Business support
Britain has no single “start-up grant” — it has 129 separate schemes: grants, loans and equity. A grant is not repaid, a loan is, and a third of the schemes are tied to one county or town.
What support you qualify for
- Grant · amount on GOV.UK
BIC Innovation Grant Sunderland
Trading 1–2 years, Established · North EastOffers grants of 40% contribution towards innovative projects valued between £5,000 and £25,000. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Heritage Enterprise (HE) - UK
the whole UKFunding to help restore neglected historic buildings and sites and unlock their economic potential. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Innovate UK - grant funding, innovation loans and expert support
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UKSupports innovative UK businesses to realise the potential of new technologies, develop ideas and make them a commercial success. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Made Smarter London
Trading 1–2 years, Established · LondonThe Made Smarter adoption programme aims to empower and support London's manufacturing businesses. The programme has a particular focus on adopting digital technology. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Made Smarter South West of England
Trading 1–2 years, Established · South WestSupport and potential grants to help manufacturing SMEs adopt Industrial Digital Technologies (IDT) to enable their development and growth. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Oldham Council Innovation Grant
Trading 1–2 years, Established · North WestInnovation grant scheme to support business growth, encourage inward investment, and drive productivity through innovation. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
South West Investment Fund (SWIF)
The scheme site does not openTrading 1–2 years, Established · South WestThe fund aims to drive sustainable economic growth by supporting innovation and creating local opportunity for new and growing businesses across the South West. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Sunderland Business Support Fund
Trading 1–2 years, Established · North EastGrants are available to support projects costing between £3,000 and £6,000 (excluding VAT). The Business Support Fund can cover up to 40% of eligible business spend. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
ART Business Loans - West Midlands
Open for applicationsTrading 1–2 years, Established · West MidlandsLoans for new and existing small businesses to create and safeguard jobs in the West Midlands - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
BCRS Business Loans
Open for applicationsTrading 1–2 years, Established · South West, West MidlandsLoans to help small and medium-sized businesses develop and grow. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Business Enterprise fund - North East England
North East, Yorkshire and the Humber · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesFinancial support for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Yorkshire and the North East. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Business loan scheme (CWRT) - Coventry and Warwickshire
Trading 1–2 years, Established · West MidlandsLoans for companies in Coventry and Warwickshire that can’t get finance from mainstream lenders - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Finance For Enterprise
Established · regions: 9Finance for Enterprise provides loan funding across England. They offer an alternative source of finance ranging from £25,001 to £250,000 for businesses who are looking for additional capital or cashflow. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
First Enterprise - Enterprise Loans
East MidlandsGovernment-funded loans for start-ups and businesses looking to grow across the East and South East Midlands. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Investment Fund - North of England
Trading 1–2 years, Established · North East, North West, Yorkshire and the HumberFinance to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the North West, Yorkshire, the Humber and Tees Valley - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Regional Growth Loan Scheme - East of England
Established · EasternLoans to finance growth for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the east of England. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Rosebud Finance - Lancashire
Established · North WestLoans, support and advice for Lancashire businesses.
Where this comes from
The catalogue comes from GOV.UK search and refreshes every morning, last on 04.10.2026. We take no money to list anything; the decision is made by whoever runs the scheme.
Loan calculator
The monthly repayment and the total interest on a loan. Worked out in your browser. The other calculators →
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a month
principal — interest — total —
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The same amount under other programmes
| Programme | A month | Interest | Term |
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How this is worked out
On a reducing balance, the way Start Up Loans and banks do it. A “flat rate” in an advert means a real rate close to double: interest there is charged on the whole sum. Any arrangement fee is not included. Worked out in your browser.
Do you qualify for a Start Up Loan
The government start-up loan: £500–25,000 at 7.5% over up to five years, no security. It is a personal loan, not a company one — you are liable.
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What happens next
This checks the basic conditions, not the decision. Next come the business plan, the cash-flow forecast and your credit history. The scheme is run by the Start Up Loans Company, part of the British Business Bank.
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