150 UK small business grants to apply for right now

Securing grant finance for your small business or start-up is a constant challenge – but there is help available. Here, we have rounded up a comprehensive list of business grants from all over the UK.

These funds are available to SME businesses either within a specified local authority, defined as having fewer than 250 employees or with a turnover of less than £45,000 and a balance sheet totalling less than £39,000.

You will see that many of the funding opportunities are often based on a specific location or sector, or ring-fenced for a certain part of a business, like job creation or making eco-friendly changes. But we explain each grant with the information needed to see if it can apply to your project.

Where possible, you will want to talk with the grant provider to assess your suitability. In addition, almost all awarding bodies will want to see a business plan and in many cases matching funding, so it pays to prepare your paperwork before making contact.

Grants can sometimes be combined with other forms of funding, such as banks, grant makers, crowdfunding platforms, and other lenders.

Links to each grant can be found in the following headings.

UK Business Grants
England Business Grants
Wales Business Grants
Scotland Business Grants
Northern Ireland

UK Business Grants

1. Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Non-CO2 programme

The ATI Programme offers funding for research and technology development in the UK to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace. Sustainability is a core element of Destination Zero – the UK’s aerospace technology strategy. Priorities are focused on reducing CO2 emissions in line with aviation sector’s target of Net Zero 2050, as well as further reductions of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Noise.

This Non-CO2 programme focuses on addressing challenges with reducing non-CO2 emissions from the aerospace sector, outlined in the ATI’s new non-CO2 emission roadmap. Funding will be awarded from the ATI programme’s 10-year research and development (R&D) budget; extended to 2035, with up to £2.3 billion available.

The ATI Non-CO2 programme is a 2-stage competition:

• Stage 1: outline stage
• Stage 2: full stage application

Only successful applicants from the outline proposal will be invited to apply for the full-stage strands which are assessed separately by IUK, the ATI, and DBT.

If your full-stage application is successful, your application will progress to final approval through DBT ministers. Contracts will be issued by IUK.

Apply through the website.

2. The King’s Trust Enterprise Programme

A good source for help with funding is the King’s Trust, which offers development awards to help younger people kickstart their business or access training courses.

At present the Trust offers development awards of up to £500 for UK residents aged between 16 and 30 who are looking for funds to help with training. They must fit the following criteria:

• Aged 16 to 30 and living in the UK
• Studying less than 14 hours a week or not in compulsory education
• Unemployed or working less than 16 hours a week

Furthermore, development awards can support:

• Accredited course fees up to Level 3 (A level equivalent)
• Tools, equipment or uniforms for a job or qualification
• Job licence fees
• Transport to a new job until your first pay slip

Development awards can’t support:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Living expenses e.g. rent or bills
• Business start-up costs
• Costs for items that have already been paid for
• Gap year or overseas projects​​​​​​​
• Level 4 course fees and beyond (i.e. Higher National Certificate​​​​​​ or Diploma)

3. R&D tax credits

R&D Tax Credits are for innovative projects in science and technology. They can be claimed by firms who want to research or develop an advance in their field. You can even claim it on unsuccessful projects.

You can apply if you have fewer than 500 staff members and a turnover of under €100m or balance sheet total under €86m, and a balance sheet beginning before April 1, 2024.

Check Eligibility Today

4. Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

Gigabit vouchers can be used by small businesses to go towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband connections. SMEs can claim £4,500. Eligibility criteria apply around speed and type of business – check the website for more details.

5. Innovate UK

Innovate UK provides grant funding opportunities to help companies turn innovative ideas into commercial products and services. It promotes Research and Development across a wide range of sectors, funding different stages of innovation, from early research to commercialisation.

These grants are highly competitive, with opportunities for both open innovation (encouraging cutting-edge projects from any sector) and challenge-led innovation (seeking applicants with a solution to a predefined challenge).

If your company has an innovative project in mind, you can learn more and discuss your eligibility in a free consultation with Inventya.  

Check eligibility

6. Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)

You have probably heard of the SEIS scheme. It helps start-ups to raise money for their business. You get a maximum of £250,000 including state aid awarded in the three years running up to the date of investment.

Make sure you meet the conditions so investors can claim and keep SEIS tax reliefs relating to their shares. Said tax reliefs will be withheld or withdrawn if you don’t meet these conditions for three years after the investment. The money must be spent within three years of the share issue.

7. Innovate UK Business Growth

Innovate UK Business Growth is offering UK business owners funded, bespoke support, to help grow their companies.

This includes:

• Exploiting innovation, intellectual property, and connections in the UK and abroad
• Entering new markets at home and abroad
• Accessing funding and finance and getting investment ready

Early stage, growth stage or scaling business with up to 500 employees (250 in Northern Ireland) are suitable for this programme.

You can find out more about what Innovate UK Business Growth offers and how to apply on their website.

Check eligibility

8. Birmingham commercial vehicle grant

This £10m grant scheme aims to help small businesses based within the Birmingham Clean Air Zone (CAZ), wider Birmingham and West Midlands region to meet European standards.

To help small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with HDVs, coaches and/or LGVs upgrade their fleet to meet Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone emission standards, we have secured a £10.05 million commercial grant.

Eligible businesses must be able to evidence that they:

• Are based within the Clean Air Zone, wider Birmingham or West Midlands area, and
• Are conducting commercial operations within the Clean Air Zone

The total grant package for each business is up to £180,000 – that’s up to £15,000 per heavy goods vehicle and up to 35 per cent of the maximum cost of an upgrade up at a maximum of £4,000 for each light goods vehicle.

You can find out more and register here.

9. Plug-in grant for low-emission vehicles

You can get a discount on the price of brand new low-emission vehicles through a grant the government gives to vehicle dealerships and manufacturers. You do not need to do anything if you want to buy one of these vehicles – the dealer will include the value of the grant in the vehicle’s price.

10. Government apprenticeships

The Government website has lots of info about apprenticeships as well as how to register and use the apprenticeship service. You’ve got different sites for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

11. British Council Grants

British Council Grants fund research, travel and workshops. Have a look at their website for current opportunities.

12. Ashden Awards 

The Ashden Awards are geared at businesses around the world who have outstanding climate solutions. If you win, you could get a cash prize of up to £40,000 as well as publicity and connections.

13. Countryside Stewardship

The Countryside Stewardship has around 151 grants in total depending on what improvements you want to make to your business and the options can be filtered to your needs.

14. Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG)

Receive a maximum of £30,500 per project for creating multi-purpose woodland.

15. Funding Futures Programme – Starting Up

This is one for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs who aim to solve a social or environmental issue.

You can apply for up to £8,000 to help you start or grow your business which aims to make a difference to people’s lives, communities or the planet. Note that a limit of 650 applications per funding round is in place.

16. Funding and advice for space services

ESA Business Applications offers funding and support to businesses from any sector who intend to use space (satellite navigation, earth observation, satellite telecommunication, space weather, space technologies) to develop new commercial services.

Applications are open all year. Businesses can submit a proposal at any time through the Call for Proposals for Downstream Applications  or can apply to a competitive tender or a non-competitive Thematic Call for Proposals. 

17. Heritage Enterprise UK

This fund is for restoring neglected historic buildings and sites. Community organisations can get a grant between £250,000 and £5,000,000.

18. Workplace charging scheme

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides eligible applicants with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints.

The WCS is open to businesses, charities and public sector organisations that meet the applicant and site eligibility criteria.

The grant covers up to 75 per cent of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (inclusive of VAT), capped at a maximum of:

• £350 per socket
• 40 sockets across all sites per applicant – for instance, if you would like to install them in 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site

After applying using the online application form, successful applicants are issued with a unique identification voucher code by email, which can then be given to any OZEV-authorised commercial chargepoint installer.

19. Wrap grant schemes

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (wrap) manage grants, loans and investments to help increase the use of recycled materials, growing recycling capacity or overcoming specific market failures by acting as a catalyst to encourage other funders to invest. There are grant opportunities available throughout the year.

20. Innovative Health Initiative

This firm (formerly Innovative Medicines Initiative) provides funding for health research and innovation, with opportunities in advanced therapies, voice in cancer clinical trials and more. Open calls are listed on their page.

If your company has an innovative healthcare project in mind, you can learn more and discuss your eligibility in a free consultation with Inventya.

Check eligibility

21. Emerging Technologies Competition

Each year, the Royal Society of Chemistry welcomes applications from early-stage start-ups, spin-outs and academic entrepreneurs who are developing the most novel, innovative and disruptive chemistry tech in each of these four categories:

• Enabling Technologies
• Energy
• Environment
• Health

It particularly welcomes applications from companies, start-ups and spin-outs led by black and other minority ethnic scientists. 

In addition to press coverage and exposure, winners receive a share of a £100,000 prize pot.

22. Funding Futures Award – Scaling Up

Administered by UnLtd, who also give out the Starting Up Award above, the Scaling Up Award will help you grow your business with a grant worth up to £18,000. It’s available for social ventures that have been trading for over a year. Please note that there’s now a limit of 650 submissions per funding round.

23. CRACK IT Challenges

A challenge-led competition that funds collaborations between industry, academics and SMEs to solve business and scientific challenges which will deliver scientific benefits, either by improving business processes or developing a commercial product. Depending on the challenge.

24. Parkinson’s UK Physical Activity Grant

Parkinson’s UK is launching its popular Physical Activity Grants programme to help more people living with Parkinson’s get active.

The charity’s Physical Activity Grants programme is for physical activity providers, leisure groups, sports clubs, national governing bodies, Parkinson’s groups and many more across the UK.

For more information about the physical activity grants programme and how you can apply, visit www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/grants-physical-activity-providers or contact physicalactivity@parkinsons.org.uk

25. DRIVE35 Innovation Fund

Applications are now open for two funding competitions as part of the government’s £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, delivered in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Innovate UK.

They come under DRIVE35’s Innovation pillar, focusing on delivering late-stage R&D and SME growth projects by providing targeted funding and support at various stages of the innovation journey.

The scope also includes automotive software (i.e., software-defined vehicles), electrical and electronic architectures, and manufacturing competitiveness.

Collaborate supports late-stage R&D projects that are ready to bring zero-emission innovation to market. It offers organisations the opportunity to lead or join a consortium delivering impactful solutions in vehicle technology, with match funding of between £2.5 million and £25 million available for successful applicants. The applications for Collaborate are open until March 18 2026 at 11:00 GMT.

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England Business Grants

26. Elmbridge business boost grants

The business boost grants can help your business with:

• Up to £2,000 available in grant support to help businesses improve their shop fronts or signage
• Up to £2,000 available in grant support to help bring a shop that has been empty for at least 3 months back into commercial use
• Up to £1,000 to help town or village wide projects to drive new footfall, investment, streetscene improvements or sustainability

All applications need at least 50 per cent match funding and 2 quotes for each element. Apply by filling in one of the forms on the website.

27. Business Energy Advice Service Grant

The Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) is a pilot initiative aimed at assisting businesses in reducing expenses and fostering growth through the provision of grants that cover 50% of eligible costs. This programme is designed to support various energy efficiency measures that can lead to significant savings.

By participating in the BEAS programme, your business can achieve lower energy consumption, decreased production costs, and reduced carbon emissions. The funding available can be utilised for a range of practical solutions that enhance energy efficiency and contribute to a more sustainable operation.

Businesses can apply for grant funding up to £100,000 for eligible energy efficiency projects across all sectors, and up to £50,000 for renewable technology like solar.

Grants are awarded on a competitive and match-funded basis, meaning the business will need to provide at least 50% of the total cost of the project.

The grant can be used to fund a variety of business activities, including, but not limited to:

• Lighting
• Compressors
• Insulation
• Fast-shutting doors
• Renewable technology
• Heat recovery
• Heaters and boilers
• Energy efficiency equipment that leads to process improvements

If you have received an Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Review in the last 2 years (Net Zero, MEG or BEAS programmes), please email a copy of your report and what you would like to do, to: grants@worcestershire.gov.uk and the project team will be in touch to discuss the next steps.

If you have not received an Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Review within the previous 2 years, it is necessary that you get one completed. 

Visit our support page to find out more: Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS)

Or email: netzero@worcestershire.gov.uk

28. Elmbridge green business boost

High street independents, as well as small and medium enterprises across Elmbridge, can now benefit from new green business boost funding to help them become more sustainable by reducing their carbon emissions.

In support of thriving high streets and sustainable businesses in Elmbridge, the green business boost is the latest addition to our business boost support grants.

Grants can be used to help fund investment in energy saving products such as LED lighting, new energy efficient equipment or renewables to help small businesses in the borough save money and reduce energy consumption.

You can apply for a grant of up to £5,000 with funding available on the following basis:

• the first £1,000 of any project has no match funding required
• anything above £1,000 up to £5,000 requires a 50 per cent match from the applicant

Complete an expression of interest form on the website.

29. Made Smarter Adoption Programme – East of England 

The Made Smarter Adoption programme connects manufacturers in the East of England to digital tools, innovations, and skills that can revolutionise their operations.

Grant funding is available via 50% match funding (up to a maximum of £20,000) for equipment and/or specialist advice to implement projects encompassing digital transformation and workforce development.

30. Elmbridge digital high street boost

You can apply for a grant of up to 50 per cent of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of £1,500. 

The funding is available to independent high street retailers located within the defined primary or secondary frontage of our town centres and high streets. Special consideration can also be given to ‘in town’ applications from independent retailers with shop frontage not in primary or secondary locations. This will be at the discretion of the board.

The following projects are ineligible:

• Websites without an e-commerce function
• Hardware
• Services, for example digital coaching or consultancy
• Maintenance of existing digital technology
• Domain name
• Website hosting as a stand-alone cost
• Paid advertising, for example Google AdWords and Facebook

Fill out an application form on the website.

31. Sterling Road The North West grant

Sterling Road’s North West Grant gives £1,000 to 25 teams per year.

The grant is focused on founders based in the North West of England, you can apply with any idea but most grants will go to software projects and traditionally overlooked founders.

The application shouldn’t take more than 10-15 minutes to complete and Sterling Road will aim to give applicants a response within 30 days.

32. Farming in Protected Landscapes

The Farming in Protected Landscapes programme is open to all farmers and land managers within an AONB or National Park in England, or the Broads. This includes farmers and land managers from the public, private and charity sector.

The programme is also open to farmers and land managers on land outside of protected landscapes.

To be eligible the project must benefit the protected landscape, or the protected landscape body’s objectives or partnership initiatives.

Contact your local protected landscape body for advice about whether your land or project is eligible.

To apply you must:

• Manage all the land included in the application
• Have control of all the activities you would like to do

Or you must have written consent from all parties who manage and control the land.

