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
Brum Breathes Financial Incentives
Open for applicationsTrading 1–2 years, Established · West MidlandsFinancial incentives, designed to offer support to businesses who conduct commercial operations in Birmingham, towards replacing their Light Goods Vehicle and Heavy Duty Vehicle to meet required emission stand… - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Forest of Dean District Council Business Start Up Grant
Closes 19.11.2026Trading 1–2 years · South WestFunding to be used towards a variety of business start up activates including: research and development, installing clean technologies, premises, equipment and product/service launch. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Northamptonshire Community Foundation
Closes 12.10.2026Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · East MidlandsPotential grant funding is available to community or voluntary groups in Northamptonshire. - 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. - Free
Kick Off in Business – business start-up and self employment online courses
Open for applicationsNot yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · regions: 6A free-to-access short online programme to help you start a business or become self-employed in England. - Free
Able Futures
Open for applicationsTrading 1–2 years, Established · regions: 9Able Futures is a funded service that helps employees, self-employed people and employers manage mental health at work. - Free
Find It business opportunities - Worcestershire
Closes 05.10.2026Trading 1–2 years, Established · West MidlandsHelp for Worcestershire businesses to find supply chain opportunities.
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