Getting a grant for your small business can be a great way to achieve your business goals – from expanding, developing new products, or hiring new staff. The UK has a wide range of small business grants you can apply for, but sometimes the more niche a grant you apply for, the better.
That’s why it can be a good idea to apply for grants specific to your local area. In this guide, we’ll be covering the best small business grants in Wales. Keep reading to find out what business grants are available to you – as well as how to apply.
Quick summary: funding options in Wales
| Grant/Scheme | Best for | Status |
| Investment Fund for Wales | Loans for new and growing businesses | Open |
| Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant | Businesses in mid-Wales | Open |
| SWEF – enterprise and business grants | Young entrepreneurs | Open (from April 2026) |
Quick tip: Before applying, download our Business grant application guide and check the Business Wales finance locator.
Apply for:
- Welsh government business grants
- Welsh business grants by local area
- Welsh business grants for young people
- Welsh business grants for innovation
This article is intended as a guide and not financial advice. You should always seek the help of a professional if you’re not sure of anything.
Finding Welsh business grants
A quick Google search will bring up plenty of business grants in Wales that you can apply for online – but knowing which ones are actively accepting applications isn’t always clear. We’ve done the research to help you narrow down your options
Welsh government business grants
Business Wales, run by the Welsh government, makes it easy to find business grants relevant to your business using their finance locator. You’re able to search for grants by keywords and find those that are most relevant to your business.
Business Wales’s featured finance scheme is from the Development Bank of Wales, which focuses on loans and investments for micro to medium sized businesses – including loans from £1,000 to £50,000 for start up growth funding.
Investment Fund for Wales
If you can’t find funding through a grant, you could also look into the Investment Fund for Wales. This scheme offers loans through the British Business Bank – but as this is money you’ll have to pay back, it’s essential that you do your research and don’t take on debt you can’t afford.
Funds available:
- smaller loans of £25,000 to £100,000
- debt finance £100,000 to £2m
- equity finance up to £5m
Local Growth Fund for Wales
Status: Opens April 2026
Funding available: £500m
A three-year investment from 2026 to 2029 aims to boost productivity across Wales.
Funding is to support infrastructure, skills development, employment, and business growth. The Welsh government is due to publish how the Local Growth Fund will be allocated before it launches in April.
Download your business grant application guide
You need a strong application to be in with a chance of securing a business grant.
Download your free guide to small business grant applications for the best possible chance of winning a Welsh business grant.
Welsh business grants by local area
You can also find business grants focused on developing your local area. You can find these on Google or by checking with your local council, but we’ve listed a few below to give you an idea of what to expect.
Powys and Ceredigion Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant 2025-27
Status: Open
Grant amount: To be determined by your local authority
If your business is based in Powys and Ceredigion, then you’re eligible to apply for government funding for town centres across the mid-Wales region, as part of an investment of £4m.
You’ll need to have a project in mind that will help transform your town. Some examples include developing empty or run down properties into businesses or improving the appearance of existing properties.
Decisions should be made five to six weeks after your application is received.
Eligibility at a glance:
- businesses in the mid-Wales region
- private businesses, developers, social enterprises
What you’ll need:
- business plan (including profit and loss forecasts, key risks, and projections)
- a project plan to transform your town, with a projected cost of at least £30,000 (excluding VAT)
- details of how your project will create opportunities for training, employment, supply chain, or contributions to the community
Help with your business plan
Business Wales can help you with your business plan. Simply Business also has a free business plan template you can use to get started.
City of Newport Business Grants
Status: Open (until funding is allocated)
Grant amount: 50 per cent of net costs up to £2,500 for businesses outside the city centre, and grants up to £5,000 for city centre businesses
This grant matches the funding you can put into your own business and can be used to invest in areas such as plant, ICT equipment and software, website development, and any related training.
Eligibility at a glance:
- be a business based in Newport, Wales
What you’ll need:
- evidence that you already have the funds to cover the total cost of your investment, as your grants will be paid retrospectively
- an investment project
Bridgend Start-up Fund
Status: Open
Grant amount: Between £250 and £8,000 (excluding VAT)
Small businesses in Bridgend County Borough can apply for start-up funding towards a maximum of five items. Funding can be for things like equipment, website development, and building works on a premises.
Eligibility at a glance:
- businesses in Bridgend Country Borough
- maximum three years trading
- fewer than 10 employees
- turnover of less than £2 million
What you’ll need:
- 50 per cent of the project costs
- two comparable quotes for each capital item you need
- bank statement and proof of ID
Bridgend Business Development Grant
Status: Funds allocated but businesses can apply to be on the list if more funds become available
Grant amount: Between £5,000 and £25,000 (based on half of your maximum project cost)
Small businesses in the Bridgend County Borough can apply for the Bridgend Business Development Grant if they have a project to help create a vibrant local community. The grant covers half of your expected project costs.