Other organisations and individuals can apply when collaborating with a farmer or land manager, or in support of a farmer or group of farmers.

Common land is eligible for this funding. You can apply as a landowner with sole rights, or as a group of commoners acting together.

You can get an application form from the protected landscape body where your project will take place.

You can submit your application anytime up until the programme closes for applications in April 2026. Your project must end by March 2026.

You could get up to 100 per cent of the costs of a project if you will not make a commercial gain from it. If you will benefit commercially from a project, then the programme will fund a proportion of the costs. The amount will depend on how much the project will benefit your business.

Applications for over £10,000 will be judged by a local assessment panel. Applications for less than £10,000 will be scored by a senior member of the team who has not been involved with or given advice to the application.

33. Nelson Town Deal grants

The grants are to help manufacturing businesses become more resilient and to help them grow.

There are three priorities for the funding:

1.      Investment in new plant or machinery

2.      Energy efficiency/Carbon reduction

3.       Premises improvements or adaptations

The grant funding can be for up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs. The business would meet the remainder of the cost. The maximum grant is £100,000. The grants are not retrospective, i.e. any work or item that has already been ordered and/or paid for before your grant application cannot be considered for a grant.

For every £10,000 of grant, the business is expected to create one new full-time job.

In addition to jobs created we are looking for safeguarded Jobs. For every £10,000 of grant the business will need to show that two jobs, which would have been at risk without the funding, have been safeguarded.

34. OxLEP Business

OxLEP offers mentorship and support to businesses, including guidance as to what national grant funding schemes are available.

35. Malvern Hills Tourism Grant Scheme

The aim of the scheme is to help develop the local tourism industry within a number of specific areas to help increase visitor numbers and improve the visitor experience.

Eligible businesses can apply for a 50 per cent match-funded grant.

• Cultural/heritage attractions – Up to £5,000

For Cultural/Heritage Attractions which need repair or restoration and/or towards a feasibility study for improving the visitor experience.

• Sustainable Tourism – Up to £2,500

The grant scheme will allow for more grants to be provided towards projects enabling tourism and hospitality businesses to improve their green credentials across the Malvern Hills district.

• Attractions – Up to £2,500

Attractions and event venues can apply for a grant for projects which will help to improve accessibility for visitors with disabilities helping to ensure The Malverns is a visitor destination suitable for all. They can also apply for funding towards projects which help to improve the visitor experience and increase visitor numbers to the district.

36. SkillsBoost Worcestershire

SkillsBoost is a funding programme to help organisations with the costs of upskilling and training their employees.

SkillsBoost is funded via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, distributed via all the District Councils in Worcestershire and delivered in partnership between Worcestershire Growth Hub and Worcestershire County Council. 

Please note due to such high take-up of SkillsBoost, the programme is only available to Bromsgrove residents.

There are only a few requirements that have to be met to access SkillsBoost, the scheme has designed to be easy to access for businesses.

1. Businesses with employees that are residents of Herefordshire & Worcestershire can access the scheme
2. Employees must reside in Herefordshire or Worcestershire, this is based on resident postcode not business postcode
3. Businesses of any size are eligible
4. No one individual can have more than £1,500 funding grant
5. Maximum grant per business is £6,000

SkillsBoost is only available from April 1, 2025 until March 31, 2026.

Funding will be offered on a first come first served basis.

Please note funding has run out for Worcester City, all other districts in Worcestershire can still apply.

37. Malvern Hills Rural Fund

If you can see a great opportunity to start or grow your business, then the Malvern Hills Rural Fund may be able to help you achieve your goal. 
The Fund is now open and encouraging applications from £2,500 up to £25,000 from businesses throughout rural Malvern Hills District.

Any organisations and businesses with legal status can receive funding, including:

• Micro enterprises should have less than 10 employees and an annual turnover under £2 million, and small enterprises should have less than 50 employees and an annual turnover under £10 million.
• Voluntary organisations
• Registered charities
• Local authorities
• Public sector organisations
• Higher and further education institutions

If there is a high demand for funding, we may give priority to organisations that have not received Rural Fund money in previous years.

Please note we cannot support projects that have received funding from other Defra schemes, including:

Malvern Hills Rural Fund is not available for purchasing additional farm equipment or increasing farm production. However, it can be used to help diversify the farm business outside of agriculture. If you are unsure whether your diversification plan is eligible, please contact us to discuss.

They are looking to support new capital projects (something physical like a new piece of equipment or machinery) that bring something new to your business. They must represent good value for money and be able to be completed by 31 January 2026. We cannot fund staff costs, general operating expenses, or services you are legally required to provide.

Capital grants of between £2,500 and £25,000 are available.  Applicants will be expected to match fund at least 50% of the project.

If you would like to submit an application please refer to the Rural Fund Application Process for guidance on what you will be asked to provide throughout the stages.

38. Malvern Hills Upskilling Grant

Malvern Hills District Council is helping local businesses create their workforce of the future through the Upskilling Grant Scheme. We will provide funding of up to £1,500 to help with the business cost of training new staff (i.e. apprenticeships, trainee or other).

In order to qualify the business must:

• Be based in the Malvern Hills district postcode area.
• Employ fewer than 250 people.
• Pay at least the Minimum Wage to the trainee for a post of at least 20 hours a week including training leading to a recognised qualification.
• The apprentice/ trainee must have started their training after 1 October 2022 and have at least a 12-month signed employment contract.

You will also need to provide the following evidence:

1.      Proof of enrolment on a training course signed by the employer and training referrer/provider organisation

2.      Copy of the contract of employment

3.      Signed Grant Agreement between employer and Malvern Hills District Council

4.      Any additional evidence requested by Malvern Hills District Council

If you would like to discuss this grant, email ecodev@malvernhills.gov.uk or call 01684 862185

39. Rural Business Growth Fund, Babergh and Mid Suffolk

Capital grants are available up to £10,000 per application for businesses / organisations within Babergh and Mid Suffolk. By exception grants may be agreed of up to £15,000 for projects which strongly support the Net Zero Infrastructure or Farm Diversification priorities. The fund intervention funding rate will be 50% of the total project costs up to the maximum grant amount which means the project must be match funded at 50%. Payments are made at the end of the process, so the project will need to be fully funded before any reimbursements are made. 

Please note that this is a capital only fund (capital means assets that have monetary value, such as equipment, real estate, and inventory). Projects must meet one of the following priorities: 

1. Investment in net zero infrastructure  
2. SME investments and diversification 
3. Farm diversification outside of agriculture  
4. Visitor economy business expansion 

If you are interested in applying, please email BMSDCeconomicdevelopment@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

40. Enterprising Ashfield Growth Programme

The Growth strand can help you review and grow your business with a suite of assistance and programmes. It delivers help via supportive 1:1 business mentoring, expert workshops, peer learning, leadership training, sector-specific support programmes and a grant.

41. Nottingham University Talent Grants

Eligible businesses can access a £2,000 Talent Grant to part-fund the salary of a student or graduate. To qualify for one of the grants, businesses would need to demonstrate that the role would be used to implement or improve technology or processes, enable the business to enter new markets, improve or implement new products or services, or focus on research and development projects.

This grant would support an employee’s salary for a minimum of eight-weeks, full time.

Support is available from April 1 2025, to March 31 2026, or until all allocated funding has been used.

42. Enterprising Worcestershire Grant

Give your start-up business a boost with support from the Enterprising Worcestershire Grant.

Matched-funded grants from £1,000 to £10,000 is now available for Small to Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) businesses at the start-up stage or which have been trading for 3 years or less.

Our funding offers a significant financial boost, giving you the necessary support to achieve your milestones quicker and help you with establishing yourself in the market.

Grants are awarded on a match-funded basis, meaning the business will need to provide at least 60% of the total cost of the project.

Funding can be used can be used for a project consisting of items such as, but not limited to:

• Machinery
• Equipment
• Website construction
• Marketing materials
• Consultancy support

This programme is open to businesses or residents situated in the district of Bromsgrove. All of the other regions have had their funding allocated.

Those within Worcester City District Council should contact the Worcester City Economic Development by:

43. Innovation Worcestershire Grant

The Innovation grant can only be used to fund activities directly related to the development and/or introduction to market of innovative products, technologies or services, including, but not limited to:

• New tooling and equipment
• Creating a prototype
• Product testing and certification
• IP and trademark protection
• External market research
• New marketing materials
• Product launch

The minimum innovation grant amount your business can apply for is £2,500, with a maximum available grant of £10,000.

Grants are awarded on a competitive and match-funded basis, meaning the SME will need to provide at least 60% of the total cost of the project. Amounts available are subject to change and no funding is guaranteed until a signed agreement is in place.

This programme is open to businesses or residents situated in the district of Bromsgrove. All of the other regions have had their funding allocated.

44. Folkestone and Hythe Rural Grant

As a result of central government funding, Folkestone & Hythe District Council has £171,402 available to provide capital grant funding for both businesses and community projects in rural areas. The scheme will run until January 31, 2026, or until funds are exhausted, whichever is sooner.

Rural businesses (sole traders, small and micro businesses) and communities in eligible areas can apply for Folkestone & Hythe’s Rural Grant Scheme, funded by the Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF).

To meet our definition of a small or micro business, the business must employ 49 or fewer employees.

Grants ranging from £2,000 to £10,000 are available (and up to £20,000 may be considered in exceptional circumstances for projects that can demonstrate longer term impacts, wider benefits for the local rural economy and meet a range of objectives and outcomes). These grants aim to generate employment opportunities & business growth, strengthen community cohesion & resilience and improve local facilities and amenities. The grants are capital only, match funding is required and other terms and conditions apply.

Up to 75% of the project cost can be applied for by businesses, and up to 90% for organisations.

Applicants must demonstrate in their application that they have sufficient funds to cash-flow the project and pay for the project costs upfront.**

All projects must include an element of match funding. This helps to show commitment, better value for money and makes the funding stretch further so we can support as many projects as possible.

Please tell us the source of your match funding, this can be from your own bank accounts, crowdfunding, other grants, fundraisers or legacies. This match funding must be cash-based and cannot be time or labour or materials. The ability to provide match funding above the minimum level will be scored as part of the assessment process.

Please note than in the event of an approval, you will need to fund the project up front in entirety, then claim your grant sum from us upon successful completion and validation of the project. For more information or support, please contact economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk

The REPF will support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy.

This can include diversification opportunities, start-up & expansion initiatives & net zero infrastructure.

Examples of what the capital funding can be used for (this list is not exhaustive):

• Business diversification (outside of agriculture) such as converting farm buildings into holiday lets, wedding venues, farm shops, cafes, leisure facilities (e.g., glamping sites, equestrian centres), or other commercial uses
• Creating or expanding local visitor experiences and leisure opportunities – attracting both new and existing footfall to the rural area
• Help businesses innovate (outside of agriculture) & spark the launch of new enterprises – enabling rural businesses to grow their products and services and to help grow the local economy
• Creation of multi-functional rural business units or hubs

45. Premises Improvement Grants, Pendle

These grants provide assistance of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, up to a maximum of £3,000 (or £1,500 maximum in West Craven). It applies to eligible buildings which are occupied by commercial users and are located within Pendle and town centre boundaries. It also covers redundant commercial properties within and immediately adjacent to the town centre planning boundaries.

46. Apprenticeship support – Barking and Dagenham

The Council has pledged to transfer £100,000 a year from their own levy funding to support more employers to offer high-quality apprenticeships. 

Organisations offering apprenticeships to Barking and Dagenham residents can apply to have their training costs fully funded through the scheme. 

To ensure employers have the support they need to do this, the Council has partnered with Workwhile: a charitable organisation that helps businesses to access funding to cover training costs and provides free one-to-one support to help them get apprenticeships up and running. 

Please note that the scheme is only available for those offering opportunities to Barking and Dagenham residents, unless employed within a Barking and Dagenham school.  

It is available to non-levy paying employers offering quality apprenticeships with good wage and progression opportunities. Levy-paying organisations that have used up their levy entitlements may also apply. 

Applications will not be considered from Apprenticeship Training Agencies.

47. Independent Retailer Grant, Test Valley

Provided by Test Valley Borough Council, the Independent Retailer Grant supplies £1,200 to encourage independently owned retailers to take up vacant space in Romsey and Andover.

It’s open to new or existing businesses moving into ground floor premises which have been vacant for at least one month in the primary shopping areas of Andover and Romsey.

48. Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk

Grants under this scheme are intended to reduce the risk faced by some of the most historic sites within England, according to the Heritage at Risk Register. You can apply for a grant at any time during the year and Historic England will aim to get you a response within six months.

49. Greentech Business Growth Fund, Crawley

The ‘Greentech Business Growth Fund’ (GBGF), part of the ‘Towns Fund’ programme, is a 3-year £450,000 grant fund that responds to the strategic priority need of ‘greening’ Crawley’s economy. The overarching objective is for grant funding to support the continued development and growth of the local green technology and green construction sectors.

Business based in Crawley that operate in the green-tech or low-carbon sectors are able to apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 to fund projects and investments that enable business growth and generate additional employment.

Businesses must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible to apply for the GBGF grant scheme:

• Crawley-based and intend to remain in Crawley for at least 5 years
• Operate in the ‘green-tech’ sector and be able to demonstrate how the proposed project and grant funding would deliver business growth, in terms of jobs created and increased turnover
• Businesses are to be small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – including micro-enterprises and start-ups
• Any grant funding awarded under the GBGF grant scheme cannot result in a breach of the conditions of the UK Subsidy Control Regime on the part of applicant businesses

Applicants to the GBGF grant scheme are entitled to include a range of costs as part of their project proposals including, but not limited to:

• Investments in business premises, facilities, or equipment
• Product development
• Specialist research, training, or consultancy
• Market development

For further information, including:

• Detailed eligibility criteria
• Guidance on preparing and submitting a grant application
• Examples of permitted expenditure

Fill out an expression of interest form on the website.

50. The PIVOT cross-sector innovation programme

 What PIVOT provides

• The R&D grant funding thanks to the WMCA’s Innovation Programme
• The aerospace technology, engineering and innovation expertise to guide you
• The customer/end-user advice about demand to steer you thanks to leading regional aerospace firms
• The support to pull your project closer to the aviation and aerospace markets

What organisations PIVOT can support

• Must be led by a supply chain company located in the WMCA 3-LEP geography (Black Country, Greater Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry & Warwickshire); knowledge base bodies (universities, Catapults . . .) can be involved but not lead
• Not restricted to SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises): but if your company is larger you will need to make a case for why the subsidy is needed, and we won’t be funding very large companies.
• May already operate in more than one industry including aerospace and aviation, it’s the transfer across sectors of the technology or innovation that matters
• Can draw on expertise and partners from other places (not all spend need be in the WMCA area; we welcome collaborative projects

Project design (we guided applicants on this)

• Must be to develop a technology or innovation that is new to aerospace and aviation markets
• Must be “industrial research” (middle TRL (Technology Readiness Level), applying GBER R&D&I rules on matched funding); essentially, you can receive funding and use your staff time to match it.
• We required some indication there is a market opportunity (e.g. market intelligence, or support of an end user).

