101. Growing business grant
Appears inactive.
Growing business grant
Coverage: Tewkesbury Borough, Gloucestershire
102. Working from home grant
Appears inactive.
Working from home grant
Coverage: Tewkesbury Borough, Gloucestershire
103. Gainsborough Feasibility Fund
Coverage: West Lindsey District, Lincolnshire, England
104. Business Growth Grant
Coverage: Worcester City, Worcester, England
105. Start-up funding
Coverage: Wychavon District, Worcestershire
106. Coast to Capital Grant Funding (Leader)
Coast to Capital Grant Funding (Leader)
Coverage: West Sussex, England
107. South East Business Boost (SEBB)
South East Business Boost (SEBB)
Coverage: East Sussex, England
108. Grants4Growth
Coverage: South Holland, Lincolnshire, England
109. Manufacturing Growth Programme
Manufacturing Growth Programme
Coverage: Yorkshire, West Midlands, Humber, parts of the East Midlands and East of England
110. Business Energy Efficiency (BEE Anglia)
Business Energy Efficiency (BEE Anglia)
Coverage: Norfolk and Suffolk, England
111. StartEast
Coverage: Norfolk and Suffolk, England
112. Digital Growth Programme Grant Scheme
Digital Growth Programme Grant Scheme
Coverage: Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, England
113. Nottinghamshire Economic Development Capital Fund
Nottinghamshire Economic Development Capital Fund
Coverage: Nottinghamshire, England
114. N2 Business Growth Fund
Appears to be inactive.
Coverage: Nottinghamshire, England
115. Boost Business Lancashire
Coverage: Lancashire, England
116. Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
Coverage: Yorkshire, Humber and Tees Valley, England
117. Grants for Growth (Make It Stoke & Staffs)
Grants for Growth (Make It Stoke & Staffs)
Coverage: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
118. Bucks Business First Grants and Vouchers
Bucks Business First Grants and Vouchers
Coverage: Buckinghamshire, England
119. Cumbria Infrastructure Fund
Coverage: Cumbria, England
120. Tourism Investment Support Scheme (TISS)
Tourism Investment Support Scheme (TISS)
Coverage: Wales
121. PAPI
Coverage: North Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, England
122. Computers for rural people
Computers for rural people
Coverage: Staffordshire, England
123. Creative England Games Industry
Creative England Games Industry
Coverage: Leeds, England
124. Employer Training Incentive Pilot
Appears inactive.
Employer Training Incentive Pilot
Coverage: Suffolk and Norfolk, England
125. Boost4Health
Coverage: North West, England
126. ICARES EU funding
Coverage: Kent, England
127. Triple A funding
Coverage: Kent, England
128. Low Carbon Workspaces
Coverage: Black Country, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, England
129. North East Business Support Fund
North East Business Support Fund
Coverage: Northeast, England
130. Energy Saving Trust Grant (Landlords)
Energy Saving Trust Grant (Landlords)
Coverage: Scotland
131. OBS Elevate Grant
Coverage: Oxfordshire, England
132. Let’s Grow Programme
Coverage: East and North Yorkshire, England
133. Capital Grants for Essex Businesses
Capital Grants for Essex Businesses
Coverage: Essex
134. Lancashire Manufacturing Growth Fund
Lancashire Manufacturing Growth Fund
Coverage: Lancashire, England
135. Healthcare & Medical Technology Business Vouchers
Appears inactive.
