Buildstreambase
Move a budget line before you spend
A commercially sensible purchase can still fall outside the grant if a budget change was never approved in the required way.
Startup plans change. A supplier may withdraw, imported equipment can rise in price, or customer demand can make another purchase more urgent. The key question is not whether the change felt reasonable; it is whether the funding terms permitted it.
Read the variation clause
Some agreements allow movement within a percentage tolerance. Others require written approval for any shift between categories. Check who can approve, what information they need and whether approval must precede commitment.
Make the request specific
State the amount moving, the original and proposed budget lines, the business reason and the effect on the funded outcome. Attach a revised budget with unchanged totals clearly shown.
Preserve the complete answer
A quick “fine by me” in a messaging app may not satisfy the contract. Ask the authorised programme contact to confirm in the required channel, then save the request and response with the revised budget.
If spending already happened, disclose the timing honestly. Backdating a schedule or presenting later approval as prior approval damages the reliability of the whole file.