new child-minding businesses
• £500 for a new child-minding businesses that will provide care for disabled children
• £500 for a new nursery, out of school club or childcare facilities on domestic premises setting up in England.

If you are intending to set up a new childcare business you can apply to the scheme to:

• get a small grant to help you with the costs of getting trained and registered
• access a business mentor to support and advise you as you start your business
• access business advice tailored to the childcare sector.

The initiative was launched in April 2013 and aims to support over 7,000 new childcare enterprises. The scheme is designed to get more women into work and help drive economic growth by offering grants of up to £500 to help people pay for things like training, equipment, insurance and adaptations to premises that can otherwise be tough when you're setting up a new business.

Minister for Women, The Rt Hon Nicky Morgan MP, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for people who are, or maybe thinking of, starting up their own child minding or nursery business. We are offering grants of up to £500 to help budding entrepreneurs with some of their start-up costs. Thousands of people have already applied for a grant, but I want even more people to benefit which is why we are extending the scheme until the end of the year. I would urge anyone who is interested to apply as soon as possible to ensure you don't miss out.

“The scheme intends to have a double effect in both making sure there is more childcare available for women who want to go back to work whilst enabling others to set up their own business. New businesses are also being encouraged to team up with a free mentor so they can access specially-tailored business start-up advice.”

Find out more about the Childcare Business Grant Scheme, by visiting the official website.

Photo credit: Flickr -  Holger Zscheyge