Healthcare & Medical Technology Business Vouchers
Coverage: Staffordshire, England
136. Textiles Growth Programme
Coverage: Greater Manchester, Derbyshire, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, West Yorkshire, England
137. Sustainable Travel Grant Scheme
Sustainable Travel Grant Scheme
Coverage: Aberdeen, Scotland and Leicester, England
138. Key Fund for Social & Community Businesses
Key Fund for Social & Community Businesses
Coverage: East Midlands, England
139. Medilink solstice
Medilink solstice
Coverage: Leicester, England
140. AD:VENTURE
Coverage: Leeds, England
141. Agri-tech Cornwall
Coverage: Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, England
142. Business Energy Efficiency Programme
Business Energy Efficiency Programme
Coverage: West Midlands, England
143. Business Growth Programme
Coverage: Solihull, Staffordshire, The Marches, Greater Birmingham, Stoke-On-Trent, England
144. Collaborate for Growth
Coverage: Leicestershire, England
145. Conservation grant scheme
Coverage: Howardian Hills, Yorkshire and the Humber, England
146. D2 Energy Efficiency
Coverage: Amber Valley, Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire or South Derbyshire, Derby City, Chesterfield, England
147. Energy for Business
Coverage: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, England
148. LCR Future Energy
Coverage: Liverpool, England
149. Proof of concept funding
Coverage: Worcestershire, England
150. The South-East Midlands Start-up
The South-East Midlands Start-up
Coverage: Bedfordshire, England
151. Transport sector funding
Coverage: East Midlands, England
152. Regional Selective Assistance
Coverage: Scotland
153. Explore Enterprise Programme
Coverage: Northern Ireland
154. Skills Advancement Grant
Coverage: Northern Ireland
155. Brexit Readiness Vouchers
Coverage: Northern Ireland
156. Publications Grant Scheme
Coverage: Northern Ireland
157. Proof of concept techstart NI
Coverage: Northern Ireland
158. Financial Support to Businesses
Financial Support to Businesses
Coverage: Fife, Scotland
159. Carmarthenshire Rural Enterprise Fund
Carmarthenshire Rural Enterprise Fund
Coverage: Carmarthenshire, Wales
160. Accelerated Growth Programme
Coverage: Wales
161. Site Investigation Fund
Coverage: Black Country, England
162. Growth Deal Funding
Coverage: Black Country, England
163. Growth Grants
Coverage: Buckinghamshire, England
164. Growth Deal
Coverage: Isles of Scilly
165. Big House CDI Grant icon
Coverage: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, England
166. Big House Elevator Grant
Coverage: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, England
167. The Enterprise M3 Wood Processing Grant
The Enterprise M3 Wood Processing Grant
Coverage: England
168. Invest and Grow
Coverage: Lincolnshire, England
169. Growing the Humber
Coverage: Humber, England
170. Green Port Hull
Coverage: Hull, Wales
171. Smart Concept Fund
Coverage: Wolverhampton, England
172. Marine & Maritime SME Growth Fund
Marine & Maritime SME Growth Fund
Coverage: Solent and New Forest, England
173. Isle of Wight Rural SME Fund
Coverage: Isle of Wight, England
174. Invest to Grow
Coverage: Derbyshire, England
175. Invest to Grow
Keele University funded internships
Coverage: Keele, England
176. Internment Subsidies for Employers
Internment Subsidies for Employers
Coverage: Exeter, England
List of closed/inactive business grants
Business grant schemes are in the habit of opening and closing several times over their lifetime; below, you will find business grant schemes that are both temporarily and permanently closed. If you can’t find anything relevant to your business on the main list, it’s worth checking this list to see if any grants here have become active again.
178. Power to Change community business fund
The Power to Change Fund is designed purely to support community-based businesses in the UK; this means businesses run by local people for local people, in the way of protecting local services and meeting local needs. Aside from social entities, community interest companies and charities, they do fund limited companies but are very strict on the community criteria. Take a closer look at the four essential features of a community business.
You will need to propose a project beyond your usual line of business, provide a full year’s accounting information and be able to fund part of your project from another source. Power to Change funding runs from £50,000 to £300,000. Note that they will not fund projects in full; you will require some other source of internal or external finance to put towards the project proposed.
179. Grant for Business Investment (GBI)
GBI is a capital grant offered by the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). These mainly intend to help businesses expand and diversify their perspectives. It can help entrepreneurs set up a new company or fund a new project.
The grants are given to high-budget projects whose outcomes can be evaluated on a long-term basis. Most often, these grants go towards funding projects that can bring prosperity to economically deprived areas. They are specially granted to offshore wind manufacturing projects. You can apply for the award directly from the GBI website.
The minimum financing offered is £10,000. The grants are available for businesses of all sizes with different ratios of total project funding provided.
