ONLYWAY.NEWShttps://onlyway.news/en/business/04.10.2026
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
Central Bedfordshire Council Start-up Support Programme
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · EasternA programme offering grants, free 1-2-1 business advice and skills training to anyone thinking of starting a business in Central BedfordshireGrantExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Business advice and training - East of England and London
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · Eastern, London · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesAdvice, workshops and loans for those looking to start a business and businesses trading less than 2 years in Norfolk, Suffolk and London.FinanceGrantExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Innovate UK Business Growth
Trading 1–2 years, Established · regions: 9 · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesExpert advice for businesses looking to commercialise new ideas and succeed in international marketsFinanceGrantExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk - England
Trading 1–2 years, Established · regions: 9 · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesGrants for the repair and conservation of historic buildings, monuments and landscapes.FinanceGrantTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Better Business Finance - UK
Established · the whole UKFree, quick and easy access to a directory of approved finance suppliers for UK businesses.FinanceEquityGrantLoanExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Funding and advice for space services - UK
Established · the whole UKFunding, technical and business expertise, networks and partnerships for businesses who are looking to develop a space-based service.FinanceGrantExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) - UK
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UK · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesGrant contribution to pay towards upgrading business broadband to a high-speed capable connection.FinanceGrantTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Heritage Enterprise (HE) - UK
the whole UKFunding to help restore neglected historic buildings and sites and unlock their economic potential.FinanceGrantTerms and application → - Grant · amount on GOV.UK
Momentum Music Fund
the whole UK · 0 to 9 employees · Travel and leisureThe Momentum Music Fund offers grants of £5k-£15k for artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers.FinanceGrantLoanTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Regional Growth Loan Scheme - East of England
Established · Eastern · 0 to 9, 10 to 249, 250 to 500 employeesLoans to finance growth for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the east of England.FinanceLoanTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Business Growth Loans - Sussex, Surrey, Suffolk, Kent, Essex, London, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire.
Established · Eastern, London, South East · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesLet’s Do Business Finance can support businesses across the South and East of England to access finance of up to £250k.FinanceLoanTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Finance For Enterprise
Established · regions: 9 · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesFinance for Enterprise provides loan funding across England. They offer an alternative source of finance ranging from £25,001 to £250,000 for businesses who are looking for additional capital or cashflow.FinanceLoanTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Big Issue Invest - UK
Established · the whole UKBig Issue Invest helps social enterprises and charities by providing loans and investments.FinanceEquityLoanTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Enterprise programme for young people - UK
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · the whole UKThe King's Trust helps young people aged 18 to 30 years who want to set up their own business in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.FinanceLoanExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Growth Guarantee Scheme
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UK · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesThe Growth Guarantee Scheme is a government-backed scheme designed to support access to finance for UK businesses as they look to invest and grow.FinanceLoanTerms and application → - 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.FinanceLoanExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Enterprise Capital Funds Programme
Trading 1–2 years, Established · regions: 9 · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesEnterprise Capital Funds (ECFs) bring together private and public money to make investments in high growth, early stage, businesses.FinanceEquityTerms and application → - Loan · amount on GOV.UK
Merchant Cash Advance - UK
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UK · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesFinance for SMEs in the UK with no fixed payments, fixed terms or security required. The advance is repaid as a percentage of future card sales.FinanceTerms and application → - Free
Wenta Action Zero Gold Membership - Hertsmere
EasternFully-funded specialist Net Zero support for businesses with ambitions to reach net zero. Offering free 1-2-1 advice, skills and support.Expertise and adviceAwardTerms and application → - Free
Wenta Action Zero Gold Membership - Stevenage
EasternFully-funded Net Zero support for businesses, aimed at reducing Co2 emissions. Free 1-2-1 advice, support & training towards net zero.Expertise and adviceAwardTerms and application → - Free
Wenta Action Zero Gold Membership - Watford
EasternFully-funded Net Zero support, 1-2-1 advice and training for businesses, aimed at reducing Co2 emissions as part of the Watford De-carbonisation projectExpertise and adviceAwardTerms and application → - Free
Wenta Action Zero Gold Membership - Welwyn Hatfield
EasternFully-funded Net Zero support for businesses, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. Free 1-2-1 advice, training and carbon footprinting.Expertise and adviceAwardTerms and application → - Free
Kick Off in Business – business start-up and self employment online courses
Not yet trading, Trading 1–2 years · regions: 6 · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesA free-to-access short online programme to help you start a business or become self-employed in England.Expertise and adviceAwardTerms and application → - Free
Business advice, start-up services and business support - Essex
Eastern1:1 advice, signposting, start-up services, training and premises.Expertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
Scale Up New Anglia
Trading 1–2 years, Established · Eastern · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesA support programme for ambitious small businesses with potential for high growth in Norfolk and SuffolkExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
Business and Intellectual Property Centre - British Library London
Eastern, London, South EastAdvice, databases, publications and workshops for business owners, innovators and entrepreneurs who want to grow.Expertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
Able Futures
Trading 1–2 years, Established · regions: 9 · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesAble Futures is a funded service that helps employees, self-employed people and employers manage mental health at work.Expertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
HSE - Health and Safety Executive
regions: 9HSE is a national regulator and government department that supports employers, businesses and employees.Expertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
Shaw Trust
regions: 9Shaw Trust is a national charity that supports disabled and disadvantaged people to prepare for work, find jobs and live more independently.Expertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) - UK
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UKAdvice on good practice in employment and employment relations.Expertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
CompeteFor contract service - UK
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UKFree support to help businesses compete for major public and private sector contractsExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
Help to Grow: Management - UK
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UK · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesTraining to help SME business leaders to increase productivity, seize investment opportunities and grow their business.Expertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
WRAP environmental business advice - UK
Trading 1–2 years, Established · the whole UK · 0 to 9, 10 to 249 employeesConfidential advice and support on environmental issues for all UK businessesExpertise and adviceTerms and application → - Free
Young Enterprise
Not yet trading · the whole UKYoung Enterprise offers initiatives for all ages from 4 to 25 to help start a business in the UK.Expertise 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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