Our Top Six Business Grants of 2026

Finding the right government grant can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack blindfolded, while everyone else claims they “got £50k easily”.
This section cuts through the noise.

Here you’ll find up-to-date UK government grants, funding schemes, and business support opportunities for 2026, all in one place.

Whether you’re a start-up, SME, innovator, creative business, or scaling company, this section is designed to help you:

Identify relevant grants quickly
Understand what funding is really available
Spot deadlines before they sneak up on you
Access official links and application guidance

We update this section regularly as new schemes open and old ones close, because timing matters, and missing a deadline hurts more than rejection.

👉 Bookmark it. Check back often. And if funding exists that suits your business, you’ll find it here.

Our Services

We offer a variety of services to help you manage your finances and grow your business. Contact us today to learn more.

Learn More

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Big-ticket innovation funding for SMEs ready to scale with private investment alongside grants.
🗓️ Closes: early Feb 2026

Learn More

Women in Innovation Awards 2025–26

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Grants up to £75,000 + bespoke business support for women founders/co-founders.
🗓️ Closes: early Feb 2026

Learn More

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Grant funding to support innovation in EV infrastructure.
🗓️ Closes: Mar 25, 2026

Learn More

Full ADOPT Grant: Round 5

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Grants for agri-businesses to trial new farm / forestry solutions.
🗓️ Closes: early Feb 2026

Find out more

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Not a cash grant, but major business rates support for eligible small firms from April 2026 — potentially thousands saved.

Find out more

Small Business Grants Finder – GOV.UK

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Not a single grant, but the official listings of hundreds of government-backed grants sorted by industry, region, and eligibility.

Find out more

Kent - Local & Regional Business Loan Programs

Kent and Medway Business Fund

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

This is one of the big hitters for Kent/Medway businesses

Standard Loans: £100,000–£600,000 at 0% interest, repayable over ~5 years.
Small Business Boost: £26,000–£99,000 at 0% interest for early-stage or growing SMEs.
Designed to help businesses create or protect jobs and invest in growth.

Good if you want proper capital for expansion without eye-watering interest.

Learn More

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

These are national but very relevant for local startups:

Up to £25,000 with a fixed interest rate (around 6%) and 12 months of mentoring.
Great for first-time founders or businesses trading less than 36 months.

(They’re often offered through British Business Bank / StartUpLoans.co.uk.)

Learn More

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

Not Kent-specific, but worth noting:

Offers lender-backed term loans up to ~£2m with government guarantee support.
You go through lenders rather than applying direct — which opens up more flexible options.

Learn More

Extra Options to Explore

(Not strictly Kent-only, but definitely worth a look)

✨ Business Growth Loans (regional UK program) – Loans of £25k–£100k for businesses that might not qualify for standard bank lending.

✨ Folk2Folk Peer-to-Peer Lending – Alternative financing if you’ve got property or land to use as security (not strictly local, but UK-wide).

✨ Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) Scheme – Government guarantee on bank loans up to £1m for viable SMEs.

📌 Quick Tips (to avoid headaches)

✔ Match funding is often required (e.g., with the Kent & Medway Fund).
✔ You usually need a solid business plan and evidence of job creation or growth impact.
✔ Grants exist too — so if you can, combine loan + grant for max leverage (ask your Growth Hub or accountant).

Business Loan Requirements: Your No-Nonsense Checklist

Applying for a business loan? Brace yourself, lenders don’t just want your charm and good intentions. They’ll usually ask for:

A business plan (what you do, why you need funding, and how you’ll pay it back)
Proof of ID and address
Business and personal bank statements
Details of existing loans and repayments
Security information (assets or personal guarantees — sometimes)

But here’s the part many business owners miss…

Lenders don’t just care about history. They want fresh, credible financial data that shows what’s happening right now, not six or twelve months ago. That’s why management accounts matter. They’re current, practical, decision-focused, and exactly what lenders like to see when deciding whether to say “yes” or “come back later.”

Our Top Six Business Grants of 2026

Our Services

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Women in Innovation Awards 2025–26

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Full ADOPT Grant: Round 5

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Small Business Grants Finder – GOV.UK

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

TIPS FOR BUSINESS LOAN APPLICATION SUCCESS

TIPS FOR BUSINESS LOAN APPLICATION SUCCESS

TIPS FOR BUSINESS LOAN APPLICATION SUCCESS

TIPS FOR BUSINESS LOAN APPLICATION SUCCESS

TIPS FOR BUSINESS LOAN APPLICATION SUCCESS

TIPS FOR BUSINESS LOAN APPLICATION SUCCESS

Kent - Local & Regional Business Loan Programs

Kent and Medway Business Fund

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

📌 Quick Tips (to avoid headaches)

Business Loan Requirements: Your No-Nonsense Checklist

Our Top Six Business Grants of 2026

Our Services

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Women in Innovation Awards 2025–26

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Innovate UK Growth Catalyst Investor Partnerships Round 2

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Full ADOPT Grant: Round 5

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Increasing EV Charging Capacity on the Strategic Road Network

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Small Business Grants Finder – GOV.UK

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

Business Rates Relief – “Supporting Small Business Relief” (2026)

TIPS FOR BUSINESS LOAN APPLICATION SUCCESS

Kent - Local & Regional Business Loan Programs

Kent and Medway Business Fund

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

Government-Backed Start-Up Loans

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

UK Growth Guarantee Scheme (via accredited lenders)

📌 Quick Tips (to avoid headaches)

Business Loan Requirements: Your No-Nonsense Checklist

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