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
Business advice and training - East of England and London
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · Eastern, LondonAdvice, workshops and loans for those looking to start a business and businesses trading less than 2 years in Norfolk, Suffolk and London. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Business loans, grants and funding - Scotland
ScotlandFinder to help businesses based in Scotland find funding from private and public organisations. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Financial and Funded Support – Nottingham Trent University
The scheme site does not openEast MidlandsA range of support for businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire - 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
Northern Ireland Business Support Finder
Northern IrelandA searchable database that can help you find publicly-funded sources of business assistance that you may be eligible to apply for. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
PNE Enterprise - business support service - North East England
North East · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesMentoring, start-up business courses and support schemes for businesses based in the North East of England - 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
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
GC Business Finance - North West England
North West · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesStart-up loans and equity investment for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) based in Greater Manchester and the North West. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
SWIG Finance
South West · 10 to 249 employeesLoans for new and growing SMEs in the South West of England - Free
Business advice, training and support services - North Somerset
South West · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesInformation, advice, training and support for businesses based in North Somerset - Free
Barking Enterprise Centres - London
London · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesFree support, help to access low-cost flexible workspace for new and existing small or medium businesses in Barking and Dagenham. - Free
Business advice, start-up services and business support - Essex
Eastern1:1 advice, signposting, start-up services, training and premises. - Free
Business and Intellectual Property Centre - British Library London
Eastern, London, South EastAdvice, databases, publications and workshops for business owners, innovators and entrepreneurs who want to grow. - Free
Business start-up support - North Tyneside
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · North EastFree start-up and ongoing support for businesses in North Tyneside - Free
Self-employed support - Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
London · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesBusiness advice and subsidised training for businesses in Kensington and Chelsea. - Free
Small business grants and funding - Devon and Somerset
South West · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesAdvice and support on funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Devon and Somerset. - Free
Small Business Research + Enterprise Centre - London
LondonInformation, seminars and workshops to help start-up and growing 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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