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
Trading 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
Duplex Investment Fund
Established · West MidlandsCombined grants and loans towards capital purchases for your business. - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Heart Of Bucks Grants
South EastA range of grant funds are available from £300 - £5,000 for not-for-profit community charities and voluntary groups in Buckinghamshire. - 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
Invest to Grow
Trading 1–2 years, Established · East MidlandsLoans and grants to support private sector businesses across the East Midlands to innovate, grow and create jobs. - 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 - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
South West Investment Fund (SWIF)
Trading 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
Growth Guarantee Scheme
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UKThe Growth Guarantee Scheme is a government-backed scheme designed to support access to finance for UK businesses as they look to invest and grow. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Liverpool City Region Flexible Growth Fund
Trading 1–2 years, Established · North WestProviding fee free, Interest subsidised loans up to £1m, this fund can provide up to 50% of eligible capital expenditure repayable over a maximum 5 year term. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Midlands Engine Investment Fund II – Debt Fund
Established · East Midlands, West MidlandsPart of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, flexible loans to SMEs looking to grow and help drive their expansion plans across the Midlands Engine area. - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
SWIG Finance
South West · 10 to 249 employeesLoans for new and growing SMEs in the South West of England - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
UK Export Finance
Established · the whole UKSupports access to loans and other trade finance facilities for businesses that sell internationally via government guarantees.
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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MarketsBusiness grants, loans and government support in the UK: where the start-up money is and what it costs