GrantMatch
Navigation menu

Small business grants: what is open now, page 4

Page 4 of 4. Back to the guide and the grants closing soon.

All open grants (173)

No deadline listed

Bulwell Business Growth Grant 2026-2028

Nottingham City Council

Up to £5,000East Midlands

Nottingham City Council’s Bulwell Business Growth Grant pays half the cost of a capital project, up to £5,000, for businesses in Bulwell and Bulwell Forest. It can fund equipment, technology and software, and new web design, website development or e-commerce. Updating content on an existing site is not covered. You need premises in the two wards (not home-based) and at least 12 months of trading. Start with an expression of interest, and do not commit to a supplier until the grant agreement is signed. The scheme stays open until the money runs out. Official source: https://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/information-for-residents/transport-parking-and-streets/bulwell-town-centre-regeneration/business-support-grants. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.

No deadline listed

Conwy Business Growth and Resilience Programme

Conwy County Borough Council

£3,000 - £50,000Wales

Conwy County Borough Council’s Business Growth and Resilience Programme gives SMEs £3,000 to £50,000, covering up to 70% of a project. You put in at least 30%. It funds capital and some revenue projects that help your business grow, including adopting new technologies and digital solutions, improving skills, becoming more resilient and cutting carbon. It runs first come, first served until the money is committed, so it is worth acting early. Talk to the Business Support Team before you apply, and read the guidance in full because several supporting documents are needed. Official source: https://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Business/Regeneration/European-and-External-Funding/UK-Government-funding/Conwy-Local-Growth-Fund.aspx. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.

No deadline listed

Renfrewshire Business Development Grant

Renfrewshire Council

£1,000 - £10,000Scotland

Renfrewshire Council’s Business Development Grant gives small and medium-sized businesses £1,000 to £10,000, covering up to half the cost of a growth project. It can pay for equipment or digital systems that are new to your business, property improvements, export development, exhibitions and new products or processes. Vehicles, wages, stock and routine maintenance are excluded. You must operate from commercial premises in Renfrewshire, and the project must not start before you apply. The fund is competitive, so show how the project will grow turnover or jobs. Official source: https://www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/business-and-licensing/business/business-support/business-grants-and-loans/guide-business-grants-and-loans. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.

Get alerts when new grants open

Tell us about your organisation once and GrantMatch shows the grants you are most likely to win, checks your eligibility and emails you when new funding for small businesses opens. Free to start, no card needed.

Create free account
No deadline listed

Start Up Loans

British Business Bank

£500 - £25,000National (UK-wide)

Start Up Loans offers government-backed personal loans to help you start or grow a business. You can borrow up to £25,000. The average loan is £10,264. The loan is unsecured. The interest rate is fixed at 7.5% per year and you repay over 1-5 years. There are no fees for arranging the loan or for paying it back early. Alongside the money, you get 12 months of free business mentoring. You also get help with writing business plans and cash flow forecasts, plus a range of templates and how-to guides. This suits you if you are starting a new business or have been trading for less than 60 months. That is the first test. The page asks you to check the other eligibility criteria before you apply, so read those first. The page gives no closing date and invites you to apply now. A loan calculator helps you work out your monthly and total repayments for the amount and term you choose. A free weekly webinar can help you decide whether a Start Up Loan is right for you. One practical point. This is a personal loan, so you repay it with interest. It is worth working out the repayments before you apply. The scheme says it has supported over 100,000 business ideas with more than £1 billion in loans. Official source: https://www.startuploans.co.uk/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.

No deadline listed

West Lothian Digital Development Grant

West Lothian Council

Up to £7,500Scotland

West Lothian Council’s Digital Development Grant pays up to £7,500 towards a digital project costing up to £15,000, so it covers up to half. It is for VAT-registered businesses. It can pay for an e-commerce website, an app, software, IT and digital hardware, better IT infrastructure, or digital skills training for your team. The aims include moving your business online, increasing revenue and improving cyber security. Register your interest by email first. Budgets are limited and awards depend on the likely economic impact, so explain clearly what the project will change for your business. Official source: https://www.investinwestlothian.com/business-support/business-funding/digital-development-grant/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.

No deadline listed

Elmbridge Digital High Street Boost

Elmbridge Borough Council

Up to £2,000South East England

Elmbridge Borough Council offers independent high street retailers up to £2,000 towards setting up or upgrading an e-commerce website. The first £1,000 is fully funded, and anything above that needs you to put in half. The grant is for selling online, so a brochure website without a shop will not qualify. Paid advertising, hosting on its own, domain names, hardware and consultancy are also excluded. You will need two comparable quotes, one from an Elmbridge-based supplier, an outline of your current website and online presence, the benefits you expect, and a short sustainability action plan. Do not start work before you have an offer, as the grant is paid once the project is finished. Official source: https://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/business/support-businesses/business/support-businesses/elmbridge-digital-high-street-boost. Last checked by GrantMatch on 17 October 2026.

