GRANTS

What is a Government Business Grant?

A government grant is essentially an incentive package made available by various government bodies and organisations to individuals as well as businesses. Government grants (barring the finance grants) are usually non-repayable.

Depending upon the nature of the grant body and the grant objective, these grants can come in a variety of sizes and formats. As far as small businesses are concerned, such grants range from £1,000 to £500,000. Some of the bigger and more prized grants can go even higher.

Why Are Grants Given to SMEs?

Government grants have been there for a long, long time. The names and forms they have taken may have changed over time – from business subsidies to business support – but the objectives haven’t. If you were to analyse government grants across business sectors and districts, two things become very clear:

Most government grants have a singular objective – to keep the economy growing. This objective takes many avatars such as employment generation, sectoral development, regional development and so on. Grants that have these objectives are more or less permanent fixtures.
Other grants aim to follow, aid and complement ongoing policies of the government. Such grants typically reflect the incumbent government’s views in regard with trade, environment, social welfare, technology etc.

To put things in a more sweeping perspective, we can say that government grants have three clear objectives:

Boost economy through regional and local development
Generate employment by supporting businesses
Create an economic environment that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship and ‘home-grown’ research

Why SMEs Should Take Government Grants More Seriously

Even though government grants are incredibly appealing, very few SMEs actually realise the potential of such grants. Here are some features of government grants that SMEs can’t afford to overlook:

Government grants are diverse: Very specific grants are available across all business sectors. This allows SMEs to compete more fairly for similar grants.

Grants are more than just money: As we will discuss in the next part of this post, government grants offer much more than just money.

Winning a grant validates your business idea: A large number of SMEs are stuck in the validation loop that stops them from expanding or trading more confidently. Inadequate funding makes matters even worse. A grant can be a good way to turn the corner in such times and receive external recognition and validation.

Government Grants: Shortcomings & Drawbacks

While the features associated with government grants are certainly attractive, there exist shortcomings and drawbacks you should be aware of:

The competition is fierce: The competition for government grants is fierce to say the least. Since young businesses, start-ups and established businesses all tend to spill over into the space that’s reserved for SMEs, the competition can become entirely off-putting.

It can take months before you see the money: Applying for a government grant isn’t always the smoothest of processes. It can take many months for the assessment process to conclude, making grants irrelevant for businesses that require urgent funding.

Grants can never replace external funding: Given their limitations in size and scope, government grants cannot replace external, third-party funding channels – not in the long run, anyway.

New Funding Opportunity

EIC ACCELERATOR GRANT

The EIC Accelerator supports individual small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in particular startups and spinout companies to develop and scaleup game-changing innovations. In some cases small mid-caps (up to 500 employees) are supported.

The EIC Accelerator provides substantial financial support with:

grant funding (non-dilutive) of up to €2.5 million for innovation development costs, including demonstration of the technology in the relevant environment, prototyping and system level demonstration, R&D and testing required to meet regulatory and standardisation requirements, intellectual property management, and marketing approval (e.g. at least TRL 5/6 to 8).
investments (direct equity investments or quasi-equity such as convertible loans) of up to €15 million managed by the EIC Fund for scale up and other relevant costs. Companies working on technologies of strategic European interest can apply for EIC investments of more than €15 million.

VISIT THE EIC FUNDING PAGE

Plug-in Motorcycle Grant

The plug-in motorcycle grant (PiMG) was launched in 2016 to help bridge the price gap between the cost of zero emission motorcycles and petrol motorcycles. The grant will be available to customers at the point of purchase directly from the dealer or manufacturer’s representative. Consumers will not have to go through a grant application process themselves. The grant will only be payable by OZEV to the approved party. This is subject to a submission of a grant claim by a franchised dealer meeting with all of the conditions of the scheme.

Location National

Funding organisation Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)

Who can apply Personal / Individual

How much you can get From Up to £500 for motorcycles or £150 for mopeds

Total size of grant scheme N/A

Opening date 1 April 2016, 12:00pm

Closing date 31 March 2023, 11:59pm

Learn more

Sellafield Ltd Grants/Reusable Equipment

If your organisation supports people in Copeland, Allerdale or Warrington you may be eligible to apply for a grant/reusable equipment.