Key stages of the programme

• Call Announced
• Virtual briefings held
• Deadline to submit outline proposal
• Projects selected to proceed to full proposal stage
• Deadline for full proposal stage
• Project proposal presented to expert panel
• Grant funding awarded
• Projects delivered until end

For more information, contact: info@midlandsaerospace.org.uk

51. Reigate and Banstead Business Support Grant

Nab an ongoing grant of up to £1,000 from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council with a free year membership of Enterprise Nation thrown in. It’s open to businesses looking to start, develop or grow. You must be based in the borough and have up to four employees.

52. Get Growing 2, Hertfordshire 

Hertfordshire Growth Hub’s Get Growing 2 service supports local businesses that are ready to grow again. It is fully funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and offers a package of tailored support to businesses, helping them to become more profitable, competitive and grow.

To be eligible for this support you must:

• Be an established SME (including third sector organisations, social enterprises, and trading charities) in Hertfordshire
• Have five or more full-time equivalent employees
• Be able to demonstrate potential for growth
• Or be able to demonstrate potential for growth following support to stabilise the business and help minimise the impact of Covid-19

Eligible businesses are supported by an experienced growth account manager. They will work closely together reviewing all aspects of the business, looking at the challenges and opportunities that exist to produce a realistic growth plan for the business. Areas where additional support will benefit the business are also identified, as well as providing access to all the benefits that our website has to offer, including on-demand videos and live webinars.

For more information, please email enquiries@hertsgrowthhub.com

53. Large energy efficiency grant for small businesses, Islington

Your business can receive money for large-scale measures to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.
You can apply for grant money for large infrastructure works that will improve the energy efficiency of the premises of your business and reduce its carbon emissions.

You could get up to £10,000 for measures such as:

• Replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump
• Installing solar photovoltaic
• Or other larger measures including insulation projects

If you want to replace lighting or buy other small-scale electrical equipment, you should apply for the Energising Small Business grant instead.

Eligibility

The grant scheme is open to all businesses (commercial enterprises only) who:

• Are in Islington;
• Have fewer than 50 employees;
• And a turnover of less than £10million.

In addition, you must commit to at least two initiatives which will provide benefits to the local community. We call these ‘social value initiatives.’

Your social value initiatives must be from each of the following two tiers.

Tier one initiatives

• Commit to London Living Wage accreditation
• Participate in 100 hours World of Work programme
• Employ an apprentice or trainee
• Co-produce a case study for the project
• Hold site visits for other businesses
• Use cargo bikes for delivery of products

Tier two initiatives

• Deliver on other ‘green skills’ priorities as defined by project officers
• Become an Islington Sustainability Network member, if not already
• Open an Islington Working Account
• Use local suppliers or installers for the project

How to apply

Complete the online application form. 

Assessing your application

Applications are reviewed and approved by a panel of local economy and energy services officers. We assess applications based on the projected carbon savings, value for money and commitment to social value initiatives.

Following your application, we will arrange a visit to your premises to discuss it in person and verify the potential works.

We will work with you to calculate the savings that your project will make, to check it will meet the minimum 20% energy savings. The measures must be for a commercial premises and achieve energy savings of at least 20% as long as they do not conflict with good energy or environmental practice.

If you are successful

• You must provide at least two quotes for the works, ideally from Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installers.
• You must spend the funds within six months of receiving your money. and you must supply the council with copies of relevant invoices for the work within this time. Once you have notified the council that the works are complete, an officer will visit your premises to validate the fact that the works have taken place.
• If you do not carry out the works or do not provide the council with copies of relevant invoices within the six-month time, you must repay the money to the council. If you spend less than you were awarded, you must repay the difference.
• It will be your responsibility to fund any ongoing maintenance for the measures you installed
• You must complete a follow-up survey 12 months after your grant award

More information

For any other information on the scheme, contact greengrants@islington.gov.uk.

54. Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) grants scheme

The CITB has grants and funding schemes available throughout England focused around staff training and apprenticeships. There is also an ‘Advanced Craft’ grant for Scotland only.

55. West Midlands SME Grant Programme

The West Midlands SME Grants Programme seeks to increase productivity by improving business confidence, stimulating business activity, attracting investment, safeguarding existing and creating new jobs within local communities.

It offers grant funding of £2,500 to £100k (note: it would be expected that the average grant would be circa £20k-30k).  

The intervention rate will be up to 50% of the total grant. 

This grant is for the following activities:

• Establishment of new business start-ups (grants available from £2,500-£7,500)
• Relocation, expansion and growth of existing businesses
• Developing new market opportunities
• Innovation – including the development of new products including prototyping, testing and commercialisation
• Low carbon/energy efficiency/waste management (decarbonisation) businesses
• Increasing productive capacity of new and existing premises through new property builds, refurbishments, or extensions
• Capital investments, such as new plant, machinery and equipment
• Promotional activities

Fill out the form on the site to begin the process.

56. Endangered Crafts Fund

Heritage Crafts invites craft practitioners and organisations in the UK to apply for small grants to fund projects that support endangered crafts (the craft must be listed as endangered or critically endangered on the current Red List of Endangered Crafts). A number of grants are ringfenced for Essex, East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton and Hove, but those outside of these areas are also eligible to apply.

Heritage Crafts published the fifth edition of its groundbreaking Red List of Endangered Crafts in May 2025, the first research of its kind to rank the UK’s traditional crafts by the likelihood that they will survive into the next generation. The report assessed 285 crafts to ascertain those which are at greatest risk of disappearing, of which five were classified as extinct, 93 as ‘endangered’ and a further 72 as ‘critically endangered’. As a result of this alarming threat to our cultural heritage, Heritage Crafts set up its Endangered Crafts Fund in 2019 and 79 grants have been awarded nationally in that time.

Applications may, for example, include:

Implementing changes that will ensure the longer-term viability or survival of heritage craft skills, for example:

• Developing a new, innovative approach to heritage craft skills;
• Investing in more efficient machinery;
• Developing new routes to market;
• Exploring the use of sustainable alternative materials while maintaining the heritage character of your practice.

Direct and indirect skills transfer, for example:

• Taking on a trainee or apprentice;
• Preparing to teach courses, including the creation of training materials;
• Online or video content to support skills sharing and documentation;
• Specialist tools and equipment to facilitate training.

Continuous professional development, for example:

• Acquiring the knowledge and skills required to run a successful small business;
• Acquiring the advanced craft skills or allied craft skills necessary to make a craft practice more viable, e.g. through a training course or self-directed learning.

In addition to the funding you will receive support from Tess, the Recipient Engagement and Impact Lead and rest of the Heritage Crafts team to ensure that your project is a success. This will be unique to your project but it could include mentoring support, business support or signposting to other opportunities.

APPLY FOR THE ENDANGERED CRAFTS FUND

DEADLINE: 5pm on Friday 8 May 2026 

57. Business Growth Fund

The Business Growth Fund is a £3.5m programme of investment funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that supports business growth. You could be eligible for a grant of up to 30 per cent of expenditure, if you:

• Have a project which couldn’t proceed without grant support
• Are planning capital investment of at least £67,000
• Are expanding or establishing in the areas of Gateshead Metropolitan Brough Council, North of Tyne Combined Authority, Sunderland City Council

Grants of between £20,000 and £300,000 are available at variable intervention rates of up to 30 per cent, dependent upon the amount requested, the need for grant support and the level of impact in terms of job outcomes and productivity improvements.

Grant applications must involve eligible capital expenditure of at least £66,666 as a minimum.

Your project must satisfy the following objectives:

• Securing investment into the area that will stimulate business growth and create new employment opportunities
• Overcoming barriers to make job creation projects viable, providing financial assistance to enable business growth and / or improvement projects to go ahead
• Reducing financial risk for beneficiary businesses in making capital investments
• Improving productivity and introduce new technologies and processes, resulting in increased profitability, wage growth and employment growth

Apply using this link

58. Birmingham and Solihull Export Support Programme

The programme is funded by the UK government through the UKSPF, which was established to:

• Create pride in place
• Increase life chances by investing in local communities
• Support local businesses, people and skills

Find out more about UKSPF

Through BASESP, grants are available to businesses looking to engage in new or enhanced export-readiness activity in overseas markets. The grant fund will do this by supporting 100% of the total eligible costs up to a maximum grant award of £6,000.

Businesses can submit more than one bid up to a combined total value of £6,000 subject to funding availability at the time.

This grant is open to small to medium enterprise (SME) based within the Birmingham City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council local authority areas.

Businesses from all sectors are eligible for consideration, except for:

• Charities
• Those of a political or religious persuasion
• Any business activity that is illegal or deemed unsuitable for public support by Birmingham City Council

BASESP is being used to encourage business growth by supporting projects that enable businesses to:

• Realise their exporting potential in existing and new markets, and to secure new international opportunities
• Connect businesses to the wider trade and export support network and facilitate introductions to new market opportunities
• Engage with overseas trade missions and connect to new market opportunities
• Increase the value of goods and/or services exported

This fund is open to business from B2B and B2C categories, however applications will be prioritised from businesses operating within the following sectors:

• Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)
• Clean growth
• Automotive and future mobility
• Advanced manufacturing
• Health and life sciences
• Legal, finance and business services
• Food and drink
• Education and training
• Creative and digital

The fund will support businesses to become ‘export ready’ by providing financial assistance for things such as:

• market research
• consultancy on intellectual property rights (IPR)
• translation services/cultural advice
• social media and search engine optimisation (SEO)
• taking part in trade shows and overseas trade missions, to include appropriate and reasonable travel and accommodation costs
• market development
• routes to market
• coaching and mentoring or meeting any training or upskilling requirements needed for a business to begin or recommence exporting
• access to professional support
• production of an export strategy
• undertaking research into an overseas market
• actively preparing a product or service for export

This list is not exhaustive. We are looking to support projects that enable business export growth and development, while also aligning with the fund objective.

Potential applicants will need to meet the following fund objective to be considered for grant funding:

• increase export capabilities by supporting businesses to engage in ‘new’ or ‘enhanced’ export-readiness activities.

New means activity that was not carried out before the grant support.

Enhanced means additional activity to deepen or widen activity already underway.

Funding is limited and we cannot guarantee that all applications will be successful.

To support your application, Birmingham and Solihull based businesses will need to complete an expression of interest form and submit it to the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Growth Hub.

To request an expression of interest form, email the Growth Hub: bsgh@birmingham.gov.uk. Use ‘Birmingham and Solihull Export Support Programme’ in the email subject field.

When the Growth Hub receives your expression of interest, they will arrange a free business diagnostic appointment.

The diagnostic provides the Growth Hub with a summary of your company and your proposed activity. It is not the final support application form, which you must complete separately.

We strongly recommend that you check the eligibility criteria to make sure that you qualify for consideration before approaching a business advisor and completing a grant application.

If you would like to speak with one of our Growth Hub Business Advisors, email: bsgh@birmingham.gov.uk. Use ‘Birmingham and Solihull Export Support Programme’ in the email subject field.

59. EnTRESS

EnTRESS supports Black Country and Stoke & Staffordshire small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the adoption of environmental technologies and resource efficiency processes. All activities are fully funded and the project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund to promote sustainable economic growth.

Working across a variety of sectors, and with key stakeholders, EnTRESS can:

• Carry out onsite energy audits
• Undertake feasibility studies on the adoption of renewable technologies
• Deliver one-to-one mentoring and business support
• Identify new to market opportunities for SMEs
• Identify further funding opportunities
• Promote innovative projects to large commercial and public sector organisations
• Engage with leading academic research on R&D projects
• Provide exhibition space at industry networking events
• Provide in-house baseline audits on resource efficiency
• Provide carbon footprint assessments
• Provide behaviour change expertise to embed sustainable practices within organisations
• Provide supported access to technology and software from Matterport to life-cycle assessments.

All activities are fully funded, so if you’re a Black Country or Stoke and Staffordshire SME interested in any of the above then please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the EnTRESS team to find out how they can support you.

Send your request to the team using their enquiry form.

60. Mansfield business grants schemes

Mansfield District Council has been awarded funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), for the year 2025 to 2026. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

A proportion of these funds will be allocated to grants to support business growth within the district. For business support and grant enquiries, please email regeneration@mansfield.gov.uk

61. Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II

NPIF provides funding throughout north of England through microfinance, debt and equity funds.

They’re broken down like so: Smaller Loans (£25k-£100K) Debt Finance (£100k-£2m) and Equity Finance (Up to £5m)

62. Coventry Business Support Programme

Coventry City Council is able to support SMEs within the Coventry area with both non-financial support and financial support, subject to grant availability and meeting the funding criteria. This business support is being provided under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Business Growth West Midlands Programme (BGWM).

The grant funding can be used for the following activities:

• Relocation, expansion, and growth of existing businesses
• Developing new market opportunities
• Low carbon/energy efficiency/waste management – Green grants through the Business Energy Advice Service Programme
• Improving systems and processes
• Capital investment, e.g., new plant, machinery and equipment.
• Increase in productive capacity of new and existing premisses through new property builds/refurbishment/extensions.

For more information, complete an expression of interest form.

63. Buckingham Business First Grants and Vouchers

Buckinghamshire have a plethora of options for grants for manufacturing, growth, innovation and other areas. Check Buckinghamshire Business First to see what’s available.

64. Low Carbon Project, Sheffield

Through the Low Carbon Project, you could:

• Reduce your energy costs
• Make your business more competitive, resilient and productive
• Potentially safeguard and create jobs through improved profitability and reinvestment of savings
• Become a more environmentally friendly business by reducing carbon emissions

To be eligible to take part in the project your business must:

• Be a Small or Medium Sized Enterprise (SME), meaning 250 employees or fewer, with a turnover of less than £54 million
• Have commercial premises in Sheffield – the scheme cannot support home-based businesses
• Not have received more than £315,000 Minimal Financial Assistance subsidy over the last 3 years
• Be able to provide 12 months’ energy bills to establish baseline energy use (or however many months you’ve been in your premises, if less than 12 months)

You’ll receive:

• One-to-one support from an advisor

Our advisors will guide you through every stage of the process. They will:

• help you understand your energy usage and identify where you could save energy
• refer you for an Energy Audit or prepare a bespoke Energy Recommendations Report
• support you to develop and deliver a plan for your energy saving improvements
• support you to understand your options for funding improvements, including whether you could be eligible to apply for a Low Carbon Grant
• signpost you to other sources of support available to help you reduce your carbon footprint
• Free energy survey

You’ll get a free energy survey of your business, to establish how much energy you use now, as well as how you could save energy.