180. Plug-in van grant
As part of the government’s aim to push haulage and transport businesses to switch to electric vehicles, the plug-in van grant scheme offers business owners of N2 and N3 class vehicles 20% off the initial purchase price, subsidised by the government.
As part of the scheme’s eligibility requirements, the purchased vehicle must fulfil commercial performance criteria concerning its range and safety and must output ultra-low tailpipe emissions. To date, the programme has funded the purchase of more than 2,500 vans. Funding offered is in the form of a 20% price cut for regular vans costing up to £8,000, with the grant/discount applying to a higher price limit of £20,000 for the first 200 heavy electric vans bought.
181. Develop & Fund your creativity (British Council Grant Scheme)
Currently appears to be inactive.
This fund focuses on fostering innovation and development within the creative industries, including art, fashion and design. A further focus is the development of young people in these sectors, as well as fostering collaboration between countries and cultures. Within this area, grants and programmes run on a rolling basis with new calls coming out regularly; the majority are business relevant, including the Artists’ International Development Fund and the Shorts Support Scheme. Funding varies grant to grant.
182. Grants for the Arts
The Arts Council have been funding creative projects across England for decades, providing grants to organisations running a vast range of art and cultural initiatives.
Grants for the Arts is a funding programme to support art organisations and individuals in visual arts, dance, theatre, literature, music and more. To be eligible, you must be furthering art and culture, creating a long-term impact and providing a project that is accessible to anyone, such as a play at the theatre or an art installation. To date, the Arts Council has given out £1.5 billion in funding and grants to eligible projects. Grant for the Arts provides between £1,000 and £100,000 in funding, which may cover up to 90% of a project.
183. Collaborative Research and Development
The collaborative grants scheme endeavours to push forward the boundaries of technology by providing significant grant funding to fund and accelerate research and development programmes run by UK organisations developing new products, services or processes.
To qualify for collaborative R&D grants, you must be a UK research organisation or business, be working in the science, technology or engineering industries and be collaborating with a fellow research partner or company.
Collaborative Research and Development grants can cover up to 60% of the total project cost and can be anywhere between £25,000 and £5 million.
184. Spaces 4 Change (Ultd grant)
The Spaces 4 Change program aims to support young social entrepreneurs in taking ownership of vacant or under-utilised spaces in their local area to use as an office or retail outlet for a new social venture.
To be eligible for the programme you will need to be 16-24 in age and based in the UK. You can apply as an informal group or individual and must have a clear project plan in place with specific outcomes. Up to £5,000 in funding is available.
185. Do It Awards (Ultd grant)
In their own words, the Do It Awards are here to “help you to create more positive social impact”. They are designed to provide one-to-one support, expert advice and a range of resources for young social entrepreneurs who want to turn their idea into a thriving social venture. Monetary finance is not specified, and it is unclear what form this investment would take. It’s best to ask before applying.
186. Low-emission vehicles grant
The plug-in grant allows auto manufacturers and dealers to apply to get grant funding to reduce the price a business or individual will pay for any given car that meets government emission or electric targets. Thus, reducing the overall cost to the customer and generating more sales for dealerships and manufacturers of economical car models.
To be eligible, you will need to be a car dealership or manufacturer, and you will have to apply on behalf of the customer. Vehicles available for a grant include select category one, two and three cars as well as motorcycles, mopeds, hybrids and vans (in this case, a plugin in van grant may be better). The scheme offers 35% off the purchase price up to a maximum of £3,500 on eligible vehicles.
187. The Environment Now
In partnership with O2, the National Youth Agency are running The Environment Now programme, providing grants to young people aged 17–24, who have come up or are coming up with innovative ways to use digital technology to provide innovative solutions to environmental issues.
The grant is primarily for young people using innovation to improving energy efficiency, recycling, and reducing waste. Aside from a grant, you will receive work experience, mentoring and professional insight into your project area. The Environment Now grants scheme from O2 offers up to £10,000.
188. The FedEx Small Business Grant
The FedEx Small Business Grant is a general funding award offered to UK-based or global small and medium businesses that have been in operation for two or more years with fewer than 100 employees.
