For start-ups in the UK, securing funding is vital. Government grants provide financial support without the need for repayment, often focusing on key areas like innovation, research, and sustainability.
Start-up loans offer affordable, low-interest funding to help businesses launch and grow, with the added benefit of business mentoring and support.
Together, these grants and loans give entrepreneurs the resources and guidance they need to succeed in a competitive market.
Start Up Loans is a government-backed personal loan designed to support individuals looking to start or grow their business in the UK.
Samuel Wilson’s Loan Trust (SWLT) is a charitable organisation offering business loans to young people aged 18-39. The loans support the establishment and development of new businesses for those facing challenges such as ill-health, disability, financial hardship, or other disadvantages.
X-Forces Enterprise offers Start-Up Loans to members of the Armed Forces community and their family members, providing funding between £500 and £25,000 per business partner.
Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency, supporting business-led innovation across all sectors, technologies, and regions. They help businesses grow by developing and commercialising new products, processes, and services within an agile, inclusive, and accessible innovation ecosystem.
The Youth Music NextGen Fund offers young creatives grants of up to £2,500 to make their ideas happen. It's open to 18–25-year-olds (and up to 30-year-olds who identify as d/Deaf or Disabled) who live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency, supporting business-led innovation across all sectors, technologies, and regions. They help businesses grow by developing and commercialising new products, processes, and services within an agile, inclusive, and accessible innovation ecosystem.
The Growth Guarantee Scheme helps UK smaller businesses access finance for investment and growth. Launched on 1 July 2024 with accredited lenders, it supports a variety of financial products, including term loans, overdrafts, asset finance, invoice finance, and asset-based lending. The scheme generally covers facility sizes of up to £2 million, offering lenders a 70% government-backed guarantee.
The Thames Valley Berkshire Funding Escalator is an £11.3 million initiative funded by Berkshire LEP. It includes an expansion loan scheme and a short-term trade loan scheme, providing funding to eligible companies for activities that promote high growth and create employment opportunities across Berkshire.
Contracts Finder helps businesses search for government and agency contracts worth over £12,000 (including VAT), providing opportunities to secure valuable projects.
GrantFinder is the UK’s leading funding database, offering access to local, national, and international funding opportunities. It’s free to use for businesses with a turnover below £30k.
Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts, distributing public funding from the Government and National Lottery to support creative projects across England.
Community Foundations are among the UK’s largest non-statutory community grant-makers, managing over £224 million in endowed funds and distributing around £70 million in grants annually. They manage donations from individuals and organisations to support local community projects.
BBC Children in Need awards grants annually to organisations that support disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.
City Bridge Trust provides grants to organisations, focusing on initiatives that align with its key priorities and deliver meaningful outcomes.
Community Foundations are among the UK’s largest non-statutory community grant-makers, managing over £224 million in endowed funds and distributing around £70 million in grants annually. They manage donations from individuals and organisations to support local community projects.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation provides grants across four key areas: Arts, Children and Young People, Environment, and Social Change, along with a dedicated Food funding strand. They offer three types of support: grants, social investments, and Grants Plus support to help organisations drive meaningful impact.
Henry Smith Charity provides grants to support groups facing social or economic disadvantage, such as people with disabilities, and funds projects that address issues in areas of high deprivation.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation awards grants to organisations that empower people to reach their potential and enhance their quality of life through initiatives in the arts, education, and social projects.
Santander Foundation provides grants of up to £5,000 through its Community Plus scheme, supporting small local UK charities. Its Central Fund offers additional funding for projects focused on Education & Training or Financial Capability, specifically benefiting disadvantaged people.
The London Community Foundation provides grants to small community groups and charities across London, supporting projects that address a wide range of social issues.
Sport England invests in organisations and projects that promote grassroots sports, create opportunities for young people to excel, and help local authorities unlock community funding to boost sports participation.
Trust for London provides grants for projects that address the root causes of social issues in London. Funding focuses on initiatives in employment, advice, social justice, and violence, with an emphasis on creating innovative solutions that influence policy, practice, and public attitudes.
UnLtd offers grants to individuals with innovative ideas for creating meaningful social change within their local communities.
