Point North (SWEF) Grants

SWEF Business Grant (County Durham, Tees Valley and North East)

Point North (SWEF)

The SWEF Business Grant helps young people in County Durham, Tees Valley and the wider North East make a business investment they can't afford on their own but that will transform their business. It is a grant, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. Young people not in education, employment or training are encouraged to apply. There are two levels of grant. The Start-Up Grant offers up to £500 if your business is not yet making money, or turns over less than £500 a month. The Business Grant offers up to £2,000 for established businesses turning over more than £500 a month. Overall, awards range from £500 to £2,000. It suits sole traders and owners of limited companies or CICs limited by shares who are aged 18 to 30 and come from a low-income household or face other barriers. You must be the majority shareholder, and your business should have been trading for under two years. You can spend the money on things like equipment to boost production where there is proven demand, materials or stock for a new product line, prototypes, a website or booking system, training and product development. There is no deadline, so you can apply at any time. Point North aims to give you a decision within eight weeks of receiving your completed application. Be aware that the fund will not pay for salaries, rent, utilities, debt repayment, app or software development, ongoing subscriptions, or new computers, phones and tablets. Applications for a business idea alone are not accepted. Official source: https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/swef-business-grant/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 28 October 2026.