The initial stage of the application requires you to submit details about your business goals to FedEx online. A shortlist of companies will be asked for business plans before they reveal the winners of the grant. The FedEx Small Business grant is worth up to £20,000, with smaller grants of £5,000 for two runners-up. Note that this competition is currently only open to US startups.
189. Heritage Lottery Fund Start-up Grants
Heritage Lottery grants are only available to individuals running a non-profit organisation or entrepreneurs who are going to start a new business. They can also help entrepreneurs with introducing new setups for their companies. The Heritage Lottery Fund also considers the outcomes of your business endeavours when assessing applications. The applications remain open for the whole year so you can apply at any time. It takes eight months to process an application.
Heritage Lottery Fund Startup-up Grants have no amount of funding specified; you’ll have to apply or enquire to find out.
190. Launchpads
The Launchpads grant funding competitions are for companies looking to turn new, innovative and exciting ideas into viable commercial projects. The grants are primarily for businesses in specific areas of the country and are allocated three times a year, though these change intermittently; check the site for details.
To be eligible for a Launchpads grant, you need to be a small or medium-sized business in the early stages of development, working in the technology industry. You must be in an applicable geographical cluster, or be planning to move there, and have ambitions to grow your company. Launchpad funding competitions typically run three times a year and offer up to £100,000; you must be able to match the grant amount with the same amount of private or self-funding.
191. Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)
The SBRI initiative provides contracts and funding for businesses to carry out research or development of new products or services for the public sector.
The programme aims to fund innovative ideas that can enhance public services or solve a specific public-sector problem. Any business is eligible to apply for an SBRI contract or grant. SBRI Initial funding is between £50,000 and £100,000, with further funding of up to £1 million available to develop your project or idea further.
192. Smart Grants
The Smart Grants scheme provides grants for startups researching and creating significant technological or scientific breakthroughs. Three kinds of Smart Grant are available:
- Proof of Market, 60% match funds, £25,000
- Proof of Concept, 60% match funds, £100,000
- Prototype Development, 45% match funds, £250,000
The level you can apply for depends on the stage of your company, your finances, and what you are looking to develop. You will need to be an early-stage business, have serious growth ambitions and work in the technology, science or engineering fields. Smart Grants range between £25,000-£250,000.
193. Innovation Vouchers
Innovation Vouchers represent a relatively small but useful government grant to develop an innovative idea or new product by giving you expert know-how. Innovate the UK will help you source the right expert for your business from one of the following:
- Universities & FE Colleges
- Technology and Research institutions
- Consultancies and Catapult centres
- Advisers on design
- IP Advisers
You can apply and get more information on Innovate UK here. Innovation Vouchers cover up to £5,000 to pay for externally-based experts and consultants to grow your business.
194. Childcare Business Grants Scheme
A recently opened grants programme, the Childcare Business Grants Scheme is intended to support entrepreneurs in setting up their own childcare business. This grant programme is part of the UK government’s strategy to increase the amount of childcare available to UK working parents while decreasing the overall cost.
Only new businesses are eligible to apply for this grant; this means any company not more than three months old, registered after 1st May 2017. Grants are available for three specific types of business:
- Early years childcare provider or childminder on domestic premises
- Early years childcare provider or childminder working with special needs or disabled children on domestic premises
- A standard Childminding Agency
The scheme comes from the Department of Education. There is a limited amount of funding available, and the programme will stop once this fund has expired, so apply soon! Childcare grants range from £500 to £1,000 in amount.
195. Feasibility studies
Feasibility studies grants will support you in testing a new business idea to see if it will work; this includes new product development, new process development, business model development and service development.
To qualify, you must be a United Kingdom-based research organisation or business and be able to showcase your final project at a national collaboration event. Your proposals must be business focused and meet the theme of the grant. 70% grant-funded up to the amount of £400,000 is available; research organisations can get up to 100% depending on the project.
196. Growth Vouchers Programme
The Cabinet Office Behavioural Insights Team, in collaboration with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), run the Growth Vouchers Programme. The programme offers to cover the costs of expert advice needed by a business from individual and group consultancies in the private sector. The advice areas covered under the scheme including digital technology, attracting customers, marketing, recruiting, empowering staff, enhancing leadership skills, management training, raising external finance and managing company finances.
