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
Duplex Investment Fund
Established · West MidlandsCombined grants and loans towards capital purchases for your business. - 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
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
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 - 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 - Free
Business advice, start-up services and business support - Essex
Eastern1:1 advice, signposting, start-up services, training and premises. - Free
EnTRESS 2 – Environmental Technologies & Resource Efficiency Support Service
Trading 1–2 years, Established · West MidlandsSupports SMEs with the adoption of environmental technologies and resource efficiency processes to improve business competitiveness. - Free
Help to Grow: Management - UK
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UKTraining to help SME business leaders to increase productivity, seize investment opportunities and grow their business. - Free
Low Carbon Dorset
The scheme site does not openTrading 1–2 years, Established · South WestFree support to help SMEs and community groups in the Dorset Council area reduce their carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and install renewable energy measures - Free
Scale Up New Anglia
Trading 1–2 years, Established · EasternA support programme for ambitious small businesses with potential for high growth in Norfolk and Suffolk - Free
Two Zero - Lancashire
Established · North WestGrowth support for scale-up 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
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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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