The report will identify energy saving improvements the business could invest in and provide a detailed breakdown of the carbon saving, cost, and return on investment for each, so you can decide what’s the right path to take.

Depending on the outcome of the energy survey, you may then be able to access a Low Carbon Grant to part-fund energy saving improvements. Your business will need to meet additional criteria in order to qualify for a grant.

The project includes a grant scheme which contributes to the cost of energy-saving improvements.

The grant will part-fund improvements, with the business making up the rest of the funding itself. The funding is allocated as follows:

• You can apply for a grant covering up to 50% of total project cost (for example, if a project costs £10,000, you can apply for a £5,000 grant)
• The grant will usually be capped at £10,000

The minimum grant you can apply for is £1,500 (for a project with a total cost of £3,000).

Where a project can demonstrate substantial energy savings, a grant above £10,000 can be considered, subject to available funding.

In order to qualify for a grant, your business must meet the following criteria:

• The improvements must be identified in an energy survey and deliver a net carbon reduction
• This must be the first SPF Low Carbon Grant your business has received
• We can only support capital projects that have a return on investment of more than one year
• The investment must be set to complete by December 2025
• Tenants must have the permission of their landlord to make changes to the building fabric

65. Research and Development Grant, Erewash

There is over £100,000 to give out to local businesses looking to research and develop products, processes and technologies within their companies. 

The Grant is open to applicants who are current and operational SME businesses based in the borough of Erewash. Applicants can apply for a Grant of between £5,000 and £20,000 to enable the research and development of a particular product, process, or technology that would be considered ‘new to the firm’ (i.e. not used with the same functionality as previously or fundamentally different).

Grant money is conditional on the applicant sourcing a minimum of 33% match-funding of the value of the project. 

Further details can be found in the Applicant’s Guide and in the scheme’s Terms and Conditions.

This Grant scheme is funded by UKSPF monies awarded to Erewash Borough Council by the UK Government via EMCCA. It is a finite fund and so early applications are encouraged. The final deadline for applications is 31st January 2026.

Apply by filling a form on the website.

66. Made Smarter, West of England 

Currently closed but applications will be processed for the next round.

Fully funded bespoke assessment, delivered by the National Composites Centre, enabling SMEs to see the benefits industrial digital technologies can offer their business.

Eligible businesses will be able to access match funded grants for SMEs to invest in digital technology hardware or software and/or specialist advice to implement projects.

Eligible businesses will be able to access leadership and management training, and student internships, delivered by the University of the West of England, to ready your workforce for a digital future.

Eligibility

• You are a manufacturing organisation
• You are a small and medium-sized organisation and have fewer than 250 employees
• You are based in the West of England (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol or South Gloucestershire)
• You are able to provide funding towards financial and skills support measures

Businesses that are likely to get the most value out of this programme will have a minimum of two employees.

67. Support packages, Cheshire East

Chesire East Council delivers a programme of promotional activity to encourage and secure new inward investment and reduce barriers to growth for businesses looking to relocate or expand. It works to attract investment in key employment sites and regeneration schemes to help create high value jobs.

Find out about the latest opportunities at the link above.

68. Go Digital, Norfolk

Business owners and managers can also apply for a grant of up to £500 to help you implement a digital action plan. Applications are on a first come first served basis.

Your business must meet certain requirements to take part in the Go Digital funding programme:

• Your business must be based in Norfolk
• You must have fewer than 250 employees
• Your turnover must be less than £42.9M
• You must have received less than £198k in public sector funding in the last 3 years
• You have been trading for the past 6 months
• You already use digital technology in some way e.g. a website, social media account etc

Fill out the form on the website to apply. 

69. Eden Tourism Grants

Eden Tourism offers a small tourism marketing grant for tourism related projects in the Eden District. There is a maximum of £500 available per project. Applications can be made at any time throughout the year.

Application details are on the Eden Tourism site linked above in the sub-heading.

70. Open arts funding schemes, Norfolk

A range of open arts funding schemes are available in Norfolk. Check out the website for more details.

71. Supply Chain Skills Development Fund, Suffolk

This part-funded ESF project, provides grants to co-fund the development of the workforce in key local supply chains across Norfolk and Suffolk.

It has been established by Suffolk County Council, in partnership with Norfolk County Council, and aims to benefit both individual employees and local employers in Norfolk and Suffolk. The delegated grant scheme will enhance both the development and delivery of training available to employers in the New Anglia area and will focus on what is required to build the capacity of key local supply chains, ultimately resulting in the creation of inclusive economic growth.

Grants are available to:

• SME employers to be used to pay for a proportion of the costs of training, learning opportunities, or services that will help their employees develop additional competencies and capabilities
• SME employers and local training providers to enhance, develop and deliver regional training

To learn more about the fund please contact supplychainskills@suffolk.gov.uk

72. Funding for farmers and land managers

This is a page detailing several grants and funding opportunities for farmers and land managers.

Click on the link above to find out more about this grant and others for farmers and land managers.

73. National Highways Lorry Parking Facilities Improvements Scheme 

National Highways is promoting a funding scheme of up to £20m to improve lorry parking facilities used by heavy goods vehicle drivers who rely upon good quality, safe and secure rest areas.

Motorway service area operators and operators of service areas that provide facilities for professional drivers at rest areas can apply for funds to improve their facility providing it offers benefits to professional drivers. 

National Highways will fund up to 50 per cent of the capital cost of an improvement project. The funding ratio will be confirmed in each funding agreement. In your application you must be able to demonstrate that the improvement project will be completed by 31 March, 2026.

The cost of resourcing and staffing future improvements is not included in the funding issued to a facility. Neither are normal running costs, general business overheads and direct or agency/contractor labour costs.

For example, funds can be used to fund construction and refurbishment works, security equipment and installation, engineering and architecture and design, and fixtures and fittings.

The improvement project must not seek retrospective funding or funding for work that would be undertaken in any event should the funds not be issued.

Lorry parking facility operators can apply for funding if they operate HGV driver facilities at:

·       Motorway service areas

·       Independent truck stops

·       Trunk road service areas

·       Local authority truck stops

Sites must be located on, or within a five-mile radius of the strategic road network in England.

The easiest way to apply is by completing the expression of interest form and submitting this to the Designated Funds inbox.

Successful applications will be funded using the National Highways Users and Communities Designated Fund, specifically the freight theme.

74. Worcestershire grants

This programme offers free renewable energy/low carbon innovation assessments along with grants to SMEs in Worcestershire (and grants only to SMEs in Shropshire). SMEs will be encouraged and enabled to adopt lower carbon technologies – or the grant can help businesses in the clean innovation or those developing low carbon solutions alongside their normal business operations.

Some sectors such as primary agriculture and finance are not eligible.

75. High Street Vacant Property Grant 

Chorley Council is helping to bring empty retail spaces back to life with the High Street Vacant Property Grant.

This grant provides financial support to landlords or prospective tenants of vacant retail properties in Chorley. It’s designed to encourage investment in: 

• External signage and shop frontage 
• Shop floor and back-office upgrades
• New equipment to support business operations

Up to £4,000 grant available to new or existing businesses.

Revitalising vacant units boosts footfall, strengthens the local economy, and helps businesses thrive. If you’re planning to transform a retail space, this grant could help make it happen. 

For more information and how to apply please contact the Economic Growth Team at edu@chorley.gov.uk or call 01257 515300.

76. Ashford Town Centre Business Grant  

The Ashford Town Centre Business Grant provides support to landlords or tenants to attract investment into Ashford Town Centre by providing up to 80% of the cost of works.

The Empty Premises Grant could provide up to £10,000 for bringing an empty town centre unit back into use.

PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE EMPTY PREMISES GRANT SCHEME IS FEBRUARY 28th 2026. THE GRANT SCHEME WILL THEN CLOSE.  

This grant scheme is fully funded by S106 contributions aimed at supporting the vitality and viability of Ashford Town Centre. The funding is limited and therefore, once the funds are fully allocated, applications will be closed. 

Find out more at the link above.

Note: Works allowed under these grant schemes would likely require Planning Permission (such as Listed Building Consent, Advertising Consent or similar). Ashford Town Centre is largely within a Conservation Area so applicants would need to consider the design and impact of their project. Please click on the relevant guidance below to see what applicants need to consider and how to contact the Planning department about projects or how to submit a planning application.

77. Yorkshire Content Fund

The Yorkshire Content Fund is a public-private investment fund for the TV, film, video games and digital sectors in Yorkshire and Humber, open to producers either based in Yorkshire or wishing to film or establish a base in the region.

• Up to £500k investment available per project
• Open to TV, film, video games and digital sectors

To receive investment from the YCF you and/or your business must:

• Be based in, or planning to locate in, the Yorkshire & the Humber region. The YCF can only invest in limited companies.
• Be preserving jobs or creating new jobs in the Yorkshire & the Humber region.
• Be viable and be able to demonstrate the ability to repay the investment and provide a profitable exit for investors.
• If your business is eligible and has already completed an Expression of Interest form, and received positive feedback from Screen Yorkshire on your outline project plan, the next stage is to send us a detailed business case.

You will need to complete, sign and submit the application form via the link below, together with the following:

• A Business Case, which should cover the key areas described in the accompanying Business Case Summary (see below).
• For an existing business, three years historic (audited where available) accounts and current management accounts. This is not required if the business has been recently, or is about to be, formed.
• Supporting documentation, in detail, for the project including a budget, timeline, sales projections (if any), a financing plan to include analysis of actual and proposed co-financing and a recoupment proposal.
• Full CVs of the creative and management teams.
• Copies of Health & Safety Policy; Environmental Policy; and Disability & Equal Opportunities Policy/Statement.

You must always submit an Expression of Interest form via our website and obtain feedback from Screen Yorkshire staff before filling out your application form for the YCF, so that you make the best application possible and to avoid wasting time. If you do not do this, we will not read your application and will return it to you. The application form and associated documentation will be reviewed by the Head of Investments who will then contact you to discuss your proposal.

The fund is open to applications but all applicants must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form prior to completing a full application. If you have a project looking for investment please complete the Expression of Interest form via the website. Please ensure that you read the YCF Guidelines, which you can download on the website.

78. Ad:venture Growth Grant

Start Up West Yorkshire has a comprehensive business programme for businesses who have been actively trading for less than three years.

The grant award will cover up to 50 per cent of total project costs and requires businesses to provide a minimum of 50 per cent of match funding.

The Growth Grant is available between £1,500 and £10,000.

To qualify for an AD:VENTURE Growth Grant, businesses must:

• Be located in, and trade from, an address within West Yorkshire, this covers the local authority districts of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield.

• Be a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME)

• Have fewer than 250 FTE employees (Full-time Equivalent)

• Have an annual turnover of less than €50 million (around £43 million)

• Have received less than €310,000 in State Aid over the last 3 financial years. State Aid is funding from any national or local public sector organisation or programme

• Have a business bank account

• Be able to demonstrate that the business is viable with high growth potential, through a business plan or overview, cash-flow forecast and end of year accounts or other appropriate document

• Be registered and accepted onto the AD:VENTURE Programme.

What can the grant be used for?

The Grant can be used to fund costs that support growth and job creation in your business. For example:

• Tools and production equipment

• Developing initial marketing collateral

• Website development and design

• IT equipment and office furniture

You can discuss with your Business Manager if the items you wish to purchase do not appear in the above list.

What the grant cannot be used for

The Grant cannot be used to fund the on-going running costs of your business or anything that is a statutory requirement. For example:

• Stock or working capital

• On-going marketing costs

• Rent, rates, staff salaries

• Qualifications

• Data protection regulation

• Health and safety implementation

• VAT

• Delivery or shipping costs

• Warranties

79. Boiler Upgrade Scheme

With this scheme, you can get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler throughout England.

You’re eligible if:

• Own the property you’re applying for (including if it’s a business, a second home or a property you rent out to tenants)
• Be replacing fossil fuel heating systems (such as oil, gas or electric)

You’re still eligible if you’ve already had funding to make your property more energy efficient, for example by insulating it.

80. Conservation grant scheme, Howardian Hills

This one is a Yorkshire-based grant for community infrastructure projects and countryside conservation work in the Howardian Hills Area of Natural Beauty (AONB).

Assistance normally sits in the 30-75 per cent range but with this scheme you may be funded 100 per cent of your project.

81. Theatre Breakthrough Fund (North)

The Theatre Breakthrough Fund (North) is a new fund of approximately £2,000,000 to support Black, Asian and ethnically diverse theatre makers in the North to make ambitious new work.  

The fund redistributes public funding previously allocated to Eclipse Theatre Company and will continue our support for the types of innovative theatre, touring and artist development that the Company was recognised for.   

We’re looking to invest in individuals, organisations or consortia who can demonstrate:  

• How they would use the investment to enable growth and progression in their theatre making
• Ideas that push boundaries and create new content or new collaborations
• Commitment and capability to develop new audiences in the North and nationally for ambitious, high-quality theatre.  

The Theatre Breakthrough Fund (North) has two stages:  

Stage 1:

Tell us about your project idea. For this stage you’ll need to provide basic information including: 

• A brief description of your project
• Your estimated total project cost (minimum £100,000)
• The approximate start and end dates of your project) 

And your Response to the Brief, which will include: 

• Your project idea
• Your track record
• Financial viability 

The deadline for Stage 1 applications is 12pm (midday) on 27 January 2026. 

If you are successful at Stage 1, you will be invited to develop and submit your Stage 2 application. Successful Stage 1 applicants will be awarded a grant of £1,000 towards the cost of developing your Stage 2 application. 

We anticipate inviting approximately 15 applications to progress to Stage 2. 

Stage 2:

If you are successful at Stage 1 you will have until 12 (midday) on 23 June 2026 to submit your Stage 2 application: 

During this time, you’ll receive: 

• a grant of £1,000 towards the costs of developing your Stage 2 application
• access to a ‘Creative Lab’ of specialist practitioners to support you in developing your idea 

The minimum amount you can apply for at Stage 2 is £100,000. 

There is no maximum amount that you can apply for, but the Arts Council anticipates awarding 5 – 10 grants from the total budget of approximately £2,000,000. 

