Freelance Grant Writer

Closing date for applications: 7 October 2026, 8.50am

Blackpool Skills Academy

Blackpool Skills Academy seeks an independent freelance contractor to research funding opportunities and prepare accurate, persuasive grant applications for agreed projects.

Engagement Freelance contractor

Success fee 10% of grant funding received

The contractor provides services under a written contract for services, with an authorised BSA contact approving briefs and submissions. Each assignment identifies the funder, project, application and deliverables before work starts.

No fixed employee working pattern or guaranteed volume of work is attached to this role.

The contractor controls how the services are delivered, subject to agreed deadlines, security requirements and lawful funder conditions, and may serve other clients subject to confidentiality and conflicts of interest.

The parties must assess the actual working relationship and applicable tax obligations before engagement and review them if arrangements change. Calling the role freelance does not remove statutory rights where worker or employee status applies.

Any use of another person must be covered by the service agreement and appropriate competence, confidentiality and safeguarding arrangements.

10%

Success fee of cash grant funding actually received by BSA for an application covered by the agreed assignment.

An award letter or funding promise alone does not trigger a fee. If a grant is paid in instalments, the fee accrues proportionately only as each instalment is received. No success fee accrues on an unsuccessful application or an amount not received.

Example

A £50,000 award paid as £20,000 followed by £30,000 gives rise to fees of £2,000 and £3,000 respectively, after the corresponding receipts.

There is no £5,000 fee payable solely because the award is announced.

The written agreement must settle invoicing and payment deadlines, VAT treatment, expenses, any grant repayment or clawback, termination and later receipts. Renewals, extensions, unrelated awards and pre-existing applications are included only where expressly agreed.

No fee may be charged twice on the same receipt.

• Check eligibility, conditions and any restrictions on commissions or bid-writing fees before accepting an assignment.
• Do not proceed under this fee arrangement where it is prohibited. Agree a compliant alternative in writing before work begins.
• Do not deduct the fee from restricted grant funds unless the funder expressly permits that use. BSA must identify a lawful funding source for the fee.

BSA retains authority to approve project commitments, budgets, applications and acceptance of grants.

The contractor must not sign on BSA’s behalf, commit expenditure, promise delivery or submit an application without written authorisation.

• Research suitable opportunities and maintain a pipeline of eligibility, deadlines, likely fit, conditions and recommended next steps. Do not assume BSA has charitable status or is eligible for a fund.
• Develop applications from verified BSA information: evidence of need, intended beneficiaries, activities, delivery capacity, realistic budgets, measurable outcomes and evaluation plans.
• Coordinate requests for information with the authorised BSA contact. Identify gaps, unsupported claims, match-funding obligations and delivery risks early.
• Write and revise applications to the funder’s requirements. Obtain BSA approval of the final version, supporting documents and financial commitments before submission.
• Maintain an accessible record of drafts, approvals, submissions, funder correspondence, decisions and reporting deadlines. Hand over award…