Location North West England

Funding organisation Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Who can apply Private Sector

How much you can get From Various to £200,000

Total size of grant scheme N/A

Opening date 4 August 2017, 12:00pm

Closing date 31 December 2023, 11:59pm

Learn more

Senior Mental Health Lead Training

Find out how your school or college can apply for a grant and access Department for Education quality assured training to help develop a whole school or college approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Location England

Funding organisation Department for Education

Who can apply Public Sector

How much you can get From Various to £1,200

Total size of grant scheme N/A

Opening date 2 June 2021, 12:00pm

Closing date 31 March 2023, 11:59pm

Learn more

Grants of up to £50,000 Available for Community Projects

Small charities, schools and community interest groups with innovative ideas that benefit their community can apply for funding of up to £50,000 for projects that build more connected, more resilient communities; and give people the tools to become more financially independent.

The funding is being made available through the newly re-launched Aviva Community Fund. Every three months from January onwards, £250,000 will be split equally among Aviva’s UK employees to donate to the projects that matter to them most.

Applications are open on a continuous basis and are reviewed every three months.

Aviva have teamed up with the fundraising platform Crowdfunder and applicants can add to any donations they get from the Aviva Community Fund with public donations.

MORE INFORMATION

Innovate UK Smart grants: January 2023

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 million for game-changing and commercially viable R&D innovations that can significantly impact the UK economy. This funding is from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation.

Competition opens: Thursday 19 January 2023
Competition closes: Wednesday 26 April 2023 11:00am

START APPLICATION

UK GOVERNMENT BUSINESS GRANTS IN 2023

EV Chargepoint Grant for flat owner-occupiers and people living in rented properties

The Chargepoint Grant for people renting and living in flats is open to Electric Vehicle (EV) drivers who live in a flat or rent a property.

The grant will cover up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (inclusive of VAT) and enabling infrastructure for future chargepoints.

This grant is a continuation of the current Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme but with a reduced scope of who can apply.

Location National

Funding organisation Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)

Who can apply Personal / Individual

How much can you get From £350 to £350

Total size of grant scheme £50 million

Opening date 1 September 2014, 12:01am

Closing date 31 March 2024, 11:59pm

Workplace Charging Scheme

The Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a voucher-based scheme that provides eligible businesses with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints. All businesses can use it to help provision chargepoints for their staff or fleets.

Charities and small accommodation businesses can further use it to provision chargepoints for their guests or visitors.

Location National

Funding organisation Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)

Who can apply Public Sector, Non-profit, Private Sector

How much can you get From £350 to £14,000

Total size of grant scheme £50 million

Opening date 1 September 2016, 12:01am

Closing date 31 March 2024, 11:59pm

Find out more

EV chargepoint grant for landlords

The grant provides residential and commercial landlords, social housing providers or property factors funding to install electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints in rental and leasehold properties.

Location National

Funding organisation Department for Transport

Who can apply Non-profit, Public Sector, Private Sector

How much can you get From £350 to £30,000

Total size of grant scheme N/A

Opening date 1 April 2022, 12:00am

Closing date 31 March 2024, 11:59pm

Find out more

Kent and Medway Business Fund

The Kent and Medway Business Fund (KMBF) will open for online pre-applications on 29 October 2021. This scheme is funded by recycled loan payments from the former Regional Growth Fund schemes, Expansion East Kent, TIGER and Escalate.

Offers 0% loans between £100,000 and £500,000 to fund capital investment for businesses in Kent and Medway

Find out more

Innovation loans

The Innovation Investment Loan scheme (i3) is funded by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, Local Growth Fund, and has delivered up to £6 million in loans to local businesses.

The scheme offers 0% loans between £200,000 and £999,999 to small and medium sized businesses with the potential for innovation and high growth; to develop new or expand existing products, services, or processes, where these will lead to sustainable new employment.

The deadline for pre-applications closed on 7 December 2018. However, if you wish to register your interest in accessing future funding, complete the expression of interest form:

Find out more

Start-Up Loans

A Start Up Loan is a government-backed personal loan available to individuals looking to start or grow a business in the UK.

In addition to finance, successful applicants receive 12 months of free mentoring and exclusive business offers to help them succeed.

The loan is unsecured, so there’s no need to put forward any assets or guarantors to support an application.

