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
North of Tyne Business Support Fund
Applications closedTrading 1–2 years, Established · North EastGrant funding opportunity for businesses in who need external expertise to help them to grow. - 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 - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Sir James Knott Fund
Trading 1–2 years, Established · North EastFunding for charitable activity in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, County Durham and Hartlepool. - 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. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Innovate UK Business Growth
Trading 1–2 years, Established · regions: 9Expert advice for businesses looking to commercialise new ideas and succeed in international markets - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) - UK
The scheme site does not openTrading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UKGrant contribution to pay towards upgrading business broadband to a high-speed capable connection. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Horizon Europe funding
Open for applicationsthe whole UKFunding for research or innovation that's ground breaking, improves European research standards or responds to challenges like climate change or food security. - 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.
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
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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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