Dacorum's Den

Organised by Dacorum Borough Council and supported by local sponsors, Dacorum’s Den is our business grant scheme, based on the popular TV show, which gives budding local entrepreneurs the chance to apply for funding to grow and develop a business idea.

Since it was launched in 2012, more than £90,000 has been invested in business growth to over 70 local organisations. Applications for Dacorum’s Den 2023 will open in the spring. Sign up to our Business Update Newsletter to be informed of the application open date.

Are you able to donate funding to help small local businesses grow?

If you are interested in sponsoring Dacorum’s Den 2023, please email business@dacorum.gov.uk. It is a great initiative for larger businesses to help small local businesses grow or develop new start-up ideas. This small injection of funding and support can go a long way to help a small business grow.

Hannah Goundry, Owner Home County Candle Co - Winner 2019, says: "Winning the funding from Dacorum's Den was business changing for us - we went from being able to manufacture 50 per day to being able to pour hundreds of candles a day thanks to new machinery. Since securing the funding we've moved warehouses twice to keep up with demand and have doubled our team.

"Outside of the grant money itself, Dacorum's Den also gave us the confidence to push forward with our growth plans - being backed by business experts was a huge boost for us and we loved attending the winners' lunch and meeting the other winners.”

Winners 2022

Eight budding entrepreneurs won funding in Dacorum's Den 2022 and were awarded up to £2,500. They were:

• Shaggy and Chic
• Apex 360
• Magical Story Elves
• ZV Textiles
• Sunsible
• Nevie-Pie Cakes
• Chocwork