Eligibility at a glance:
- businesses in Bridgend Country Borough
- sole trader, partnership, limited company, registered social enterprise, charity, or co-operative
- turnover in the last three years above the current VAT threshold (£90,000)
- fewer than 250 employees
What you’ll need:
- 50 per cent of the project costs
- two comparable quotes for each capital item you need
- bank statement and proof of ID
- business plan
- 12-month cash flow forecasts and three years’ accounts
Cardiff Growth Fund
Status: Closed
Grant amount: £2,500-£7,500
The Cardiff Growth Fund is now closed. Check back on the Cardiff Growth Fund in case more funds are allocated in the future.
Welsh business grants for young people
SWEF – Enterprise and Business Grants
Status: Opens April 2026
Grant amount: Up to £2,000 (or up to £500 for businesses within a month or two of starting up)
The South West Enterprise Fund (SWEF) offers enterprise and business grants for businesses in Wales. Grants for 18 to 30 year olds are available for those who want to invest in their business venture or grow their business.
Grants can be used for business costs, such as equipment, product development, materials, training, or building a website.
Eligibility at a glance:
- aged 18-30 years old
- business operating for no more than 2.5 years
- a sole trader or limited company
- living in Wales or have a business operating in Wales
What you’ll need:
- a clear plan of how you’re focusing on your business
- details of what you’ll use the funds for
- a business bank account set up
Young Person’s Start Up Grant
Status: Open (until March 2026)
Grant amount: Up to £2,000
If you’re under the age of 25, living in Wales, and want to become self-employed, then you can apply for the Young Person’s Start Up Grant.
You can spend your grant on the initial start-up costs of becoming self-employed – such as equipment, training, and marketing. On top of your grant, you’ll also get one-to-one support from your own business adviser and access to webinars on business skills.
Eligibility at a glance:
- not be in education*, training, or full-time employment
- if you are working, only be working part time (under 16 hours)
- plan to become self-employed full time
What you’ll need:
- details about your business idea
- how much funding you’re applying for
- proof of ID
*You can currently be in education if you plan to be self-employed within three months of completing your studies.
Welsh business grants for innovation
If your business is an innovator, that could be your niche for finding the right grant. The Development Bank of Wales is always investing in Welsh tech companies.
Welsh businesses are also able to apply for funding from InnovateUK. This is government-backed and you can search by keywords to find funding most related to your business.
Innovative companies could also be able to get tax relief for research and development (R&D) initiatives – we have a whole guide to R&D tax relief to help you with your claim.
How to apply for Welsh business grants
In order to win one of these grants, you’ll need to write a great application form. We have a guide which covers everything you need to know about small business grants – including a downloadable application form guide.
FAQs on Welsh business grants
What small business grants are available in Wales in 2026?
The landscape changes often, but the most consistent options in 2026 include the Young Person’s Start Up Grant, the Transforming Towns Placemaking Grant, and local authority discretionary grants funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund. Always check the Business Wales finance locator for the latest updates.
Do Welsh grants require match funding?
Match funding is when you need to pay a percentage of the project’s cost yourself. Many of the Welsh business grants need you to pay 50 per cent of the project. Grants for 100 per cent of a project are rare.
Can sole traders apply for grants?
Most Welsh grants are open to sole traders, provided you’re registered with HMRC and based in Wales. You don’t always need to be a limited company, though some innovation grants may require it.
How long do business grant decisions take?
Funding application decisions can take weeks or months depending on the type of grant. Local authority grants might take four to eight weeks. Larger national schemes or Innovate UK grants can take a number of months. Always factor this delay into your cash flow forecast.
What if I’ve not started my business yet?
Even if you’ve not started your business yet, there’s support out there for you. Look for “start-up grants” like the Young Person’s grant or “Pre-start” bursaries. Other funds might need you to have been trading for at least 12 months.
Next steps to apply
Do your research and make your application as clear as possible.
- Get tax savvy: review the HMRC R&D tax relief page to see if you can claim money back on innovation costs.
- Download our free resources: business plan template and cash flow forecast.
- Verify your eligibility: check the Business Wales website.
Grant information is accurate as of February 2026. Schemes are subject to change by government bodies without notice. Always consult the grant provider’s website before applying.
More small businesses finance guides
- Small business funding and investment: how to grow your business
- How to budget: a budget calculator and guide for the self-employed
- Self-employed expenses – what expenses are tax deductible?
- Crowdfunding: is it right for your small business?
- What is business insurance?
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