Start-up grants: what is really available
Where new businesses can find grants, and what to look at when there are none.
Be ready for a short list
There is no general national grant for starting a business in the UK. Grants for brand-new businesses exist, but most are small, local and open for limited periods. A council might offer a few hundred pounds towards start-up costs, or a grant for taking on an empty shop.
Where to look
Start with your own council and your local growth hub or enterprise agency, because start-up grants are usually tied to where the business is based. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the national business support services list start-up schemes for their area.
Read the timing rules closely. Some start-up grants must be applied for before you begin trading, or within a few weeks of starting.
If there is no grant
The government-backed Start Up Loans scheme lends to people starting a business at a fixed interest rate. It is a personal loan that you repay, not a grant, so it is a different decision. Some areas also offer free training, mentoring or workspace, which can be worth as much as a small grant.
This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Always check the funder’s own rules.