82. Grant Investment Fund, Northumberland

Eligible businesses can apply for a grant between £10,000 – £300,000.

The capital grant can support eligible businesses with clear growth plans to access direct capital investment to expand productive capacity or diversify into new markets or products.

Available to all Micro and Small businesses / enterprises (Turnover less than £10m and less than 50 employees) located within rural Northumberland (as defined by UKSPF Rural England Prosperity Fund Boundary). The capital grant offers 40% intervention rate for eligible businesses.  

Eligible sectors:

• General manufacturing
• Food and drink manufacturing
• Knowledge intensive service businesses.
• Tourism attractions – not tourism accommodation or infrastructure,
• Fisheries – onshore food manufacturing only
• Social enterprises – engaged in commercial, for profit, commercial enterprise.
• Farm diversification into sectors otherwise eligible as listed above – (not primary agricultural production, purchase of agricultural machinery and tourism accommodation on farms

Ineligible sectors:

• Retail
• Investment in buildings or infrastructure for use by third party businesses.
• Primary agricultural production
• Primary fishery production/activity
• Tourism accommodation – this includes Wedding Venues and venue space for non business to business related activity.
• Any business activity where there is high risk of market displacement.

Register at the website linked above.

83. National Highways Lorry Parking Facilities Improvements Scheme

National Highways is promoting a funding scheme of up to £20m to improve lorry parking facilities used by heavy goods vehicle drivers who rely upon good quality, safe and secure rest areas (the “Scheme”).  The Scheme is part of the National Highways Users and Communities Designated Fund.

Motorway service area operators and operators of service areas that provide facilities for professional drivers at rest areas operated by the private sector on major trunk roads close to the strategic road network (up to radius of 5km) can apply for funds to improve their facility providing it offers benefits to professional drivers.  Applicants must provide match-funding of at least 50% of the cost of the projects for which funding is sought.

National Highways will fund up to 50% of the capital cost of an improvement project. The funding ratio will be confirmed in each funding agreement. In your application you must be able to demonstrate that the improvement project will be completed by 31 March 2026.

Funding opportunities are to support improving facilities and increasing the number of parking spaces at existing sites which include a lorry park. The cost of resourcing and staffing future improvements is not included in the funding issued to a facility. Neither are normal running costs, general business overheads and direct or agency/contractor labour costs.

Lorry parking facility operators can apply for funding if they operate HGV driver facilities at:

·       Motorway service areas

·       Independent truck stops

·       Trunk road service areas

·       Local authority truck stops

Sites must be located on, or within a 5 mile radius of the strategic road network in England. The easiest way to apply is by completing the expression of interest form and submitting this to the Designated Funds inbox.

84. Wenta grants

Social enterprise Wenta provides access to grants for businesses in Bedfordshire. It can offer up to £3,000 via business support programmes. Find out more through its website.

85. Bus Service Operators Grant Plus: commercial transport operators

The Bus Service Operators Grant Plus (BSOG+) is a discretionary grant paid to operators of eligible local bus services to help them recover some of their fuel costs.

Bus operators in receipt of the grant must keep accurate records of the eligible kilometres run and the fuel consumed in operation of local bus services so as to satisfy officers of the Department for Transport (DfT) that the figures on the claim are correctly stated. It should be noted that while DfT’s intentions are to avoid placing unnecessary administrative burdens on bus operators, officers of DfT or Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will periodically visit bus operators to check that claims comply with the appropriate legislation and to ensure that accurate records are being kept in support of claims.

Operators who believe they are eligible should contact bsog@dft.gov.uk.

86. Elmbridge start-up boost

You can apply for a grant of up to 50 per cent of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of £1,000. Applicants are expected to fund at least 50 per cent of each item as part of the project costs.

The fund is only available to businesses that are looking to set up within Elmbridge, are not taking over an existing business or have set up in Elmbridge within the last six months.

Fill out an application form on the website.

87. Growing Hull & East Yorkshire Business Investment Grants

Growing Hull and East Yorkshire is a £1.5m business investment scheme aiming to provide capital grants to SME businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire to support and incentivise business growth, investment and job creation.

The programme builds on the success and momentum of the successful Growing the Humber business grant programme. The scheme should be considered alongside other finance options such as bank loans or asset finance.

Grants of between £5,000 and £250,000 are available to SME businesses that are able to demonstrate viability and will contribute to the wider growth of Hull and East Yorkshire. Grants below the minimum threshold may be considered as an exceptional case.

88. Doncaster Enterprise Grant

Funding has closed for now but you can still submit an expression of interest.

Businesses can now apply for a range of grants tailored to different stages and needs:

• Start-up Grant – Up to £2,000 for new and early-stage businesses. To be eligible for this Start-Up Grant, the applicant must be a Doncaster resident wanting to start a business in Doncaster and be actively accessing the Launchpad Programme support
• Digitalisation Grant – Up to £5,000 to enhance digital capabilities
• Specialist Business Consultancy Grant – Covers 80% of costs, up to £5,000
• Innovation Grant – Up to £25,000 (requires 50% match funding)
• Export Funding Grant – Up to £5,000 to support micro and SMEs entering new markets
• Capex Grant – Up to £25,000 (requires 50% match funding) for growth outside UKSPF’s Productivity, Digital, and Low Carbon criteria

Please note: Grants are only available to businesses based in Doncaster.

Apply early – Limited funding available

Grants are awarded on a first come, first served basis.

Applicants must demonstrate how the funding will help:

• Create new employment opportunities
• Develop new products, processes, or services

Full support with the application and claim process will be provided by Business Doncaster.

For further information please call 01302 735555 or email: info@businessdoncaster.com

89. Crawley Shop Front and High Street Improvement Grant Scheme

A £128,000 fund has been created to support independent and small shops across the borough and to pay for town centre improvement works. Eligible businesses in Crawley town centre and the neighbourhood parades will be able to bid for grants of up to £5,000 toward significant visual improvements to their frontage, or physical improvements to frontline business operations. Up to four adjoining businesses can also make a joint bid for a maximum of £20,000.

The funding is available to eligible Crawley businesses and could include:

• Shop front enhancements
• Lighting and decoration improvements
• Minor building works
• Display equipment
• Payment system improvements

To be eligible to apply for a grant, businesses must:

• Be registered with HMRC or Companies House
• Pass due diligence checks undertaken by council officers
• Have a physical shop premises in Crawley borough
• Be a small independent business with a maximum of 50 employees
• Not be part of a regional, national or international chain or franchise
• Demonstrate security of tenure for the premises for a term of at least six months
• Not propose inappropriate physical shop front improvements if the premises is located in designated conservation areas

A due diligence and evaluation process will be undertaken on applications. Grants offered are subject to meeting eligibility criteria, fulfilling the aims of the scheme and a subsidy control declaration. 

How to apply

Eligible businesses must complete an application form which will then undergo a due diligence and evaluation process.  

Please ensure that you complete all relevant sections of the application form and that all supporting documentation and evidence is provided. Any incomplete or insufficiently detailed applications will not be accepted or processed for evaluation. 

The application process requires information about the following areas:

Business details

This section requires supporting information on latest accounts, tax returns and leases as well as:

• Business registrations
• Location
• Operations
• Company representatives
• Leaseholder information

Project proposal

A detailed outline of the project proposal including:

• Research
• Product details
• Timescales for delivery
• Expected outcomes and impact, for example business growth or creation of jobs
• Environmental benefits
• Visual improvements to the surrounding business environment

Finances

This section requires supporting information on accounts and cost quotations as well as:

• Grant value
• Itemised breakdown of costs
• Profitability and cash flow position of the business
• Details of other funding sources or previous grants awarded
• Details of other public funding received

Planning considerations

This section covers any planning considerations required, including:

• Does the proposal require planning permission?
• Is the premises located within a conservation area?
• Has advice been sought from the Local Planning Authority?

90. Invest to Grow, Derbyshire

The University of Derby supplies grants and loans of up to £250,000 to support private businesses across the East Midlands to innovate, grow and create jobs. The following objectives will be prioritised:

• It will create new jobs or safeguard existing positions in your company
• It will increase the scope or scale of your company activity
• It will improve the company’s performance
• It has not commenced and will not be achievable in the timescales proposed without Invest to Grow support

You must be able to create jobs that can be sustained for at least three years – businesses that create higher-skilled jobs are preferred. The following sectors are also preferred:

• Manufacturing (e.g. transport equipment and food and drink)
• Life sciences
• Construction
• Logistics
• Engineering
• Technology
• Creative industries
• Low carbon

91. B&CE, construction industry

Does your organisation support people with education and training in construction? Good news. You may be eligible for a corporate grant from the B&CE Charitable Trust.

Grants are available for projects that either promote careers in the construction industry or lead to accredited qualifications.

We encourage applications from not-for-profit organisations, excluding public sector. However, if you’re unsure, please get in touch.

If you’d like to find out more about our grants for organisations or make an application, please get in touch – email us at charitabletrust@bandce.co.uk.

We also provide grants to help individuals get back into construction or to retrain in another skill if there’s an occupational health requirement. Find out how to apply for grants for individuals for education or training.

92. Salford Skills for Business Apprenticeship Fund

With this apprenticeship fund, you can get assistance to cover the cost of training for an apprentice role, apprenticeship training for your existing workforce and funding to support employment costs for a new apprentice.

93. ECITB Engineering Training Grants

Engineering training grants are funded by the industrial training levy and used to meet the needs of employers and the wider industry.

Grants that are paid employers to subsidise training costs for their workforce. The ECITB also pays grants to training providers who provide the training, tests and qualifications that industry requires.

The ECITB works with employers to identify training needs and to drive up skill levels across the industry. Eligible employers can access a wide range of engineering training grants to support the training they require.

Some grant money is invested in strategic projects that benefit the wider industry, for instance a project to recruit more apprentices to our graduate retention programme for the oil and gas industry, which has helped to secure graduates skills.

Grant support is available for a range of training activities. The ECITB prioritises funding for training that improves the productivity and safety of the engineering construction workforce and also training that develops skills that are transferrable across industry.

These areas of training include:

• New entrant training – apprenticeships, graduate development and workers transferring across industry sectors.
• Craft/technician skills (e.g. Mechanical Joint Integrity)
• Safety training (excluding the CCNSG safety passport)
• Leadership, management and supervisory development.
• Competence assurance (e.g. vocational qualifications and technical tests)
• Contractual requirement (e.g. works access and plant operations)
• Project management, project controls and commercial awareness
• Design training (e.g. CAD and BIM)

Some training, such as safety passports required to gain access to sites and to ensure a worker can travel overseas, is excluded from grant support. This includes:

All in-scope engineering construction companies are eligible for support from engineering training grants, whether they pay the training levy or not. The levy contribution or size of a company has no bearing on the decision to award a grant. Small and medium-sized companies may be exempt from levy payments but are eligible to receive training grants.

• The ECITB can also award grants to employers, training providers, individuals and other institutions that are not in-scope but are part of the engineering construction industry.
• The ECITB must agree to fund training before the activity takes place.
• If an employer does not seek a commitment for funding beforehand there is a risk the grant will not be paid.
• Apply for grant funding either via an ECITB Approved Training Provider or directly through the ECITB’s online member services portal (MSP). If you are not already a registered MSP user contact msphelp@ecitb.org.uk
• Employers should make their claim for grant funding as soon as possible after the training has taken place.

For further information please see the ECITB’s grant policy here.

94. Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)

The REPF Business Grant Scheme is a capital grants programme for farmers and small rural businesses that manage land funded through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) by DEFRA (the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs). Grants are particularly focused around sustainability, stewardship and landscape recovery.

Find out more about eligibility and the application process on the website.

Wales Business Grants

The main providers of grants in Wales are the Welsh government, the UK government, the EU, local authorities and charities.

The finance locator on the Business Wales website is a great starting point for looking at the grants and other types of funding available in Wales, allowing you to filter and sort your results by funding type, source, geographic area, application status and so on to see the most relevant options for your business.

95. City of Newport Business Grants

The grant scheme offers 50 per cent of net costs up to £2,500 for eligible businesses outside the city centre, and up to £5,000 for those located within the city centre boundary. 

The grant can be used for funding towards up to five equipment items, such as: 

• Plant and equipment
• ICT equipment and software
• Website development

This grant cannot be used towards:

• Salaries
• Property refurbishment
• Purchase of vehicles
• Stock
• Marketing and signage
• Training and licences
• Leased equipment

Applicants need to evidence that they have the funds to cover the total cost of the investment, as grants are paid once evidence is provided of the purchase. 

You must not commit to any premises or expenditure prior to receiving a grant offer in writing.

There is a limited amount of funding available and the scheme will close once the funding has been allocated, which may be before the end of the financial year.

To make an initial enquiry about applying for funding you will need to sign into your My Newport account or register and provide information on your business activity and planned investment. This information will be used to determine your eligibility for the funding support. 

96. Website Development Grant, Swansea

This is a grant with the objective of adopting a new technology through online/website development. The grant can fund costs relating to the creation of a business website for the first time or enhancement to an existing site.

The maximum grant available is £1,500. The grant will require applicants to provide 50% of costs in match funding. All applicants will be required to provide a business plan/summary and a 12-month cash flow forecast.

For further details and to request an application form, please email growthgrant@swansea.gov.uk.

97. Caerphilly Business Start-Up grant

This business development grant is to help companies to start up a business for the first time. Business start-ups in all business sectors may be considered. The applicant must be setting up the business in the Caerphilly County Borough.

Eligible costs could include:

• Capital equipment
• ICT equipment
• Development of websites
• Marketing
• Building works to business premises
• Training

The business must not have started prior to application and approval. It’s a discretionary grant and can provide 50 per cent of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500.

98. Flintshire Tourism Growth Fund

This grant is open for applications from businesses.  Final approval of grant applications will be subject to Cadwyn Clwyd receiving approval from the managing authority for the UK SPF funds. 

The Flintshire Tourism Growth Fund project is funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), through the ‘supporting local business’ investment priority.

The project aim is aligned to the UKSPF aims to boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards by growing the private sector, with focus on supporting micro and small enterprises within Flintshire. The objectives are:

• Creating jobs and boosting community cohesion, through investments that build on existing industries and institutions, and range from support for starting businesses to visible improvements to local tourism, and the visitor sector.
• Increasing private sector investment in growth-enhancing activities, through targeted support for micro and small businesses to undertake new-to-firm innovation, adopt productivity-enhancing, energy efficient and low carbon technologies and techniques; improve the visitor experience; and target new markets.

