First Step Fund: your customer's journey on the IASME First Step site
After opening your unique CyberSmart link, your customer completes eight steps on firststep.iasme.co.uk: a landing page, account sign-up, four onboarding steps, an eligibility result, then payment and the funding declaration. It takes a few minutes if they have their company details to hand.
1. Landing page
The page explains the funding, shows the three price bands, lists the eligibility rules and links to the MFA rules on GOV.UK.
Customer action: select Create an account.
2. Sign-up
The Create your account page asks the customer to confirm two options:
Required: accept the Terms of Use and confirm the Privacy Notice has been read.
Optional: opt in to receive communications from IASME about securing your supply chain with Cyber Essentials.
Customer action: tick the required box, select Continue, then set up sign-in details on the next page.
3. Personal details
A four-step progress bar appears: Personal, Organisation, Details, Confirm. This page asks for first name, last name and an optional job title.
Customer action: enter their name and select Continue.
4. Organisation
The Set up your organisation page links the account to the right registered company so eligibility can be confirmed. Fields are company name, country (United Kingdom by default), and optional town or city and postcode.
Customer action: search for the company and select the correct match. Use the registered company name, not a trading name, as the search looks up real registered organisations.
Can't find the company? Try the exact registered name, or add the postcode.
5. Sector and size
The Tell us about your organisation page asks for:
Sector: a drop-down of 56 options.
Organisation size: Sole Trader, Micro (0–9), Small (10–49), Medium (50–249) or Large (250+).
Customer action: choose the sector and the correct size, then select Continue. The size chosen sets the price.
6. Eligibility result
The customer returns to the landing page, which now shows a You're eligible panel confirming the 75% discount and the size band, with the price for that band.
Customer action: select Pay and apply.
7. Payment options
A How would you like to pay? pop-up shows the breakdown.
Customer action: choose Purchase with card or Raise bank transfer invoice. Payment goes directly to IASME.
8. Confirm details and funding declaration
A Confirm your details pop-up appears, with a link to read and accept the voucher declaration: the Minimal Financial Assistance Declaration for Grant funding (Assessment Voucher), version v1.0. By accepting, the customer confirms that:
The funding is a subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, given as a Minimal Financial Assistance award (for example, £240 for a micro organisation).
The organisation will not exceed its MFA limit by accepting it.
The details they entered are correct.
They will do nothing to damage the reputation or standing of IASME or the scheme.
Customer action: select I accept.
What happens next?
Ask your customer to tell you once they've accepted the declaration and paid, so you can place the order with CyberSmart. IASME will then email them login details for its assessment platform, Pervade. See the related article on choosing when to start the assessment.
Need help?
If you have any questions about the First Step Fund, get in touch with our support team using the chat on this page.