Renée’s round-up of grants and funding - April

Small Business Britain develop great resources and deliver several programmes of support for small businesses that are well worth looking at. This month they launched their annual Great British Pitch which this year is internationally themed with the opportunity to pitch to Indian based buyers (see details below if you’re a food and drink, consumer or retail business).

Kathy Kyle, a Surrey based artist and textile designer had the opportunity to pitch last year and wanted to encourage others to apply: “I am so grateful to Small Business Britain, BT and DBT for their support at the Great British Pitch! It was well brilliantly organised and a fantastic opportunity for me to connect and bring my brand to a broader audience. Since engaging with DBT and others, I have connected with an even broader audience and am now collaborating with the British Embassy Paris and am showing at Premiere Classe Who’s Next.”

Things are always moving with funded support programmes so keep an eye out for my monthly updates. Good luck, and let me know how you get on!

Renée

Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme

This High Street Programme will support hundreds of small and medium businesses in Surrey’s town and villages throughout Spring 2026. It covers all corners of Surrey with dedicated sessions in 22 locations across all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey. It offers free, practical and locally tailored support across Surrey high streets including:

Tailored support
In-person business engagement
Free practical workshops
Business toolkits and resources

Last Workshop: 8 April 2026
Find out more: Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme

Surrey Venture Studio

Surrey Venture Studio is an exciting scheme to help Surrey innovators, academics, students and entrepreneurs ignite their ideas to build a business. So if you have an idea ripe for commercialisation and are ready to start your business journey, seize this exciting opportunity!

Do you have a business idea you believe could be transformational and marketable, but you’re unsure how to take the first step or secure funding? Perhaps you already have designs, prototypes or research that hasn’t yet reached its full revenue generating potential. This is an exciting new pre-accelerator programme to help innovators, academics and entrepreneurs across Surrey explore whether turning an idea into a business is the right path. This exciting programme includes:

A two-day, in-person ideation workshop
Expert mentoring
Opportunity to progress to a six-month accelerator
Up to £25,000 catalyst grant funding, for successful six-month accelerator participant

Spaces on the workshop are limited and will be offered to applicants whose ideas are at the right stage of development and show strong potential for innovation and commercialisation.

At the end of the two-day workshop, participants will be invited to pitch their ideas ‘Dragon’s Den’-style. The successful applicants will secure a coveted place on the six-month accelerator programme and take a step closer to securing £25k in grant funding to launch their business!

Closing date: 8 May 2026
Find out more: Sign up to the webinar on April 21 to learn more about the scheme or apply here: Surrey Venture Studio Application Form – Airtable

Made Smarter South East

Made Smarter South East is a government-funded programme created to drive growth amongst the South East’s manufacturing SMEs and makers. The Made Smarter team will provide advice and support to manufacturers and makers to:

help them switch to advanced and automated technologies
identify the right technologies and tools
and use them to make everyday improvements to your business.

Support elements include:

Match-funding of up to £20,000 (50% is available)
Expert advice, guidance and support
Bespoke digital roadmap for your business
Leadership training
Workforce training
Fully-funded student internship (up to 300 hours).

The programme is open to SME manufacturers and makers based in the South East. In order to be eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and not be part of a wider group, or be funded by Private Equity, with a turnover below £44 million, and not have received state aid of more than £315,000 over the last three years.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Made Smarter South East: funding & support for manufacturers

The Great British Pitch – India

Are you interested in pitching your great, British business to international buyers in India, and are you available for an in-person event in central London on Tuesday, 16th June? This year The Great British Pitch is focused on businesses in the Food & Drink, Consumer and Retail sectors.

You’ll be offered the support you need to be ready to pitch, and will be joined on the day by export experts, there to offer their advice and to help get you match ready for your time to shine. As well as having the chance to pitch your business across the world, via livestream to buyers specific to your industry niche, you’ll have chance to network with other small business owners, all keen to find exciting, new, global markets for their products and services.

Find out more: The Great British Pitch – India

The Small & Mighty Enterprise Programme

This 6 week programme for sole traders and micro businesses, concludes with a plan to support the next year of business growth. It will be delivered entirely online.

What does the course include?

Inclusion in an exclusive, supportive community to ask and answer questions, access experts and teachers, share experiences and network with other small businesses.

Live weekly sessions recorded and available on a private Small Business Britain website available exclusively to course participants.

Weekly worksheets to embed learning outcomes accessible on the private website hub, developed by each week’s expert trainers.