The Flintshire Tourism Growth Fund will directly support micro and small tourism enterprises in Flintshire by providing a 70% grant, up to a maximum of £17,500 (total project value £25,000) towards costs relating to the introduction of new products, new processes and carbon reducing technologies; improving the visitor experience; and targeting new markets.  There will be a minimum project spend of £4,000 (£2,800 grant, £1,200 cash match funding). 

Existing micro, small and medium businesses, new business start-ups within the tourism and visitor economy sectors in Flintshire will be eligible to apply.

The project aims to encourage enterprises to foster innovation and investment to which contributes constructively towards the tourism and visitor economy within Flintshire.

• Full details of Flintshire Tourism Growth Fund can be found in the GUIDANCE NOTES.
• Once you have read the guidance, please complete an online application via this link

Before completing an application, please contact: Donna Hughes on 01490 340500 / 07833 084352.

99. Commercial Property Grant, Neath Port Talbot

The Commercial Property Grant (CPG) is available to owners of commercial premises that want to improve the appearance of their building. Applicants must be the freeholder of the property or a tenant with a lease that has an unexpired term of at least 5 years from the date that the grant is anticipated to be paid out on. 

The CPG is a discretionary grant that covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Eligible work includes that which directly contributes to improving the external appearance of the building as visible from the public realm. Typically, this includes work to the front of the building that faces the public highway, but may also apply to roofs, and to side and rear elevations of properties if they are visually prominent. 

The scheme prioritises applications that improve unsympathetic shopfronts in traditional high streets and other prominent buildings in key locations, as well as those that involve job creation, through business start-up or expansion. 

Eligible works include: 

• Replacement shop frontages 
• Replacement windows and doors 
• New signage 
• Rainwater goods 
• Painting, rendering and attention to stone and brickwork 
• The cost of scaffolding necessary to carry out eligible work is also considered an eligible cost, as are the fees incurred obtaining relevant statutory consents and the fees of any professionals directly involved in the eligible work, such as architects and project managers.

Ineligible works include: 

• Routine repair and maintenance
• Works relating to health and safety and statutory requirements 
• Works that will not make a significant contribution to the general environmental enhancement of the area 
• Legal costs incurred in relation to the CPG projects are considered ineligible.

For further information and grant guidelines, please contact Nicola Bulcraig on 01639 686683, or send an email to the address at the link above.

100. Supplier Development Grant, Swansea

This is a grant with the objective of providing a new service upon undertaking training to gain a sector recognised accreditation. This will aid businesses in Swansea wishing to bid for public sector and/or larger scale contracts.

The maximum grant available is £1,000. The grant will require applicants to provide 50 per cent of costs in match funding. All applicants will be required to provide a business summary and 12-month cashflow forecast.

For further details and to request an application form, please email developmentgrant@swansea.gov.uk

101. ReAct for Businesses

ReAct is a redundancy support which helps businesses connect with people who have lost their jobs. The programme can help you pay their wages and get them into role-specific training.

You’ll receive £4,000 in quarterly instalments for the first 12 months to help cover their wages. The scheme will cover those:

The person you wish to recruit must be aged 20 or over and disabled (inclusive of people with physical impairment, neurodivergence and mental health), and one of the following:

• Under formal Notice of Redundancy or
• Within six months of the date of redundancy or
• An ex-offender or an offender who is serving their sentence in the community

102. Placemaking Grants – Swansea

The focus of the programme is sustainable growth of towns and cities, and their transformation into places of living, working, learning and leisure.

The scheme is part of the Welsh government funded ‘Transforming Towns Programme’. There are two parts – grants for residential units and grants for ‘Commercial property improvements’. The latter will typically focus on enhancing building frontages together with the upgrade of vacant commercial floor space to bring it back into beneficial business use. For more details click on the link in the sub-heading above or contact the Business Support team at Swansea council here.

103. The Refreshing Town Centre Property Fund, Carmarthenshire

The aim of the grant intervention is to strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems and sThe Refreshing Town Centre Property Fund is funded by UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund and Carmarthenshire County Council.

The funding will be made available to owners/leaseholders and is focused external improvements to the facades of buildings to improve the visual landscape in the town centres. If the property is owned by Carmarthenshire County Council, correspondence must take place with CCC Property Department prior to the application process CPSales@carmarthenshire.gov.uk 

In the event of the application being submitted by the landlord who is intending to let out the premises, prior to submission of a full application a pre let/end tenant for commercial use will need to be in place.

Applications within the defined red line boundary delivery areas from the towns of Ammanford, Carmarthen, Llanelli, and Burry Port will be considered for the fund. Premises from outside the boundary will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The building which is the subject of the application will be assessed to ensure that proposed works through the grant would improve the visual aesthetic of the building.

The minimum fund awarded £500 whilst the maximum will be £2,000 with an intervention rate of 80%, per property.

Please contact Towns@carmarthenshire.gov.uk for an application form.

104. The Access Broadband Cymru Grant Scheme

The Access Broadband Cymru Grant Scheme (ABC) provides grant funding to support the installation of a broadband solution to any premises within Wales that is unable to achieve a connection via any other means. Any solution can be chosen provided the average download speeds achieved post installation meets a minimum of 30mbps (megabits per second).  

Funding of up to £800 per premises is available. 

Funding is split between

• Equipment: £550
• Installation Costs: £250

The annual budget for the Scheme is £1,000,000.

The scheme is open to premises provided they meet all the following criteria:

• Is within the geographical boundary of Wales.
• Is not able to achieve a connection of a minimum of 30mbps download speeds via any provider.   
• Has not previously received any public funding from any other UK public sector broadband intervention.  
• Has not received funding from the ABC Scheme within the past 48 months (including the paused scheme) regardless of speeds achieved during this timeframe.
• Has a unique premises reference number (UPRN) 

All applicants are responsible for selecting their own broadband solution and provider. For further information on solutions that may be available to you please see Solutions available for getting faster broadband.

The Welsh Government cannot provide any advice on providers or solutions other than the information provided in Solutions available for getting faster broadband.

Any technology is eligible however the installation MUST be capable of achieving download speeds of at least 30mbps.

If you believe your premises meets the eligibility criteria applications should be made via the ABC Application Portal (linked above). You will be required to register on the portal, and will need to provide contact details, including an email address. 

Once registered you will be able to apply for the scheme. The only information that will be required at this time are the installation address details which must include the post code. If you are a business, enterprise or a third sector organisation you will also need your VAT Registration Number (if you have one). You will also need to confirm your MFA status.

105. Accreditations Grant Scheme, Gwynedd County

Cyngor Gwynedd is keen to assist small and medium sized businesses located in Gwynedd to achieve accreditations which set recognised specifications for products, services and systems, to ensure quality, safety and efficiency.  

Examples are ISO accreditations such as ISO9001 which specifies requirements for a quality management system and ISO14001 which specifies requirements for an environmental management system.

A grant scheme is available which contributes towards the costs of a consultant to work with businesses in order to achieve the necessary standard for certification. The cost of the actual certification is not included in the scheme. 

The objective is to make businesses more efficient and effective in supplying quality goods and services leading to increased competitiveness and placing businesses in a better position to respond to tendering opportunities with Cyngor Gwynedd, other local authorities, government organisations and the private sector. 

For further information, contact the Cyngor Gwynedd Business Support Service (you’ll need to have an online account to apply).

106. Caerphilly Business Start-up Grant

This is a flexible grant scheme delivered through a partnership with UK Steel Enterprise and Caerphilly County Borough Council. It is designed to help residents of Caerphilly County Borough set up a full-time business for the first time, who are not able to access any other sources of funding. The Caerphilly Business Start-Up Grant provides financial support to help eligible new businesses develop and grow.

Business start-ups in all business sectors may be considered. The applicant must be setting up the business in the Caerphilly County Borough.

Eligible costs could include:

• Capital equipment
• ICT equipment
• Development of websites
• Marketing
• Building works to business premises
• Training

The business must not have started prior to application and approval.

The applicant must provide a business plan with a minimum of one-year cash flow forecast and projected profit and loss. Two comparable quotes are also required for each capital item required. The business must provide full time employment for the applicant (min. 30 hours).

At least one of the owners or directors must be employed full time in the business.

Contact Business Enterprise Renewal Team for further information.

The Caerphilly Business Start-up Grant is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500.

Applications are continuously assessed by the Business Enterprise Renewal Team.

107. Commercial Property Development Grant, Denbighshire

The Denbighshire Commercial Property Development Grant is open to commercial properties based in one of the 8 principal town and city centres in the county that have proposed project(s) to develop and upgrade their property and the Town Centre. Properties must be within the town or city centre boundaries of one of the following:

• Corwen
• Denbigh
• Llangollen
• Prestatyn
• Rhuddlan
• Rhyl
• Ruthin
• St Asaph

The project must fit into the following criteria:

• Individual Project grant awards will be limited to £50k per application with a minimum of £5,000.
• There will be a 30% match funding requirement from the applicant.
• The fund is available to the freehold owners of the property, or occupiers who hold a lease with 7 years or more remaining at date of application, and who have secured their landlord’s written consent to the proposed works.

What is available?

Grants between £5,000 and £50,000 are available to improve or develop a commercial property.

External works to the building frontages would be considered without the need for internal work. This can include work deemed necessary for the structural integrity and the end use of the property particularly where there is a change of use proposed. Items may include:

• Shopfronts
• Improved Display Windows
• Signage Improvements
• Windows & Doors
• External Lighting
• Roofs and Chimneys
• Rainwater goods
• Rendering, stone cleaning and repairs, repointing
• Structural Works

Internal works would only be eligible for funding as part of a comprehensive package of external improvements to the building or for where a proposed change of use is required. This should include all work, visible or structural, necessary to complete the project to Building Regulations. This may include:

• Windows & doors
• Improved accessibility
• Walls, ceilings, lighting
• Utilities and services, including heating
• Welfare Facilities (e.g. essential washroom and cleansing facilities only)
• Structural work

In addition, any works to improve the energy efficiency of the building (e.g. enhanced insulation), will be eligible, as part of a broader suite of works.

Each project should be able to demonstrate benefits to the town centre, such as:

• A reduction in town centre vacancy rates
• Overall quality and image of the environment improved (creating identity, sense of place and business confidence) to encourage more people to spend more time in the town centres and encouraging more activity and trade to support local businesses
• Creation of new employment and business opportunities
• Sustainability of existing and new businesses in the town centres

 If you would like to apply for a Commercial Property Development Grant, you will need to submit an Expression of Interest online form on the website linked above.

108. UK Shared Prosperity Fund: Net Zero Decarbonisation Programme, Newport 

Newport City Council has launched a new programme to help businesses and community groups to decarbonise.

The program provides free energy-saving advice and grant funding to help local organisations reduce their energy costs and emissions. It aims to help promote growth in Newport’s low carbon economy and the journey to net zero by 2050. 

The free advice and match-funded grants up to £30,000 are available to local businesses and community groups with buildings in the Newport City Council area.

The programme is designed to help organisations to:

• Establish baseline carbon emissions
• Implement emission reduction plans
• Actively fund projects aligned with sustainability objectives

The programme consists of:

• free on-site technical support to explore your low carbon project ideas and opportunities
• a free decarbonisation plan – identifying opportunities for organisations to reduce carbon emissions through energy saving and renewable energy measures
• a £250,000 fund to provide grants towards project implementation – grants are available up to 50 per cent of the total eligible project costs, up to a maximum grant of £30,000

For example, if your total project cost is £10,000, and we have agreed a grant at 50 per cent intervention rate, you will pay the total (£10,000) and claim a ‘cash back’ grant of £5,000 (50 per cent). In this example your contribution will therefore be £5,000 (50 per cent)

Grants can be used to cover:

• Contractors and consultants procured to undertake reasonable project activities
• Equipment and machinery related to installing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies
• Costs related to installation, commissioning, and associated works

Only costs with a full and clear evidence trail will be payable.

Apply through the website linked above.

109. Northern Valleys Initiative

The Initiative, totalling £50m, has been set up by Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) and supported by Local Authority Delivery Teams from Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Torfaen. This will support businesses and projects that have the ability to increase prosperity in the region.

Investments will be focussed on businesses that offer high-growth potential and the ability to help transform the regional economy. Operating over a five-year period, the programme will act as a financial catalyst to support businesses that are either based in the Region or that wish to relocate for the long term. Typical grants and investments available for successful applicants will range from (but are not limited to), £100k to £2m.

The programme concentrates on infrastructure, digital connectivity and tourism sectors delivering a wide range of outcomes including jobs, ecological regeneration and de-carbonisation.

To find out more, please contact NVI@cardiffcapitalregion.gov.uk

110. Accelerated Growth Programme

The programme offers support to high growth pre-revenue firms and SMEs. You must be able to grow turnover by at least 20 per cent a year, generate at least ten new jobs in three years. Start-ups are also accepted but they must have been trading for 12 months and must be looking to achieve the levels of growth mentioned above.

111. Neath Port Talbot Council Green Renewable Fund

Grants of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs or, a maximum of £25,000 to support capital investment in green technology.

What business sectors are eligible?
Funding can support businesses operating within:

• Manufacturing
• Engineering/Fabrication
• Construction
• ICT
• Renewable Energy sectors

What costs does the grant support?

Power Systems
• Small scale, single wind turbines.
• Solar photovoltaic panels (roof mounted/ ground mounted).
• Solar photovoltaic battery*.
• Grid linked battery storage system (where the tariff is with a renewable energy supplier)*.
• Hydro-electric

Heating Systems
• Air Source Heat Pump (Air to water and air to air).
• Ground Source Heat Pump (vertical, horizontal, diagonal & radial).
• Solar thermal panels (roof mounted/ ground mounted).
• Combined Heat & Power (CHP) Systems.                              

Businesses operating in the following sectors are not eligible to apply:
• Professional services such as accountants, solicitors, estate agents, insurance brokers, etc.
• Banking
• Education
• Primary Healthcare e.g. GP Surgeries, physiotherapists, etc.
• Supermarkets
• Small operations with low power usage.
• Storage yards and facilities
• Businesses that are part of a franchise
• National companies or those part of a larger chain
• Sports clubs

Business premises must be registered on Neath Port Talbot Council’s Non Domestic Rates register and the applicant must either own the freehold, or secure your landlord’s written consent for the proposed works. A lease must also be in place and remain valid after the final grant payment date. Please note: Independent businesses (not part of a larger group) operating within the Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism, Care and Retail sectors will also be considered if expenditure meets the criteria.

112. Cardiff Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Part of the cost of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership is funded by a grant from Innovate UK or other government co-funders that you apply for in a competitive bid for submissions (there is a success rate for applications of around 90 per cent). The remainder of the project cost is met through a cash payment by your organisation.