No deadline listed

Health & Life Science Fund

LYVA Labs

£25,000 - £250,000England, North West England

The Health & Life Science Fund is equity investment, not a grant. LYVA Labs uses it to invest between £25,000 and £250,000 in early-stage health and life science businesses in the Liverpool City Region. Liverpool City Region Combined Authority funds it, and returns are recycled into the fund to back more start-ups. The aim is to give clinicians, academics and entrepreneurs start-up money and commercial advice so they can develop prototypes, apply for R&D grants, shape their business plans and raise further investment. LYVA Labs' wider pre-seed fund now also covers clean tech and deep tech, with investments from £10,000. It does not invest in pharmaceuticals, drugs, alcohol or consumer health. Because this is investment, LYVA Labs takes a stake in your company. If it decides not to invest, it may still offer business support, connections and commercialisation advice. Applications are open all year. Official source: https://growthplatform.org/programme/health-life-science-fund/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.

No deadline listed

BFI Development Funding

British Film Institute

Funding amount not listedEngland

BFI Development Funding awards National Lottery money to help develop original live action and animated feature films. It is for distinctive fiction projects from adventurous storytellers, across a range of genres, approaches and perspectives. The BFI wants to support a wide range of voices and backgrounds. The aim is to help filmmakers and their producers develop a project to the point where it is viable to seek production funding. This is money for the early stage, before a film moves into production. Producers apply through their production company. The company must be a limited company registered at Companies House. Full eligibility criteria are in the funding guidelines, so read those first. Applications are open all year round, apart from an annual closure window from 1 April to 30 April. The BFI may add other closures during periods of high work intensity or holiday dates. It says these will be clearly signposted ahead of time, so plan your submission with that in mind. You apply online. Read the funding guidelines in full first, as the application link is inside them. If you have questions about the funding or your application, you can email the BFI. Help is also available if you need support to apply, as the BFI says it is committed to making its funding accessible to all. One practical point: if you are successful, you will need to prominently credit BFI National Lottery funding and thank National Lottery players. The BFI will share more details once an award has been made. Official source: https://www.bfi.org.uk/get-funding-support/create-films-tv-or-new-formats-storytelling/development-funding. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.

Deadline

Pathways to Work Innovation Fund

Department for Work and Pensions

Funding amount not listedNational (UK-wide)

The Pathways to Work Innovation Fund from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays for projects that test new or significantly different ways to support disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. Every funded project must help people prepare for work, get a job, stay in work or make progress at work. Innovation can mean a new service, a new tool, a new use of technology, a new way for organisations to work together, or a new approach for employers. It can also mean using an existing idea in a different place, with a different group of people or with an important change. Your project can focus on one place, community or group. You need to explain clearly what is new and what DWP and others could learn from it. Applications are open to organisations across the United Kingdom, including charities and voluntary organisations, social enterprises, businesses, universities and research organisations, and councils. You can apply alone or as a partnership, with one lead organisation managing the grant. Applications close on 26 October 2026 at 11:59pm. DWP will tell shortlisted applicants by 9 November 2026. Funding decisions follow from January 2027, and successful projects may begin mobilising from February 2027 once the Grant Funding Agreement is signed. One caveat: the fund is not meant to pay for an organisation simply to carry on delivering an unchanged existing service. DWP also cannot discuss or advise on your project idea before you submit. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/pathways-to-work-innovation-fund-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.

Deadline

iX Challenge: Identifying leaks and seepage in canal infrastructure

Innovate UK Business Connect

Funding amount not listedEngland

This is an innovation challenge from Canal & River Trust, run through Innovate UK Business Connect and its Innovation Exchange programme. The Trust wants low-cost, non-invasive ways to spot canal leaks and seepage, especially hidden leaks that cannot be seen at the ground surface. You could suit this if you have a technology proven in another sector that could be adapted for canals. Ideas can include remote sensing, drones, boat-mounted or handheld sensing, citizen-science data capture, or machine learning tools that show inspectors where to look next. The Trust also welcomes ideas that help estimate how serious a leak is. It has a large volunteer base that might help gather data. Leaks around culverts and locks are of particular interest. This is not a fixed-sum grant, and the page gives no award amount. Selected solutions may be invited to pitch to the Trust and could be considered for pilot trials. They could be adopted more widely if trials succeed and make commercial sense. Pilot budgets are still to be confirmed. Other benefits may include support from Innovate UK Business Connect, technical support, event invitations and investor introductions. Applications close at 5pm on 27 October 2026. The challenge is open to applicants across the UK. One practical point: your solution should not need canals to be drained or navigation to be badly disrupted, and it must be affordable for repeated use. Say where your system would not work, and include indicative capital and running costs if you can. Official source: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/ix-challenge-identifying-leaks-and-seepage-in-canal-infrastructure/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.