Most small businesses are eligible for the Growth Vouchers Programme; you will need to fill out paperwork in advance and afterwards to claim back money spent on consultancy. The Growth Vouchers Programme offers varying amounts of funding from year to year.
197. Design Leadership Programme
The design leadership programme offers the public sector, businesses and universities a bespoke package of support and coaching to help them use design to innovate and grow. The funding is also available to science-based startups. The full cost of the packages available through the Design Leadership Programme for technology ventures range from £1,000+VAT, depending on the need and scale of the business. You can contact the council at the following email address: info@designcouncil.org.uk.
The Design Leadership Programme is a subsidised programme offering up to 10 days of design and innovation-focused mentoring over a period of 6 to 18 months. Most programmes cost between £2,000 & £10,000; if your application is accepted, you will receive a subsidy, meaning you will only have to pay 50%. This grant is only available to businesses located in Barrow-in-Furness Borough, Cumbria, England.
198. Small Capital Grants and Large Capital Grants
A funding programme from Arts Council England is enabling organisations to acquire the right equipment and infrastructure to deliver their work, becoming more productive and resilient in doing so. The grant aims to increase innovation, sustainability, and environmental friendliness within the companies it funds.
To be eligible for funding, your project must fit the Arts Council criteria (Arts and Culture), your grant request must be for capital expenditure, and you cannot receive National portfolio funding. They also advise speaking with the Arts Council about your project before applying.
Small Business Capital Grants and Large Capital Grants offer up to a maximum of 85% of the total project cost with a grant amount between £100,000 and £499,999, with Large Capital Grants going significantly higher.
199. The Great UK Challenge Fund (UKFC)
Run by VisitEngland, the Great UK Challenge Fund supports businesses delivering economic benefit and job creation through a new project. The funding is available to innovative companies operating in the tourism, education, trade and investment sectors across the United Kingdom.
The fund is over £2 million and is part of the GREAT campaign. Businesses operating in the tourism sector or bringing in international students for education are particularly attractive to the scheme. The Great UK Challenge fund offers to fund between £50,000 to £200,000.
200. Women in innovation (In-focus funding award)
The women in innovation awards programme represents one of the best programmes available to women in business, providing significant grants for female entrepreneurs and leaders.
Awards go to women working across four sectors; enabling cutting-edge technologies, infrastructure systems, health and life sciences and manufacturing and advanced materials. You can be an employee, company owner or sole trader working in innovation. Twelve women will receive a bespoke support package, with four of these winners receiving £50,000 each.
201. Leicester for Business
Leicester for Business is for pre-startup and business support. You must have a business address in Leicester, have no more than 249 employees and be over the age of 19 to avail the grant. Business support is offered to individuals thinking of becoming self-employed or starting a limited company.
The maximum amount of funding you can get is £3,000. Startup companies are introduced to a network of clients and exposed to workshops and seminars which can help them grow. Small businesses will receive a business coach for 12 months to aid their sustainability and growth.
Coverage: Leicester
202. Community Business Bright Ideas Fund
The Community Business Bright Ideas Fund is here to support community businesses by providing early-stage capital and expertise, aiding in turning ideas into businesses and growing existing community companies.
All community-run and owned businesses, including but not limited to community interest companies, can apply for support and funding. The Community Business Bright Ideas Fund offers up to £15,000; the stage of your venture will affect the amount of finance you can access.
203. E-Business Grant
Run by the Welsh Government, E-Business grants focus on helping businesses develop eCommerce services. You should have less than 250 employees and must be in business for at least a year. You can apply for the e-business support on the Welsh Government’s business website.
The E-Business Grant schemes offer a maximum amount of £10,000 in funding. Businesses must be dealing with B2B type operations, and be situated in the convergence area of Wales to be eligible.
Coverage: Wales
204. Ceredigion Micro Business Investment Fund
A grant from Ceredigion Micro Business Investment built to support businesses in the Ceredigion area in improving current revenue streams or developing new ones. New companies or applicants who will create jobs have priority.