Project costs are variable, but can typically be around £80,000 – £100,000 per project year. For Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises the grant rate is 67 per cent of the project cost; for large companies 50 per cent; and for third sector organisations the grant rate is 75 per cent.

The cost of a KTP is comparable to employing a well-qualified graduate, but includes so much more:

• Access to the exceptional resources of the university
• A dedicated team to deliver a strategic project
• Expert academic input bringing a breadth and depth of knowledge to support the graduate and the project
• The input of a highly experienced Knowledge Transfer Adviser who is there at every stage to support and help the project succeed
• The partnership introduces new capabilities and embeds knowledge
• The risk of developing the innovation project is shared with the government co-funders
• The wider support and opportunities offered by links to Innovate UK KTN.

To apply for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership companies should:

• Be UK registered and of sufficient size to support the project.
• Have the financial capacity to make the required contribution to the 
cost of running a Knowledge Transfer Partnership
• Be aware that Knowledge Transfer Partnerships can have a long-term legacy that can be measured over five years, as well as shorter term impact.
• Be able to show that their project demonstrates Impact, Innovation, Challenge and Cohesiveness

Find out more about the eligibility criteria for KTP here.

In the first instance, you should talk to a Knowledge Transfer Adviser who can answer all your questions about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, checking the feasibility of your idea and its suitability for funding. Advisers can then help find an academic partner and draw up a grant application with you.

Locate and contact your local Knowledge Transfer Adviser on this map of KTA locations or from the list here.

113. Agile Cymru

Agile Cymru is a scaleable programme of coordinated action, an agile tool to deliver greater economic co-operation at speed, guided by the International Strategy and our economic policies. This includes a flexible grant mechanism to support cross-border and international activity that maximises shared opportunities across themes, sectors, and geographies. 

In general, Agile Cymru provides small-scale financial support. There are no fixed grant thresholds, but based on past experience the following can be expected:

• For small projects, such as travel, engagement and consultancy, applicants should bear in mind that between £500 – £5,000 per application may be considered reasonable.
• For strategic projects, such as forming networks, feasibility studies and pilot projects involving significant staff-time and materials, applicants should bear in mind that between £10,000 – £50,000 per application may be considered reasonable. Please note that strategic projects are likely to be supported under a specific call for applications and therefore limited by the terms of that call.

Agile Cymru can fund up to 100% of specific eligible costs, but the rate offered will take into account the strength of the application, risks and budget availability.

To apply for Agile Cymru funding, complete the application form: Agile Cymru: application form | GOV.WALES

Signed scanned pdf applications can be sent to AgileCymru@gov.wales.

114. Wales Tourism Investment Fund (WTIF)

The Welsh Government, in partnership with the Development Bank of Wales, has launched a new £50m Wales Tourism Investment Fund (WTIF), which brings together both commercial and grant funding into one combined package of financial support.

The new fund will provide patient capital to tourism businesses of between £100,000 and £5 million for qualifying projects
Repayment term is between 10-15 years, and can include seasonality payment breaks.

Cash can be used either to upgrade existing, or create new, high-quality assets in the tourism sector.

How to apply

The fund includes a two stage application process. The first stage includes an expression of interest form and, if successful at this stage, the business will then be invited to make a full application.

Please email WTIF@gov.wales or call 03000 622418 for more information.

115. Transforming Towns Place Making Grant – Mid Wales

Ceredigion County Council has secured funding from the Welsh Governments’ Transforming Towns Programme to help support capital investment to regenerate a number of our towns across Mid Wales.

The Transforming Towns Place Making Grant offers support for a wide range of projects, from green infrastructure developments to internal and external commercial and residential improvements for business owners.

Potential projects will need to satisfy eligibility criteria which will include demonstrating clear links to a current Town Place Plan or Town Centre Strategy. Also, potential projects will need to satisfy the Transforming Towns Place Making Grant Framework criteria.

Applicants can discuss potential projects with their local project officer who can advise whether the project could be eligible and help with the expression of interest process.
Projects need to be complete by December 31, 2026.

The scheme is open to private businesses, including developers, third sector businesses, and the public sector. It is not available to private individuals.

116. Community Innovation Denbighshire

Innovators and entrepreneurs with sustainable project ideas are being urged to apply for grants that will drive post-Covid economic recovery in Denbighshire.

Led by Cadwyn Clwyd and Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC), the £600,000 Community Innovation Denbighshire project will focus on encouraging micro firms, community groups and social enterprises in rural and urban areas to put forward proposals that will deliver regional and environmental benefits.

Supported by Denbighshire County Council and part-funded by the UK Government through the £220m UK Community Renewal Fund, support is available for 25 organisations or individuals who can apply for a £5,000 grant they will match-fund to trial new products, systems, and services.

For more information, email admin@cadwynclwyd.co.uk or call 01490 340500.

Scotland Business Grants

In Scotland there are a few larger organisations who offer a number of different funding opportunities.

Better Business Finance: A portal that provides impartial information and support to businesses and entrepreneurs looking to develop and grow. Use this search to find out exactly what grant funding is available to your business with a complete list of known grants in Scotland.

Scottish Enterprise: A non-departmental public body which encourages economic development, enterprise and innovation in Scotland. For all grants and funding information please click here.

Business Gateway: Offers advice and guidance to start-up companies and established companies across Scotland. See below for specifics on grants and funding.

117. Beyond Scotland Market Development Grant

This grant provides specific support to businesses to enable them to expand into new markets overseas or into other parts of the UK (excluding Scotland).

Grants of up to £3,000 covering up to 50% of eligible costs are available. Costs cannot be incurred prior to a grant being awarded.

• The business must be registered in the Perth and Kinross Council area and must have business premises in Perth and Kinross.
• The business must have a maximum of 250 employees (this includes sole traders, constituted community groups, social/community enterprises, and co-operatives).
• The business must have a business bank account.

The following are not eligible for this grant:

• betting shops
• off-licence shops
• online services, including teaching and training services, for example fitness or wellbeing classes, or similar digital platforms

Eligible costs (but not limited to):

• transport and accommodation (where these are directly related to a specific business event or initiative)
• exhibition and trade show attendance, stand costs and marketing materials (note: trade shows and exhibitions which take place in Scotland are not eligible)
• new product development for the overseas market
• consultancy services, for example legal costs associated with overseas trading

Ineligible costs (but not limited to):

• Costs incurred prior to the Grant Offer Letter being issued
• The purchase of capital equipment
• Property acquisition
• Software licences
• Internal payments or salaries
• Web design and web development
• Food and drink
• Trade shows or exhibitions which take place in Scotland
• Press trips and familiarisation trips
• Social media campaigns and influencer related costs

Please contact BusinessDevelopment@pkc.gov.uk to apply.

118. Scottish Venture Fund

The Scottish Venture Fund invests in companies from start-ups, early-stage to expanding businesses seeking funding to develop products and/or markets.

This fund can invest alongside sophisticated private sector investors on equal terms, up to a maximum of 50 per cent of the total funding package on a commercial basis. This flexible equity gap fund invests alongside private sector investors, offering equity funding from £100,000 up to £2m.

119. National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations

The Open Fund has separate funding strands for individuals and organisations within the creative industries.

• Funding available for between £1,000 and £100,000
• The fund aims to enable organisations to do creative activity such as a specific project or production, a programme of creative work or a period of research and development.
• The fund is open all year round, with no deadlines and can support projects that last up to 18 months

120. Young EDGE

Young EDGE is a competition aimed at entrepreneurs in Scotland aged between 18-30 with a cash grant prize of up to £15,000.

The Scottish Edge Young competition is aimed at companies run by those aged between 18 and 30.

121. East Ayrshire Net Zero Support Grant

The East Ayrshire Net Zero Grant is a non-repayable grant which should cover 50% of the approved project expenditure, up to a maximum of £3,000.

This is intended to help small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to implement energy and resource efficiency improvements.

It can be used for:

• The purchase of equipment that would contribute to energy saving
• Green skills training
• Renewable energy installations (for example, solar, ground or air source heat pumps)
• Waste management or recycling
• Lighting systems
• Roof and building insulation
• Low energy heating

Eligibility criteria for the Net Zero Support Grant

The grant is available to small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs) based in East Ayrshire.

To be eligible, a business must:

• Have been trading for at least 12 months
• Employ between 3 and 49 people
• Be working with Business Energy Scotland or the University of Strathclyde
• Have completed a business energy efficiency audit and created a carbon reduction plan

We contributed to a Low Carbon Challenge Fund (LCCF) programme run by the University of Strathclyde. This programme helps small and medium-sized businesses by offering up to seven hours of free support to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, which provides a carbon reduction plan.

This service also allows small and medium sized enterprises businesses to access up to seven hours of free support around carbon reduction and energy efficiency which provides a carbon reduction plan for the business.

To discuss the East Ayrshire Net Zero Support Grant, please email  business@east-ayrshire.gov.uk to arrange meeting with a business adviser.

122. SMART: SCOTLAND

The SMART: SCOTLAND grant is one of our research and development (R&D) grants that aims to support high-risk, highly ambitious projects.

It provides support to conduct feasibility studies. It’s only available to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) based in Scotland, and supports activities that have a commercial endpoint.

What projects can SMART: SCOTLAND funding support?

SMART: SCOTLAND can support feasibility studies that help to show your idea could work in the real world.

Your business will need to own any intellectual property (IP) generated from your project.

Specifically, the SMART grant aims to support priority areas for economic transformation. These are:

• Creating an internationally competitive energy transition industry in Scotland
• Driving capital investment to deliver a step-change in Scotland’s productivity
• Scaling the impact of Scotland’s innovation strengths into high-growth industries of the future, namely:
  • Space
  • Industrial biotech 
  • Life sciences (human health)
  • Fintech
  • Critical technologies like quantum, photonics, and semiconductors

You may be eligible if:

• You’re a small or medium-sized business, university spin-out or an individual
• You’re based, or planning to set up, in Scotland
• You have secured, or have a clear line of sight to private match funding for the project
• Your project represents an advance in technological innovation for the UK industry or sector concerned
• There are technical risks and challenges associated with defining and developing the technology
• You own, or have rights to use, the intellectual property required to undertake the project
• You’ll own all intellectual property developed during the project
• You have the necessary management and technical expertise and resources (either in-house or brought-in) to make the project a success
• Both the project and the business are financially viable
• Financial assistance from SMART: SCOTLAND is essential for the project to go ahead

If you would benefit from broader support to develop an innovation strategy, or to help your businesses achieve its growth ambitions, further guidance can be found here.

All companies which are awarded SMART: SCOTLAND grant funding need to meet the Scottish Government’s approach to Fair Work and net zero. This will include:

• Appropriate channels for effective voice, such as trade union recognition
• Payment of the Real Living Wage to all employees over the age of 16, including apprentices 
• Investment in workforce development
• No inappropriate use of zero hours contracts
• Take action to tackle the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace
• Offer flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of employment
• Oppose the use of fire and rehire practice
• A credible plan in place to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2045 at the latest

What level of funding is available for feasibility studies?

We can support up to 70% of the eligible costs for a small enterprise and up to 60% of the eligible costs for a medium enterprise.

Studies must last between 6 and 18 months, and the maximum grant is £100,000.

Feasibility is paid with a third of the grant in an upfront instalment and the rest is quarterly in arrears.

Is it essential that a patent arises from the project?

No. Many inventions are protected by patent, but this is not the only way to protect intellectual property (IP). Our assessment process does, however, include a patent search to determine the level of innovation and identify any prior art.

While patent protection isn’t essential, it is essential that you demonstrate that you will own all IP generated through the project. You’ll also need to tell us of how you will protect that IP.

SMART: SCOTLAND accepts new applications all year round.

123. Regional Selective Assistance funding

RSA is a discretionary grant aimed at encouraging capital investment and job creation in Assisted Areas of Scotland, classified as Tiers 2 and 3. The grant is available for businesses who want to develop a project in these areas.

Depending on the location of your project and the size of your business, different levels of RSA are available. 

We can typically support up to 35 per cent of the eligible costs for a small/medium sized enterprise (SME) and 15 per cent of the eligible costs for a large enterprise.

Projects must last between six and 36 months, and the minimum grant considered is £150,000.

To apply, fill in a form on the website linked above and the team will review and send feedback on your project proposal.

124. International Events Funding Programme

Through this programme of investment, the EventScotland team fund major, world-class events which are raising the profile of Scotland’s Perfect Stage around the world.

They support events though this programme in a number of ways: working in partnership with local authorities and governing bodies on bids to secure major international properties for Scotland; communicating directly with event organisers for annual events where they have an established relationship, and; actively looking for new and existing events to bring to Scotland for the first time.

If you would like to discuss any opportunities further, please contact through the link above.

125. Young Business Capital Grant

The fund will be reopening in spring 2026.

The Young Business Capital Grant Fund aims to stimulate an increase in productivity, innovation and employment in the Highlands and Islands through capital investment in start-up/young businesses and social enterprises who have been trading for less than five years.

It looks to support projects that help businesses and social enterprises grow, for example through investment enabling new market entry, enabling an increase in sales or quality employment opportunities.

The funding is a non-repayable grant of up to £75,000 which will cover between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of the total cost of a project. The minimum grant award is £10,000. Projects with a total cost of £20,000 or less are therefore unlikely to be eligible.

The awarding body prioritises projects based in remote, rural and island areas where applicants may be eligible for up to 50 per cent funding towards project costs.

HIE’s contribution to projects will be based on the financial need of the business or social enterprise. Applicants will be required to provide financial information on request to allow an assessment to be made.

Complete an expression of interest form on the website.

126. Scottish Edge

Scottish EDGE is a competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s up-and-coming, innovative, high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent.

The Scottish EDGE competition offers funding of up to £100,000 on a split grant/loan basis.

The application process consists of each business completing the Scottish EDGE online application form and producing a 3-minute video presentation. They run various rounds throughout the year – click the link above to find out when the next one is.

127. Forestry Grant Scheme

This scheme is focused on providing financial support for businesses involved in the creation of either new woodland spaces or the sustainable management of existing woodlands. It is managed by the Scottish Rural Payments and Services agency and Scottish Forestry.

128. Creative Scotland funding

Creative Scotland offer a range of funding for the arts in different specialisms and regions. More general funding is also available. Check the website for current opportunities.

129. Inverclyde Council Business Assistance Grant

This discretionary fund from Inverclyde Council provides financial assistance to help businesses in the area achieve specific business growth objectives. The fund can cover up to 50 per cent of eligible capital expenditure costs, with a maximum contribution of £5,000.