Development of an Action Plan: a twelve-month plan to grow and flourish with support of expert mentors.

1 hour of 1-2-1 and group mentoring over the six weeks from expert mentors around the UK.

Start date: 26 March 2026
Find out more: Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate.

2026 Diamond Education Grant

The Diamond Education Grant offers financial support to women seeking to enter or return to the workforce or transition into growing industries by gaining new skills.

The grant prioritises women facing significant financial need or barriers to employment, with an average award of around £1,000. Funding can be used for course fees or essential materials, such as books or equipment, but not for living expenses. Applications are open to women who are permanent residents in eligible Federation countries, which includes the UK. Preference will be given to applicants aged 30 and over.

Grants are available for courses taking place during the academic year from September 2026 to July 2027. The funding is intended for one year only, with vocational courses receiving priority.

Closing date: 15 April 2026
Find out more: Diamond Education Grant | SIGBI

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme is designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the country.

Participants in the fully funded programme identify and execute the steps necessary to enable them to scale their ventures, create employment and expand to new markets. Each participant develops a business growth plan throughout the course to implement back in their businesses. Eligibility criteria:

Business operating for at least three years
Have between 5 and 50 employees
Business should have turnover of at least 250,000 GBP in the previous financial year
Applicant should not have any recent management education
Applicant should be the primary owner or main decision-maker of the business

Closing date: April 2026
Find out more: UK | Goldman Sachs

Amazon Sustainability Accelerator

Early-stage businesses developing sustainable consumer goods can apply to join the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, an equity-free programme designed to support innovation addressing environmental challenges.

The accelerator aims to help entrepreneurs develop skills and expand their businesses while improving the climate impact of their products. Each year the programme focuses on different sustainability areas including circular economy, recycling technology and sustainable consumer products.

One of the 2026 challenges is the Consumer Product Programme, which targets startups producing physical business-to-consumer goods. Eligible products must have recently launched or be close to entering the market and demonstrate measurable sustainability improvements. Examples include items made from recycled or upcycled materials, reusable everyday products, eco-friendly gadgets and technology, more sustainable clothing, shoes and accessories, and alternatives to plastic.

Selected participants will take part in a nine-week accelerator that includes workshops, mentoring and access to Amazon’s network. Businesses will receive a £10,000 cash grant, $10,000 in AWS Activate credits and a £1,500 travel grant. Additional support includes a climate impact assessment, guidance on selling through Amazon and an opportunity to present their business to investors during a London Demo Day.

Applicants must be brand owners and operate in the early stages of development. Businesses must also be registered in the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.

Closing date: 17 April 2026

Find out more: Amazon Sustainability Accelerator: Maximise your Impact

Invention for Innovation (i4i)

The Invention for Innovation (i4i) THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training programme funds early stage innovations which tackle health inequalities. This is a full researcher-led funding opportunity.

THRIVE supports clinicians and researchers to accelerate the translation of healthcare innovations tackling health inequalities from bench to bed, speed up patient benefit and concurrently expand the entrepreneurial mindset of researchers and clinicians.

THRIVE offers up to £150,000 over 9 months to support the development of a technology-based product or service, and a structured programme of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, peer support and networking. Through the programme the innovators will explore the market for their innovation and identify potential routes for commercialising (spin-out vs licensing) or sustaining their innovation (Intrapreneurship) and leave the programme with a plan to achieve their goals, a network of support and with the skills for the next steps of commercialisation.

Closing date: 17 April 2026 (13:00)
Find out more: i4i THRIVE – March 2026 | NIHR

Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains: Potential High Growth SMEs Competition

The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains: Potential High Growth SMEs Competition supports micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in addressing barriers to commercialisation and scaling within the UK.

Eligible projects must aim to improve the resource efficiency or resilience of supply chains in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan frontier industries, including automotive, aerospace, advanced materials, batteries, agri-tech and space.

Applicants should have developed a basic version of their product or service, such as a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or higher, that targets improvements in supply chain efficiency or resilience.

Projects must demonstrate a clear focus on one or more of the specified supply chains.

Closing date: 22 April 2026

Find out more: Competition overview – Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains: Potential High Growth SMEs – Innovation Funding Service

Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2026

Applications are open for the 2026 Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), which provides grants for businesses investing in equipment and technology. The support is intended to help improve productivity, animal health and welfare and slurry management across agricultural and forestry operations.

