Finding small business grants in the UK can require investigation, with eligibility depending on a whole range of factors. That being said, it’s not impossible to find sources of small business funding you don’t have to pay back.
Here’s a list we put together to help take some of the initial research effort out of applying for a grant.
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What’s the difference between a small business grant and a loan?
A small business loan is money for your business you’ll have to pay back within an agreed timescale. This is different to a small business grant, which you won’t be expected to pay back.
Some grants will be offered on the basis that you must also invest the equivalent amount in your business. For example, if you’re given a £10,000 grant, you’ll need to have £10,000 to invest too.
How to apply for small business grants
The application process will vary depending on the grant you’re applying for, however here are some general tips to get you started:
- talk to the body awarding the grant – find out what they’re looking for and tailor your application to the objectives (for example sustainability or job creation)
- write a thorough business plan
- explain how you’ll use the money – be specific here and show how the funding will help you grow your business
- apply early – some grants have a limited pot of money so it’s always worth getting your application in as early as possible
- create a cashflow forecast – this is useful for managing your business finance and is sometimes needed when applying for finance (although more commonly with loan applications)
Just starting out as a small business owner? Make sure you read our guide to starting a business and don’t forget to organise business insurance.
Government grants for small business
This guide gives an overview of a range of small business grants, both from the government and other organisations across the UK.
You can jump straight to the government grants by following these links or keep reading for the full list of grants available for small business:
Innovate UK
Innovate UK provides government grants to “develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base”. Read about the Innovate UK grant.
R&D tax reliefs
Research and Development (R&D) tax reliefs support companies seeking to research or develop an advancement in their field (even if the project is unsuccessful). Find out about R&D tax reliefs.
You can ask your local authority about grants available in your region and funding specific to your industry.
Coronavirus support packages
Local authorities have also been administering government small business grants for businesses rebuilding following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, including:
The government’s business finance finder and regional funding portals are a good place to start your search for this type of business grant.
Grants for unemployed entrepreneurs
The New Enterprise Allowance gives you mentoring and an allowance if you want to start, or develop, a business. To be eligible, you’ll need to be older than 18 and either:
- get Universal Credit, Job Seeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance (or have a partner who does)
- be a lone parent, sick or disabled and on Income Support
Your mentor will need to approve your business plan. After that, you may get an allowance of up to £1,274 over 26 weeks. You should speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach if you want to apply for the New Enterprise Allowance to help start or develop your own business.
Grants for taking on an apprentice
You can get financial help from the government to train an apprentice in your small business.
If your pay bill is less than £3 million a year, you won’t pay the apprenticeship levy. This means you get five per cent towards the cost of training and assessment for your apprentice, if the apprenticeship started on or after 1 April 2019.
The government pays their 95 per cent share directly to the training organisation. You also pay your share directly, according to a payment schedule you agree with the training organisation.
You may also be able to benefit from a cash incentive for hiring apprentices. Applications close on 15 May 2022 and your apprentice must have started between 1 October 2021 and 31 January 2022 for you to be eligible for the payment.
Use the government’s enquiry form to ask the National Apprenticeship Service about the funding available.
Grants for installing high-speed broadband
Businesses in rural areas may be eligible for vouchers towards the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections. Vouchers are worth up to £3,500 for businesses
Find out more about the gigabit voucher scheme and check if you’re eligible.
Air quality grant schemes
The government has made funding available to some local authorities in England that are introducing clean air zones. Eleven cities in the UK are launching some form of low emission zone in 2022, so you may be eligible for a grant to support your business with upgrading your vehicles or paying for the new charges.
Find out more about the air quality grant scheme.
Grants to help you start or grow your business
Simply Business runs an annual competition to support small businesses to set up or grow their business. Business Boost gives away a cash grant to one winning business that captures our judges imagination.
Last years’ winners were awarded £25,000 for their diversity and inclusion business based in Brighton.