The grant can cover costs including website development, IT infrastructure, attending tradeshows and more. You can apply by reaching out to the fund assessment officer at the council. This grant provides £1,000 – £5,000 in funding to a maximum of 40% of the total project cost. To be eligible for this grant, you must own a business based in Ceredigion County, Wales.
Coverage: Wales
205. Business Development Grant
Appears inactive.
Run by Denbighshire County, this grant intends to assist small companies in growing or new businesses in starting. To be eligible, you must show there is no alternative source of finance available to meet your project needs.
The Business Development grants offer awards between £500 and £10,000 up to 50% of the full project cost. A cap of £3,000 applies to any applications for marketing. To be able to apply for this grant, your business must be in Denbighshire County, Wales.
Coverage: Wales
206. Sustainable Routes
A government-funded initiative, Sustainable Routes create travel efficiency plans for individuals and businesses, to cut down on travel time, mileage costs and CO2 output. They also offer grants towards the cost of creating and implementing a travel efficiency plan in the workplace.
All businesses are eligible, particularly those who are interested in reducing their environmental impact while cutting travel costs. Up to £1,000 is available in travel funding.
207. Biffa Award
Biffa Award supports not-for-profit companies who are looking to improve their local community by starting or growing projects near landfill sites in the fields of recreation, partnership, rebuilding biodiversity and community buildings.
Biffa Award eligibility varies based on the location of your project. Check the website for more specific details. Projects up to £199,000 are eligible; typical grant sizes are not specified but assume some level of match funding is required for larger grants.
208. The Carbon Trust Green Business Fund
The Carbon Trust operates the Green Business Fund, which covers a certain amount of capital costs for medium and small businesses in the UK when buying energy reducing or saving equipment.
The grant scheme covers the entirety of the UK, minus Northern Ireland. To be eligible, you will need to purchase equipment from a Green Business Directory or BESA supplier; the funding is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis until it runs out. Up to 15% of total project costs with a maximum grant of £5,000 is available.
209. Discover England Fund
This grant is a £40 million fund run by Discover England designed to support the tourism industry in being competitive on an international landscape. The fund mainly promotes inbound tourism with an emphasis on getting tourists to explore other parts of the UK rather than just London, by creating better transport links and offering customers easy booking options online.
Grants are available for small-scale pilot projects and large-scale collaborative projects. To be eligible for a grant award, you will need to be creating or providing a world-class tourism product or service. The funding amount is not stipulated but depends on the project size. As it is a massive government grant project, we assume there’s a requirement for match funding. Note that this programme is nearing the end of its final implementation period and new applications are likely no longer accepted.
210. Britten-Pears Foundation
The Britten-Pears Foundation supplies grant funding to a range of initiatives involved in music, pacifist and local causes. Concerning grants for music, the foundation has funded many musical projects over the years, including composition retreats and much more. They are currently reviewing funding calls, so be sure to check the website for the latest programmes. The grant programmes are most likely to be relevant for music-based businesses.
211. World of Opportunity SME Grants Programme
To celebrate more than 20 years of the Heathrow Business Summit, Heathrow Airport has established a grants scheme offering small grants to support growing businesses in travelling to new export markets.
The World of Opportunity SME Grants Programme provides up to 20 SMEs with funding awards to support trade missions, international trade show attendance or market research abroad. Up to £2,000 in funding is available.
212. HS2 Supply Chain Programme
As part of the £33 million Business Growth Programme, the High Speed Two Supply Chain Programme is working with four Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS) in the Midlands area to support businesses in securing a commercial contract in the HS2 supply chain.
To be eligible, you must meet the criteria above, and your business must purely operate in the B2B sector and be based in areas belonging to one of the four LEPS. From £20,000 to £167,000 in funding is available per project. The grant can cover between 10% to 50% of the overall cost.
Coverage: Birmingham City Council, The Marches, Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and Greater Birmingham and Solihull.