A total of £50 million has been allocated across three themes. Up to £20 million is available for productivity equipment and a further £20 million has been set aside for projects that improve animal health and welfare. Another £10 million has been allocated for slurry management. Applicants can request between £1,000 and £25,000 under each theme.

Businesses may apply to more than one theme, with a combined maximum grant value of £75,000 if applications are made across all three categories. The funding is intended for the purchase of eligible equipment and technology that supports operational improvements within farming and forestry enterprises. Eligible applicants include farming and forestry businesses in England involved in the production or processing of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products. Contractors and growers working in these sectors may also apply where proposed purchases support the stated objectives.

This round is expected to be the final standalone FETF round in its current format, with future arrangements due to combine elements of several grant initiatives from 2027.

Closing date: 28 April 2026 (12:00)

Find out more: Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2026 – GOV.UK

Secure Software for Resilient Growth Competition

The Secure Software for Resilient Growth Competition aims to support the development of secure and resilient software supply chains in the UK through increased adoption of the Software Security Code of Practice (SSCoP). The initiative reflects the role of cyber security as a frontier technology in the UK’s Industrial Strategy and the need to strengthen cyber resilience across digitally transforming sectors.

The competition therefore seeks to improve baseline cyber resilience across UK software supply chains.

Projects supported through the programme are expected to increase awareness, adoption and implementation of the SSCoP. They should also contribute to the commercial growth of cyber resilient technology supply chains in the UK and address at least two of the four themes set out in the SSCoP.

The competition forms part of a wider set of UK government cyber security codes of practice and complements initiatives such as the Cyber Essentials scheme, which promote recognised approaches to managing cyber security risks.

Closing date: 29 April 2026 (11:00)

Find out more: Competition overview – Secure Software for Resilient Growth – Innovation Funding Service

The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs

Sponsored by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and administered by Leonard Cheshire Disability, this initiative celebrates business ability by recognising disabled entrepreneurs who have set up their own company.

The programme is open to disabled entrepreneurs in the UK who own at least 50% of a UK registered for-profit business with an annual turnover of £200,000. This year, prize money totalling £300,000 will be distributed as follows:

£150,000 to one overall winner.
£100,000 to the second place winner.
£50,000 to the third place winner.

Closing date: 30 April 2026 (17:00)

Find out more: The Stelios Awards for Disabled Entrepreneurs | Leonard Cheshire

Green Heat Network Fund

The UK Government has opened Round 11 of the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), a £288 million capital grant programme supporting the transition to low-carbon heat networks. The scheme funds technologies such as heat pumps, geothermal energy, and waste heat recovery to help reduce carbon emissions from heating systems.

Heat networks supply heat from a central source to multiple buildings, lowering reliance on individual gas boilers. The GHNF provides funding to public, private and third-sector organisations in England involved in developing heating and cooling networks.

Grants can cover up to, but not including, 50% of eligible commercialisation and construction costs, with a maximum of £1 million available for commercialisation support. Individual funding requests may be spread over multiple years.

Closing date: 1 May 2026 (23:59)
Find out more: Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF): Round 11 application guidance – GOV.UK

Materials Innovation Partnerships Grant

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is inviting applications for its Materials Innovation Partnerships Grant, which supports collaborative research between academic institutions and businesses. The grant is intended to advance materials research with potential for industrial use.

EPSRC has allocated up to £7.5 million for a minimum of four projects. Each project can receive £250,000, representing 80% of the full economic cost. The total full economic cost must be at least £312,500.

The initiative focuses on co-created and co-delivered research between industry and academia aimed at translating materials discoveries into practical applications. Projects must be led jointly by a primary academic partner eligible for EPSRC support, such as a UK university or research institute, and a primary business partner. The partners must have an established collaborative relationship of at least one year before applying.

Proposals must address one or more themes from the National Materials Innovation Strategy. These include materials for energy solutions, future healthcare, structural innovations, advanced surface technologies, next generation electronics telecommunications and sensors, and consumer products packaging and specialist polymers.

Closing date: 14 May 2026 (16:00)
Find out more: EPSRC Materials Innovation Partnerships – Innovate UK Business Connect

The National Entrepreneur of the Year

The National Entrepreneur of the Year Competition is accepting applications from young people across the UK seeking financial support to develop or expand business ventures. The annual awards are organised by the Peter Jones Foundation and supported by FRP Advisory.

The competition provides cash awards to individuals aged 16 to 21 who are either running a revenue-generating small business or have a developed concept, including a prototype or minimum viable product. Entrants are required to demonstrate the viability of their idea or enterprise as part of the application process.