Applicants must submit:

• A business plan
• A one-year cashflow projection
• Evidence of trading status
• The last full year’s accredited accounts and up-to-date management accounts
• Three quotes for project costs
• Proof of business insurance
• An uncensored copy of a bank statement, dated within the past 3 months, that clearly shows the name of the account holder, the account number and sort code
• A description of the works to be undertaken and how these contribute to the development of the business

If the business is operating from commercial premises, you must also submit evidence of ownership of a lease. If the grant is for building works, you must also clarify if planning permission and a building warrant are required.

You will need to meet with a business adviser from Business Gateway Inverclyde before you receive an application form.

You are eligible if:

• Your business is trading from an address in Inverclyde
• Your business has been trading for at least 12 months
• Your business operates in a sector where there is unlikely to be a significant impact on other local businesses
• You have attended a one-to-one meeting with a business adviser from Business Gateway Inverclyde

130. Fife Financial Support to Businesses

This Fife Council support can help with funding to encourage small companies in Fife to invest and grow their business and can help in the following areas – plant and machinery, property improvements, product development, process improvement, training and market development.

131. East Renfrewshire Micro Business Grants

The Micro Business Grants are open to small businesses trading for 12  months or more and with a turnover from £10,000 to £100,000.

Businesses should be trading for 16 plus hours per week.

Businesses should be able to provide one quote for each purchase requested with rationale as to chosen supplier (i.e. website upgrade – use existing web provider as knows site).

The grant sum is up to £2,000 and will be paid on evidence of payments made through a business bank account.

132. Orkney Islands New Business Start Up Grant

The New Business Start Up Grant aims to drive up the competitiveness, growth and survival rates of infant businesses. The discretionary grant is open to applications from new small businesses located in Orkney, which have been trading for less than 6 months and are employing fewer than 50 people.

The start-up grant can be used:

• To buy capital equipment;
• Towards marketing costs;
• Towards training costs
• As a contribution towards the combined start up costs.

The start-up grant cannot be used for the following costs:

• Patenting;
• Intellectual property;
• Property redecoration alone;
• Legal or statutory fees/charges;
• Working capital; wage subsidy;
• Debt repayment;
• Stock and consumables; or
• General running costs of the business.

The Programme has been designed as a sustainable business development mechanism to assist start-up projects that will help grow the Orkney economy. It is recognised that small businesses make an important contribution to Orkney’s economy and society. The grant funding level will be a maximum of £1,500 for new start businesses with a minimum grant value of £500.

Applicants must evidence that they are developing a new start-up business and seeking to establish a full-time sustainable enterprise. All applicants must register with Business Gateway, discuss their eligibility and receive guidance on bringing an application forward before submitting their application.

133. West Dumbarton Business Start Up Grant

This grant is for people in West Dunbartonshire to get up to £500 support with their business start-up costs. You must put forward a business plan and provide proof of trading such as evidence of a business bank account and identification like a passport or birth certificate.

134. Screen Scotland – Broadcast Content Fund

The Broadcast Content Fund aims to help the sustainable growth of Scotland’s broadcast production sector, encouraging the development of new projects, the scaling up of already successful activities and the production of commissioned programmes.

The Fund will prioritise projects which have the potential to generate lasting benefits to build companies of scale, reflect or promote Scottish culture, creativity and diversity, as well as projects which offer significant opportunities to people currently under-represented in the screen sector.

The Broadcast Content Fund accepts applications for all genres of broadcast content including factual and scripted programming where there is a clear and demonstrable need for public funding.

Funding can be provided in two ways.

1. Broadcast Content Development Funding: Support towards the development costs of a single project or a slate of projects.
2. Broadcast Content Production Funding: Support towards the production costs of a single project (one-off or a series).

Apply through the website linked above.

135. Start-up grants for new businesses in Shetland

The Shetland Business Start-Up Grant Scheme provides funding of £500 – £4,000 to newly established businesses in Shetland. Applicants will be able to receive 100 per cent of eligible costs up to the maximum grant amount. The grant is open to:

• Individuals (pre-start); sole trader; partnerships, limited companies or social enterprises
• Businesses established up to 12 months prior to the application date will be eligible to apply for assistance 
• Most sectors can apply (see exclusions below)
• Applicants must be located within the Shetland area

Grants may be awarded for:

• capital costs
• marketing costs
• training costs

This grant is jointly funded by Shetland Islands Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

136. East Renfrewshire SBA Get to Zero Grant

The SBA Get to Zero Grant provides funding for businesses in East Renfrewshire to invest in sustainable products and services, to help them become more efficient and reduce carbon emissions and energy loss.

The SBA Get to Zero Grant provides funding of up to £5,000 with no match funding required. Your annual turnover must be at least £50,000.

Measures could include:

• low energy heating and lighting systems 
• improved insulation for roof and building 
• solar, ground or air source heat or solar thermal technology 
• waste management or recycling 
• equipment that demonstrates a significant energy saving through its installation

137. Business Resilience Grant, Renfrewshire

The Business Resilience Grant is part-funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and provides up to 50% match-funded grant from £1,000 up to £10,000 to support small and medium sized businesses, including people self-employed, in meeting changed objectives and plans for growth.

This includes purchase of new equipment, property expansion or improvements or the costs to exhibit or develop new products and processes.

This grant is to support business growth and resilience but is not able to be used towards the purchase of vehicles, employee wages, general purchase of stock or routine maintenance. Projects must not have commenced prior to making this application.

To be eligible for the grant, the business must:

Be a wholly autonomous cost/profit centre, responsible for their own day-to-day management and producing their own management accounts and audited accounts. 

Be an existing business, including social enterprises, that can evidence, actively trading for at least 12 months from the date of application. Businesses which are at the development, pre-trading or feasibility stage or have been actively trading for less than one year from the date of application will not be eligible.

Be operating from dedicated commercial premises in Renfrewshire.

Have a turnover over the current VAT threshold of £90,000 or expected to reach a minimum level equivalent to the current VAT registration threshold within 12 months of the date of application.

Be registered for non-domestic rates with Renfrewshire Council.

138. Pounds for Purpose

Up to £500 in grant funding is available for individuals aged 16 to 26 who are looking to explore a business idea that addresses social issues in Scotland.

139. West Lothian Council Trade Development Grant

The Trade Development Grant has been developed to help businesses in West Lothian grow beyond their local market. Funding is available to help businesses to attend trade exhibitions in a wide range of industry sectors. Businesses that meet the criteria can receive funding to cover up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, to a maximum of £2,000. Minimum grant is £250.

Due to budgetary restraints, they can no longer accept applications from professional service businesses. 

To register interest and find out more, please email invest@westlothian.gov.uk

Grants are awarded at our discretion and based on their likely economic impact.  Where a business is awarded a grant, they may not reapply for further funding within 18 months.

Please note that projects funded must be completed by January 31, 2026.

140. Renfrewshire Digital Development Grant

The Digital Development Grant can provide match funding to small and medium-sized businesses in Renfrewshire to cover up to 50 per cent of their costs to develop and implement new digital systems. Grants of £1,000 up to £10,000 are available.

This discretionary grant can support digital projects which are new to the business. To qualify, you must operate from a commercial premise in Renfrewshire.

Northern Ireland Business Grants

141. Proof of Concept Grant Fund

This Proof of Concept Grant Fund from Techstart is a pre-commercial grant awarding fund. It supports entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland with grants to explore the viability and commercial potential of an innovative concept.

Techstart gives out concept grants of up to £15,000, which are awarded throughout the year.

142. Skills Advancement Grant

Applicants can get up to £15,000 for staff training to go towards travel, external training and accommodation. Just be aware that it’s only open to Invest Northern Ireland customers.

This support is available to Invest Northern Ireland clients, which are manufacturing and/or tradeable services businesses with the potential to both:

• Achieve at least 25 per cent of sales external to Northern Ireland (or at least £250,000 external sales, whichever is lower)
• Employ at least ten staff, within five years

143. DAERA Forestry Grants

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is a government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. Its Forestry Service offers a range of grant funding to encourage the creation of new woodlands and the management of existing woodlands. There are four main programmes for businesses involved in: expanding forests, protecting existing forests, woodland management and the ‘agri environment’.

144. Acumen Funding

The Acumen programme aims to enhance the capacity and capability of SMEs to take the first formal steps onto the export ladder by helping to fund an experienced and skilled sales resource to help businesses to identify new opportunities and win new sales in the cross-border market.

There are two funding options available under the Acumen programme.

Full-time sales support

Acumen offers a valuable contribution towards the cost of a full-time sales resource, for a 12-month period, up to a maximum of €21,562/£17,250.

A full-time sales resource must be an individual directly employed by the business and not a contractual representative. They can reside within the same or opposite jurisdiction to your business, whatever option works best for your business.

Part-time sales support

Acumen offers a valuable contribution towards the cost of a part-time sales resource, for a 6-12-month period, up to a maximum of €11,500/£9,200.

A part-time sales resource can be an individual directly employed by the business or alternatively a contractual representative e.g. experienced sales agent, consultant or a lead generation company. They can reside within the same or opposite jurisdiction to your business, whatever option works best for your business.

Apply through the website.

145. Inclusive Tourism Vouchers

The purpose of the inclusion vouchers is to help tourism businesses invest in services and small items of equipment that can help them become more inclusive. 

Who can apply

• Businesses, charities, social enterprises and sole entrepreneurs can all apply. 
• Your business must be based in the Belfast City Council local government district. 
• Your services must be used by visitors – that is people who do not live or work in Belfast and who are visiting the city for leisure or business purposes.

What you can apply for 

• You must use the voucher to buy services or equipment that can help your business be more inclusive of disabled visitors. For example:
  • Staff training 
  • An access audit 
  • Updating your website or marketing materials 
  • New signage 
  • Sensory packs 
  • Other solutions to make your business more inclusive
• Your proposed supplier must be able to provide the work as described, to a high quality and within usual market prices. 
• If you are unsure about where to look for the product or service you need,  you find some inspiration in our suppliers directory. This list is not exhaustive, and other suppliers are available. 
• You must use the supplier you name in your application form. 
• You cannot use your voucher on capital expenditure – that is the cost of buying physical assets for long-term use, such as buildings, land, vehicles and so on.

How we will award the vouchers

• We award vouchers on a first-come, first-served basis. This means we will close the scheme when the budget runs out. 
• Vouchers can be for any amount up to £500.  
• Vouchers will be paid to you on receipt of a supplier’s invoice and evidence of the work having been delivered. This could be a report, photographs, endorsements from visitors or similar.
• Vouchers must be claimed within six months of being awarded. 

This programme is delivered in partnership with Visit Belfast and Tourism NI.

Find out more about the programme from Visit Belfast

146. Concept Plus Grant

Concept Plus is a follow-on grant from the Techstart Proof of Concept Grant Fund offering up to £30,000 to entrepreneurs in Northern Ireland. Grants are awarded every six months.

147. The SWEF Enterprise Fund

Community Foundation NI is working in partnership with SWEF Enterprise Fund which helps young people from Northern Ireland develop their business idea and gain support with business investment that they would otherwise not be able to afford.

Grants of up to £2,000 are available to help young people in Northern Ireland who are running their own business which has been trading for no more than 2 years or planning to start their own business imminently, to help a business expand or become more sustainable.

To be eligible to apply, you need to:

• Be between the ages of 18-30
• Live in Northern Ireland
• Be running your own business which has been trading for no more than 2 years or planning to start your own business imminently
• Be from a low-income household or facing other financial challenges preventing you from developing your business

You must be able to demonstrate that you have already taken steps to get your business off the ground, even if this is at a very early stage. Examples may include, but are not limited to, evidence of making your first sales, free/pro bono work delivered in order to develop examples of your work, market research to identify market potential and business plans.

The grant can be used for equipment, materials, product development, stock for a new product line, one-off costs such as a website build or other services.

You cannot apply for your salary or living costs, debt repayment, rent and utilities, stock for an existing product line or ongoing software subscriptions.

More details about the application process are on the website.

148. Business Explorer Programme

The Business Explorer programme can help you explore the best way forward within your business to effect change through Innovative solutions.

Business Explorer is part of InterTradeIreland’s Innovation Pathway offering funding to help businesses solve technical challenges by collaborating with academic or industry specialists. We offer businesses the opportunity to:

Explore – Investigate up to three technical challenges with £5k per application (up to £15k total) and 5 days of support per challenge.

Plan – Take two solutions forward with £20k per application (up to £40k total) and 18 days of support per plan.

Implement – Take one plan forward through Innovation Boost with funding of up to £56k to deliver the solution in your business.

Apply through InterTradeIreland’s website.

149. Technical Development Incentive

Up to £25,000 financial support towards developing new products, improving processes and testing/certification to satisfy requirements of export markets.

The TDI is only available to existing Invest NI customers who meet the definition of an SME.

The criteria to become a customer with Invest NI is as follows: 

• Reach a turnover of £250K per annum within 5 years; and 
• Achieve at least 25 per cent of those sales outside of Northern Ireland
• Employ at least ten staff within five years

You will also need to demonstrate growth potential, which is defined as:

• Potential employment growth >= 20 per cent or >=20 jobs within 3 years; or 
• Potential external sales growth >=20 per cent or >=£500k within 3 years; or 
• Potential increase in GVA / employee >= 20 per cent within 3 years. 

Other TDI criteria:

• Businesses in transport and agricultural sectors are excluded.
• Only third party costs are eligible.
• Training, equipment purchase and labour are not eligible.

TDI provides financial support to companies to help with the cost of technical projects that require using consultants or companies to implement innovative solutions which can add value to the business through increased competitiveness, particularly when targeting key export markets.

Activities include but not limited to:

• Intellectual property (copyright, patents trademarks and design)
• Product and process development and improvement
• Management systems (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, British Retail Consortium Global Food Safety Standard)
• Product and process approval and/or certification (for example CE Marking, Fire Certification)

Invest NI clients should speak to their Invest NI client executive or alternatively contact the business support team.

150. Agri-Food Investment Initiative programme

The Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII) aims to enhance the economic performance and competitiveness of Northern Ireland’s Agri-food sector through financial assistance for transformative capital investment in several key areas. These areas include:

• Machinery and equipment
• Buying or developing computer software
• Buying patents, licences, copyrights and trademarks

The main aims of AFII are to:

• Support enterprises to increase their efficiency and improve their productivity
• Improve the competitiveness of Northern Ireland’s Agri-food sector
• Support capacity building, growth, innovation and new product development

Small businesses – The maximum aid intensity that can be granted is 35 per cent of the eligible investment costs. Minimum project size is £300,000.

Medium businesses – The maximum aid intensity that can be granted is 25 per cent of the eligible investment costs. Minimum project size is £500,000.