Deadline

Digital Catapult: Digital Twin Industry Challenge Led Accelerator 2026

Innovate UK Business Connect

Up to £75,000England

Digital Catapult's Digital Twin Industry Challenge Led Accelerator 2026 is a nine-month programme that helps UK SMEs turn their technology into a digital twin solution for a real industry challenge. Each successful SME receives up to £75,000 of Innovate UK grant funding, plus mentoring and access to specialist expertise and facilities at the UK Digital Twin Centre. Up to 12 SMEs will each work directly with an Industry Challenge Owner from maritime, aerospace or defence. The four challenges are set by Artemis Technologies (object detection and collision avoidance on water), BAE Systems (digital twins for in-service aircraft systems), Thales (health monitoring of uncrewed vessels) and Vertical Aerospace (digital shadows for eVTOL aircraft with real-time predictions). You do not need experience in these sectors. Applications opened on 15 September 2026 and close at 11pm on 27 October 2026. Official source: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/digital-catapult-digital-twin-industry-challenge-led-accelerator-2026/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 19 October 2026.

Deadline

Contracts for Innovation: Innovation in play to improve child outcomes

Innovate UK Business Connect

£200,000 - £500,000England

This Contracts for Innovation competition from UKRI, run through Innovate UK Business Connect, backs practical ideas that bring play back into children's lives. It pays for research and development work to create solutions that improve access to real world play and raise its quality. The aim is better learning, development, health and wellbeing for children and young people up to the age of 18. The focus is on play within the home learning environment. UKRI will invest up to £3 million, including VAT, from its Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Mission. This is subject to enough high quality applications. Phase 1 projects must have total costs of between £200,000 and £500,000, including VAT. They must run for 12 months, from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2028, and put at least 50% of the contract value into R&D services. These are procurement contracts, so 100% of eligible costs are usually covered. Up to 15 contracts are expected. The competition suits organisations of any size that can design, test and deliver play-based approaches. These could be services, behaviour change work, new partnership models or place based design. You will need a clear theory of change, a monitoring and evaluation plan, strong safeguarding plans and a credible route to wider use. Applications close on 28 October 2026 at 11:00am. One practical caveat: projects centred on screens, apps, AI tools or consumer toys will not be funded. This is also phase 1 of a possible three phases, and only successful phase 1 applicants can apply for phase 2. Official source: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/cfi-innovation-in-play-to-improve-child-outcomes/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.

+1 related call in this programme
Deadline

National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Rd1

Innovate UK

£500,000 - £1mEngland

Innovate UK will invest up to £12 million in collaborative industrial research projects that move advanced materials innovations towards real-world use. This is the first round of the National Materials Innovation Programme. The full amount depends on enough high quality applications being received. Your project must focus on a significant materials innovation and fit a sub-theme within one of three prioritised high growth themes, or the strategic theme of metamaterials and metasurfaces. Future healthcare solutions and structural materials are among the themes. You must show how your innovation improves performance, functionality, productivity or sustainability. You must also give a credible route to commercialisation and show how it supports UK net zero targets. Each project needs a grant request of between £500,000 and £1 million. Projects must last 18 to 30 months, start by 1 February 2027 and end by 31 July 2029. For industrial research, grant covers up to 70% of eligible costs for micro and small organisations, 60% for medium sized organisations and 50% for large ones. The lead must be a UK registered business of any size. The consortium needs at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise claiming grant funding. You also need at least one named end user working in one of the eight growth driving sectors of the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy. Letters of support or emails alone will not show this involvement. Applications close at 11am UK time on 28 October 2026. Competition is tough. Innovate UK's experience of similar competitions suggests you could have a 20% chance of success, and a high scoring project may still go unfunded. Official source: https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/national-materials-innovation-programme-crd-rd1-1. Last checked by GrantMatch on 15 October 2026.

Deadline

Advancing innovation in accelerated cancer diagnosis

Innovate UK

Funding amount not listedEngland

Innovate UK, on behalf of the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) Cancer Healthcare Goals programme, will invest up to £25.4 million in the clinical validation and evaluation of early cancer diagnostic technologies and devices. The OLS is a co-funder. This is a grant competition. It suits teams that are developing tools to spot cancer earlier and need to test them properly in clinical settings. The competition is open to collaborations only. A single organisation cannot apply on its own. To lead a project, your organisation must be a UK registered business, an academic institution or an NHS organisation. Your consortium must also include at least one UK registered micro, small or medium sized enterprise that is claiming grant funding on the application. Build your partnership early, as this is a condition of entry. The competition opened on 1 September 2026 at 9:30am UK time. It closes on 28 October 2026 at 11:00am UK time. The £25.4 million is the total fund shared across all funded projects, not the amount for each project. Full opportunity details and the application route are on the Innovation Funding Service, which the funder's page links to. Official source: https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/advancing-innovation-in-accelerated-cancer-diagnosis/. Last checked by GrantMatch on 16 October 2026.