213. Food Processing Grants
Offered by a combination of government departments, the Food Processing Grants Scheme is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
The scheme endeavours to enable businesses to make capital investments to create a new company or grow within a rural area. This programme aims to develop the rural economy and generate sustainable employment in the countryside. You will find full details on the programme under the RDPE Growth Programme documentation. Note that there are significant requirements to be eligible for grants. The typical minimum grant size is £35,000.
Coverage: North East, North West, Midlands, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands, South East and South West
214. Social Impact Investment Fund Grant Scheme
In collaboration with Sellafield Ltd, Allerdale Borough Council has set up a social impact fund with one of the primary purposes being to provide funding and grants to support and grow startups and small businesses in the Allerdale area.
The scheme focuses on grassroots small businesses or new ventures in the Allerdale area that can have a positive social or economic impact. Furthermore, an applicant to the grant scheme must demonstrate that they have faith in their business venture, having put finance into their business before the application, or by raising funding from an external finance source, such as through investment, the bank or a loan.
If you are looking for low-cost loan finance, they also provide loans for more substantial amounts and competitive rates compared to traditional lenders. The grant is administered annually with no specific funding amount specified. You will need to fill out an expression of interest form to find out more.
Coverage: Allerdale Borough, Cumbria, England
215. Shop Front Grant Scheme
Launched in 2014 by the Barrow Borough Council, the Shop Front Grant Scheme has a £120,000 fund and provides grants for businesses on specific streets in Barrow town centre who are looking to renovate or upgrade their shop fronts. This could include new windows, facias, signage or lighting. The grant is for small retailers and small independent businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
Furthermore, to be eligible for the grant, you must be enhancing the property in some way rather than carrying out maintenance. Your business must also be open five days a week, must occupy the unit or building proposed for renovation and have property ownership or tenancy for a minimum of 12 months.
Further to the above conditions, projects must be professionally designed, cover only exterior finish, and you cannot have successfully applied for a previous Shop Front Grant from the 2010 or 2012 scheme. If you sell the property that uses the grant, or if the business closes within two years, a percentage must be repaid depending on the time elapsed. The grant size applied for can vary, but the grant can only fund 75% of any renovations or work; the owner or grant applicant must provide the further 25%.
Coverage: Barrow-in-Furness Borough, Cumbria, England
216. Scheme Enabling Fund (SEF)
SEF is a substantial fund dedicated to supporting developers in carrying out finance feasibility studies, business case development of new housing schemes and restarting stalled housing schemes to generate employment and housing. To apply to this fund, you will need to reach out to the economic intervention team at East Sussex County Council.
The maximum amount to be considered is not listed, but the remaining fund size is £600,000. The fund will close once it is exhausted.
Coverage: East Sussex County, England
217. Incentive to Grow Grant
Run by Eastleigh Borough Council, the Incentive to Grow Grant is a small monetary grant for new and existing small businesses. It can go towards hiring new staff, buying equipment and marketing. To be eligible for the scheme, you must live in the borough of Eastleigh and be or become a member of the Southern Entrepreneurs association. Funding is available up to £500, up to 50% match-funded to cover the total cost of the project.
Coverage: Eastleigh Borough
218. The Gloucester Business Growth Grant Scheme
Gloucester City Council manages this grant scheme to support local economic growth by providing grants to businesses located in Gloucester. The money must be used towards capital costs such as premises or equipment purchases, among others.
You must express interest through the form and once assessed or approved for grant funding, provide receipts from the project for which you will be reimbursed; you will need to be able to pay the full amount upfront for the project. Grant funding of £1,000 – £10,000 is available, with most grants limited to £5,000. The award can represent 30% of total project costs for businesses outside the city centre and 50% of total expenses for those inside the city centre.
Coverage: Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England
219. Growing Enterprise Grant
A grant programme to support the growth and diversification of SMEs in the Lincolnshire area, this scheme is for both capital and revenue projects. Grant funding is between £1,000 and £2,000, covering 25% of total costs.
Coverage: Lincolnshire County, England
220. Regional Investment Aid Merseyside
This is a fund designed to alleviate unemployment in Merseyside and provide money and jobs by providing grant funding for small, medium and large enterprises. Any grant can be used for construction, paying staff or buying and replacing new machinery and equipment.