All owners or partners in a business can individually apply for up to £25,000 each, with a maximum of £100,000 available per business.

Find out more

Low Carbon Kent

Low Carbon Kent is a network of businesses tackling and adapting to climate change. They aim to reduce costs by cutting emissions and promote the opportunities of the low carbon market.

Find out more

Green Recovery Vouchers

The Green Recovery voucher scheme will help small companies take advantage of environmental advice and services.

Businesses in Kent can apply for a voucher of up to £1,500 to implement an environmental project to help improve business sustainability, resilience and support economic recovery.

The funding is provided by the European Regional Development Fund

Find out more

FUNDING FOR BUSINESS IN LONDON

Applying for Small Business Grants in London

A range of grants are available in the London area for Not-for-Profit organisations and for business needs. There are many grants that are available nationally rather than merely assigned for just one geographic location. For local grants in the London area most are dispersed through the London Councils. The first port of call for grant funding is by going through this application process.

LDA

This program provides information and advice along with business grants to business start-ups in London. The organisation is set up and funded through the (LDA). The LDA funds a whole host of projects throughout London and focuses on six main areas:

Getting London Working
Building Better Places in London
Supporting London’s Business
Investing in London’s Low Carbon Future
Promoting London to the World.

The prevalence of these key areas gives some good indications of what is likely to be funded through the LDA.

London Co-Investment Fund

The London Co-Investment Fund is a managed fund, the managers and the founders are Funding London and Capital Enterprise. The fund’s feeding has come from the Mayor of London’s Growing Places Fund. The Co-Investment Fund has raised 25m from Growing Places. The purpose of the fund is the investment in seed rounds, estimated funding ranges from between £250,000-£1,000,000, which is led by the co-investment partners of the fund.

The objective of the fund is to enable the small businesses and start-ups who can raise funds to be able to raise considerably more. The purpose is so that they can gain more money, Time and resources to follow through with their business model. It is this influx of resources which allows the businesses to become well equipped to continue with further funding rounds. The goal for the fund is to rapidly empower the start-ups in technology to turn into London’s new tech leaders. The fund mainly invests in technology, predominately high growth areas. The rapid nature of the fund is perfect for tech start-ups who want to gain seed capital with the potential to earn more investment quickly.

Find out more

FUNDING FOR BUSINESS IN ESSEX

The Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE) programme

The LoCASE programme provides grants for businesses of up to £10,000 as well as training workshops and fully funded events.

Targeted business support is on offer for companies who offer “green” or low carbon goods and services.

The Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE) programme, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, is a free business support programme in the South and East. It can help your business to become more competitive and profitable while protecting the environment and encouraging low carbon solutions.

It provides grants for businesses of up to £10,000 as well as training workshops and fully funded events. Targeted business support is on offer for companies who offer “green” or low carbon goods and services.

For more information on the LoCASE programme and how it can help your business, visit the website.

LDA

Getting London Working
Building Better Places in London
Supporting London’s Business
Investing in London’s Low Carbon Future
Promoting London to the World.

The prevalence of these key areas gives some good indications of what is likely to be funded through the LDA.

London Co-Investment Fund

Find out more

Government Grants for SMEs in the UK – A Hands-on Guide

What is a Government Business Grant?

Why Are Grants Given to SMEs?

Why SMEs Should Take Government Grants More Seriously

Government Grants: Shortcomings & Drawbacks

New Funding Opportunity

EIC ACCELERATOR GRANT

Plug-in Motorcycle Grant

Sellafield Ltd Grants/Reusable Equipment

Senior Mental Health Lead Training

Grants of up to £50,000 Available for Community Projects

Innovate UK Smart grants: January 2023

UK GOVERNMENT BUSINESS GRANTS IN 2023

EV Chargepoint Grant for flat owner-occupiers and people living in rented properties

EV chargepoint grant for landlords

Kent and Medway Business Fund

Innovation loans

Start-Up Loans

Low Carbon Kent

Green Recovery Vouchers

FUNDING FOR BUSINESS IN LONDON

Applying for Small Business Grants in London

LDA

London Co-Investment Fund

FUNDING FOR BUSINESS IN ESSEX

The Low Carbon Across the South and East (LoCASE) programme

LDA

London Co-Investment Fund

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