Grants
A grant is an award of financial assistance, including cooperative agreements often given by the government or other organisations to eligible applicants. If you need a grant to get your business started, do some research and apply. You could also enter a competition to win some serious cash. Below are some key sources for young entrepreneurs.
You may be surprised just how many grants are available. Our list is not comprehensive but is a useful starting point.
Our favourite links
businesslink.gov.uk The Business Link website has a section dedicated to the ins and outs of grants and government support. Use the Grant and Support Directory to search for potential sources of help with starting up or developing your business.
j4bgrants.co.uk j4bGrants provides information on government and lottery grants for both business and voluntary groups.
governmentfunding.org.uk Governmentfunding is an online portal for grants available to the voluntary and community sector from government departments.
grantsnet.co.uk Grants Net provides information about grant schemes available to businesses and charities in the UK.
grantsonline.org.uk Grants Online aims to be the most up to date and comprehensive information service on funding opportunities within the UK.
princes-trust.org.uk The Princes' Trust offers low cost loans and grants for unemployed 18-30 year-olds. There's also support and mentoring available, plus small grants - from £50-£500 - for training, education or employment purposes.
nesta.org.uk The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) invests directly in early stage companies with innovative technologies. NESTA Ventures provides Direct investment in companies and NESTA Capital provides Indirect investment through third-party funds.
Other useful links
Research & development | Community projects | Regional links
Research and development grants
dti.gov.uk The DTI's Grant for R&D is designed to help individuals and small and medium-sized businesses research and develop technologically innovative products and processes. The grants are available through the Regional Development Agencies - find your regional contact here
fp7uk.ost.gov.uk FP7UK provides information and advice to help you achieve success in the European Framework Research and Development Programme, the EU's main source of support for organisations undertaking internationally collaborative research and development.
jisc.ac.uk The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) supports education and research in the use of information and communications technology. JISC funds a wide range of projects, services, developments and infrastructure.
nuffieldfoundation.org The Nuffield Foundation is a charity that awards grants in two areas: support of research and innovation that will bring about beneficial social change; and development of research and professional capacity, especially in the sciences and the social sciences, targeted at people in the early stages of their careers.
Community projects
awardsforall.org.uk Awards for All is a lottery grants scheme aimed at local communities. They award grants of between £500 and £5,000 to projects that enable people to take part in art, sport, heritage and community activities and projects that promote education, the environment and health in the local community.
biglotteryfund.org.uk The Big Lottery Fund hands out half the good causes money from the National Lottery. It is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need.
comicrelief.com Comic Relief is committed to helping end poverty and social injustice. It does this by raising funds and awareness and giving all the money to charitable projects across the UK and some of the poorest countries in the world especially in Africa.
dfes.gov.uk/communitychampions The Community Champions Fund offers small grants (usually of up to £2,000) to individuals who want to make a difference in their communities.
esmeefairbairn.org.uk The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the largest independent grantmaking foundations in the UK, expecting to make grants of £26 million across the UK this year. Grants are made in four programme areas: Arts and Heritage, Education, Environment and Social Development.
hlf.org.uk The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) gives grants to a wide range of projects involving the local, regional and national heritage of the United Kingdom. They distribute a share of the money raised by the National Lottery for Good Causes.
microsoft.comThe annual Microsoft Community Learning Awards are open to community groups and registered charities in the UK that are seeking funding for IT skills projects for disadvantaged young people and/or adults.Regional links
England
artscouncil.org.uk The Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts. They offer a range of grants for individuals and organisations.
dti.gov.uk Find out about the DTI's Selective Finance for Investment scheme, which is designed for businesses that are looking at the possibility of investing in an Assisted Area, but need financial help to go ahead. Business Link provides quick links to more information about the scheme in the English regions.
East Midlands
eeda.org.uk The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) aims to make significant improvements to the quality of support services across the region.
meem.org.uk Minority Ethnic East Midlands provides information on finance, grants and loans for businesses in the East Midlands.
web.emnet.co.uk/isphere The I-Sphere project is about helping local companies in the East Midlands achieve their potential using the internet. Supported by the European Regional Devlopment Fund, this grant-assisted programme helps companies with their e-business by giving them the tools to achieve an effective internet trading site.
East of England
buildingcommunitiesfund.org.uk The Building Communities Fund offers grants to community-owned organisations to purchase and develop buildings and land, in support of work that benefits the wider community. Grants are available for organisations in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
North east
onenortheast.co.uk One NorthEast is the Regional Development Agency (RDA) covering North East England, comprising Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley. Visit their website for information on sources of local and regional financial support.
n-e-life.comInformation on small business funding options from n-e-life, the online portal for the north east of England.
North west
nwda.co.uk The Northwest Regional Development Agency provides strategic leadership, programmes and funding to ensure the sustainable economic development and regeneration of England’s Northwest including the regions of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. Social enterprise gets a particular thumbs-up here.
techinvest.org.uk TEChINVEST is an independent advisory and introduction service for investors and companies seeking finance in the north west of England.
South east
seeda.co.uk The South East of England Development Agency (SEEDA) has comprehensive information on enterprise initiatives in the region, including sources of funding and advice
South west
southwestrda.org.uk The South West of England Regional Development Agency aims to improve the economy of South West England by giving people the skills they need, encouraging enterprise and improving communications. It offers the Selective Finance for Investment grant to SMEs in the region.West Midlands
advantagewm.co.uk Advantage West Midlands is working hard with its partners to create a better region in which to invest, work, learn, visit and live. Visit their site for details on grants and other sources of funding available to SMEs.
westmidlandsfinance.com West Midlands Access to Finance provides comprehensive information on grants and other sources of financial support avaialble to businesses in the region.London
bridgehousegrants.org.uk The Bridge House Trust makes grants in excess of £16 million a year to charitable projects benefiting the inhabitants of Greater London.
lda.gov.uk The London Development Agency site has comprehensive information of types of funding available. One of its goals is to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in order to increase survival rates, productivity and employment potential to help maintain London’s position as a key business location. The LDA has also launched its Opportunities Fund 2006-09. Funding will be allocated through an open and competitive bidding process for a range of innovative and pilot projects across London.
londoncouncils.gov.uk London Councils invests over £27m a year in voluntary organisations on behalf of all the London boroughs. Grants are given in a wide range of areas including: regeneration, homelessness, health, culture, legal advice, and promotion of racial equality. London Councils are also responsible for managing Hackney Council’s Voluntary Sector Grants programme, an annual grant award to voluntary organisations that are working in Hackney.
lvsc.org.uk The Voluntary Sector Forum is an independent network of all the voluntary sector groups funded by the Association of London Government.
Yorkshire
yorkshire-forward.com Yorkshire Forward is the Regional Development Agency charged with improving the Yorkshire and Humber economy. Use the online grant search facility to find funding opportunities.
Northern Ireland
nibusinessinfo.co.uk Search the grants and support directory provided by Invest Northern Ireland
Scotland
bgateway.com Business Gateway provides information on grants and loans that are available to new and existing businesses in Scotland.
Wales
new.wales.gov.uk The Welsh Assembly provides a range of grants and other investment packages for businesses in Wales.