Businesses from all types of industries are welcome to apply, apart from those in steel, synthetic fibres, coal, shipbuilding, fisheries or agriculture product production. The funding amount is not stipulated but pinned to the intervention rate set for SMEs and large businesses by the regional aid map of 2013.
Coverage: Liverpool City, Merseyside, England
221. Business Growth Grant
This Business Growth Grant is for slightly more established businesses who can produce a solid business plan and create at least one full-time job as a result of the project and grant. The Mansfield team will also help you form a growth plan and calculate the costs involved. Up to £5,000 in funding is available.
Coverage: Mansfield District, Nottinghamshire, England
222. Northamptonshire Digital Enhancement Programme
The Digital Enhancement Programme provides financing to support SMEs in digitally enhancing their business. This enhancement could take the form of creating an e-commerce website, upgrading an ordering system, developing bespoke software in-house, developing new digital production or application to support the business’ operations.
To be eligible, you need to have a small to medium enterprise with fewer than 250 employees based in Northamptonshire. You must also have a clear plan and idea of how new technologies and capabilities gained as a result of the grant will help your business. The grant award offers up to £5,000, 50% match funded.
Coverage: Northamptonshire, England
223. Ready2Grow
With over £220,000 in grant funding already given out, the Ready2Grow funding scheme is an excellent source of finance for new and expanding businesses based in Northamptonshire, that are looking for financial and informational support and advice to achieve and sustain growth.
To apply, you will need to reach out to the council and propose a relevant project within your business. The whole process will likely take 8 – 12 weeks. The grant amount is based on the recommendation of the council business adviser.
Coverage: Northamptonshire, England
224. The Rochdale Apprenticeship Progression Grant
The Apprenticeship Progression Grant run by the Rochdale Borough Council provides employers with a grant for further educating apprentices; this grant also includes funding for the apprentice. The priority areas for funding are management, engineering, manufacturing and health and social care.
The funding is issued when apprentices progress to advanced or higher apprenticeship qualifications in priority sectors and are residents of Rochdale. £1,000 is available per apprentice with a maximum of two grants per employer.
Coverage: Rochdale Metropolitan Borough, Greater Manchester
225. Rutland Grants and funding
Rutland County Council offers different types of financial support to new and small businesses choosing to call Rutland County home; these grants are match funded and designed to support a wide range of business applications depending on location and business size. You will need to contact the economic development team for exact numbers.
Coverage: Rutland County, England
226. Evalu8 Low Carbon Transport
Under the Innovation Grants scheme, evalu8 are actively offering consultancy on low carbon transport technology to SMEs in the East of England.
The grant is intended for companies who need advice in developing new products, services or processes related to low carbon transport technology; there are no specific eligibility requirements beyond those required under the Innovation Voucher Scheme. £1,000 worth of consultancy is available.
Coverage: Herefordshire, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Bedfordshire
227. AVDC Business Grant
Established businesses in Aylesbury Vale, those trading for more than a year, can apply for grant projects that help companies continue to grow and improve business performance. Once an application is received, it undergoes evaluation to see whether the company is eligible or not. If you qualify and would like to receive an application form, you can find them on their website.
The AVDC Business Grant can award a maximum of £5,000 for existing businesses who have traded for more than a year, covering up to 50% of the cost, excluding VAT. Turnover is expected to exceed 10% per year from the date the grant is awarded.
Coverage: Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, England
228. Ashfield Markets grant
The Ashfield markets scheme allows new market traders to get a financial award to support their new venture in moving into the Idlewells Indoor Market. Up to £1,500 is available in grant value. It also provides up to £500 for traders looking to move into several local indoor markets.
Coverage: Mansfield District, Nottinghamshire, England
229. Business Startup Grant
Startup businesses in Aylesbury Vale, i.e. those trading for at least three months or up to a year, can apply for grants aimed at improving their business performance and growth. The fund director is the Aylesbury Vale district council. The maximum number of employees you should have is 30. The AVDC business fund can award a maximum of £3,000 for early-stage businesses for improving business performance and growth, with AVDC paying up to two-thirds of the project cost.
Coverage: Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire, England