You can register your interest now and be the first to know about how you can win funding for your business. We’ll be open for applications in summer 2022.
Small business startup grants
A range of startup business grants are available depending on the sector you want to go into. For example:
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
This fund supports heritage projects ranging from designed landscapes to cultural traditions. The National Lottery Grants for Heritage 2021-22 is prioritising projects that boost the local economy, encourage skills development and job creation, and support wellbeing.
Learn about the National Lottery business grant.
There’s also the Innovate UK grant and R&D tax reliefs from the government, as we mentioned earlier.
Small business grants for young people
The Prince’s Trust supports young people aged 18 to 30 to start and run their own business. Besides funding and resources, they also provide training and mentoring.
In 2020, in response to Covid-19, The Prince’s Trust set up a £5 million Enterprise Relief Fund, offering grants to self-employed people and business owners aged between 18 and 30 in the UK.
While this is now closed for applications, The Prince’s Trust runs an Enterprise Course, which involves info sessions and workshops to help you launch your business. You can apply for low-interest business loans between £500 and £5,000, and the Prince’s Trust says small business grants may be available in special circumstances.
If you’re an entrepreneur who’s building a solution to social problems in the UK, check out UnLtd awards. If you’re 16 or older, willing to participate in learning, and working for the benefit of others, UnLtd could help you start out. They offer awards from £500 to £15,000 across two separate startup packages.
Just starting your business? Read our side hustle guide for students to help plan where you want to go with your business and what funding you might need to get started.
Where can I find small business grants in the UK?
Other financial help available to your small business will depend on where in the country you’re located, the size of your business, the industry you’re in – and whether you’re looking for business startup grants or funding to grow your business.
You can use the government’s Finance and support for your business online tool by selecting the ‘grants’ tick box. You can also filter by how long you’ve been trading (useful if you’re only looking for startup business grants), industry, number of employees, and region of the UK.
There’s also more information on the grants available in the different nations of the UK on the following portals.
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Small business grants in England
The Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) Network website lists the 38 regional Growth Hubs. They’ve been set up to provide business funding, support and guidance in their local areas.
They make it easier for business owners to find the support they need by bringing together all of the available national and local business support in one hub.
You can search for business support available in your local area on the LEP Network website.
Small business grants in Scotland
If you’re based in Scotland, you might be able to apply for a business grant from Scottish Enterprise.
A new funding model was introduced in 2021 that’s designed to be “simpler and more inclusive”. It also aims to help “create jobs and promote a greener economy”.
The Scottish Enterprise website also has details on funding for businesses affected by coronavirus, as well as information on grants that are available from other organisations.
Small business grants in Northern Ireland
The Established SMEs Funding section of Enterprise Ireland lists several ways you can get financial help for your small business if it’s already up and running and you’re based in Northern Ireland.
It also offers High Potential Start-up Funding if your business idea has “the potential to develop an innovative product or service for sale on international markets and the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within three years of starting up.”
Small business grants in Wales
If your small business is located in Wales, you can use the Welsh government’s Funding Locator to find and apply for various grants. Sources of funding include:
- the Welsh Government
- the UK Government
- local authorities
- charitable organisations
Small business training grants
The government offers funding for training through the National Skills Fund. Eligible adults can access free Level 3 training courses, from horticulture and hospitality to business management and digital skills.
While this isn’t open to everyone, it could be worth exploring if you’re in the early stages of starting your own business. You could also look into free courses, for example in bookkeeping to help you run your business smoothly.
Alternatives to grants
If you’re looking for funding for your small business but aren’t able to access the grants we’ve mentioned in this article, you may also want to consider:
Remember, business finance is a complex topic, so it’s important to speak to a professional financial advisor or accountant if you're not sure of anything.
What’s been your experience of getting funding for your small business? Let us know in the comments.
Photograph 1: VadimGuzhva/stock.adobe.com
Photograph 2: dusanpetkovic1/stock.adobe.com
Photograph 3: Halfpoint/stock.adobe.com
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