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
Invest in - Nottingham
East MidlandsSupport for businesses looking to relocate or expand in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area.FinanceEquityGrantExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Key Fund - Midlands and the North of England
Trading 1–2 years, Established · regions: 5 · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesGrants and loans for social enterprises in the North and the Midlands.FinanceEquityGrantLoanTerms and application → - 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.FinanceEquityGrantLoanExpertise and adviceAwardTerms and application → - 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.FinanceEquityGrantLoanTerms and application → - 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.FinanceEquityLoanExpertise and adviceTerms and application →
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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