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
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
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. - 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 Growth Loans - Sussex, Surrey, Suffolk, Kent, Essex, London, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire.
Open for applicationsEstablished · Eastern, London, South EastLet’s Do Business Finance can support businesses across the South and East of England to access finance of up to £250k. - 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
Enterprise programme for young people - UK
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · the whole UKThe King's Trust helps young people aged 18 to 30 years who want to set up their own business in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. - 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
Productive Valley Fund
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · LondonLoans of between £50,000 and £400,000, for projects such as premises refurbishment, building works and equipment purchases that will lead to increased productivity, job creation and business growth. - 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 →
—
a month
principal — interest — total —
—
The same amount under other programmes
| Programme | A month | Interest | Term |
|---|
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.
—
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.
The whole catalogue Where this comes from Check a company Calculators
Jobs & Business£2,000 for hiring a young apprentice: new payment for small employers starts 1 October
LifeWhat to watch this weekend: an evening on BBC One, the Netflix top 10, a festival from 7 October and theatre for £5
MarketsBusiness grants, loans and government support in the UK: where the start-up money is and what it costs