Successful applicants progress through stages that may include pitching their business proposals, with finalists given the opportunity to present to Peter Jones CBE. Financial awards include £10,000 for the overall winner, £5,000 for the runner up and £1,000 for finalists.

The funding can be used to support business growth, product development or operational costs associated with early-stage enterprises. The competition aims to support young entrepreneurs at different stages of development, from concept to established small businesses.

Closing date: 15 May 2026 (17:00)
Find out more: National Entrepreneur of the Year — Peter Jones Foundation

Open Horizons

Women-led startups working in deeptech and digital innovation can apply for support through Open Horizons, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative. The scheme forms part of a wider effort to advance female entrepreneurship and reduce the innovation gap across Europe.

Up to €55,000 in equity-free funding is available per applicant. In addition to financial support, successful startups will benefit from mentoring, strategic matchmaking and opportunities to co-design and test paid pilot projects with leading European corporates.

Eligible applicants must be early-stage or inception-phase startups led by at least one woman in a key executive role, such as CEO, CTO or Founder, with a minimum 25% ownership stake. The business must be based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe-associated country, including the UK.

Projects must operate within deeptech or digital fields. Areas of focus include Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Computing, Cybersecurity, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, Internet of Things, Metaverse, Energy, Green Tech, AgriTech and FinTech.

This is the third and final Open Call under the €1.2 million programme.

Closing date: 19 May 2026 (17:00)
Find out more: Home – Open Horizons

Business Boost Grants – Elmbridge

The business boost grants can help your business with:

Grant support up to £2,000 to help businesses improve their shop fronts or signage

Grant support up to £2,000 to help bring a shop that has been empty for at least 3 months back into commercial use
up to £1,000 to help town or village wide projects to drive new footfall, investment, street-scene improvements or sustainability.

All applications need at least 50% match funding and 2 quotes for each element.
Town and village centre independents can also apply for support to help sell online with the digital high street boost and small and medium sized business can get help to invest in energy efficiency projects with the green business boost.

Closing date: Applications can be made at any time.

Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme

Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). The LDSS is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce. Staff taking the training must be in qualifying roles.

Eligible ASC employers can claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. This funding is for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for in financial year 2025 to 2026, as well as those paid for in financial year 2024 to 2025.

Closing date: When the fund is exhausted.
Find out more: Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme – GOV.UK

Business Support Grants – Reigate & Banstead

Business Support Grants of up to £1,000 for residents and businesses with fewer than 5 employees based in Reigate and Banstead.

Grants can be used to help fund things like marketing, new equipment or training. Please note the grant is NOT available for the development of prototypes or for IT equipment such as laptops, unless you are a brand new start up and do not possess any IT hardware.

Closing date: applications can be made at any time.
Find out more: Business Support Grants | Business Support Grants | Reigate and Banstead

Help to Grow: Management Course

The Help to Grow Management Course runs over 12 weeks and includes online and face-to-face sessions, 1-to-1 mentoring and peer networking. Whether you need to identify more efficient ways of working, target new markets, or create a plan to take your business and team to the next level, the Help to Grow Management Course will provide the knowledge and support you need.

To join the Help to Grow Management Course you should:

Work for a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise based in the United Kingdom
Employ between 5 and 249 employees
Be a member of the senior leadership team and have direct reports.

The full course is worth £7,500 but it is 90% government funded so small businesses pay just £750 per person. Our local Business Schools are Kingston University, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Southampton, University of Brighton and Brunel University of London.

Closing date: Courses start at different times but applications can be made at any time.
Find out more: About the Help to Grow: Management Course | Small Business Charter

The Workplace Charging Scheme

The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.

The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT). This is capped at a maximum of:

£350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant. For example, if you install at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket per site

All chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV authorised installer.

Closing Date: extended to 31 March 2027

Find out more: Before you start

The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot

The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot is a £50 million capital grant programme supporting large-scale research and development projects within the UK life sciences sector. The fund aims to strengthen health resilience, drive innovation and deliver economic benefits through significant investments in research capacity, facilities and technologies.

Projects should demonstrate how they will enhance the UK’s ability to respond to health emergencies and long-term healthcare challenges, for example by expanding or creating R&D capacity, improving manufacturing processes, accelerating clinical research or deploying new technologies.

Closing Date: 31 March 2028 (23:59)

Find out more: Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot – GOV.UK

Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants

The FiPL programme provides grants to farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills for one-off projects to make improvements to the natural environment, climate change mitigation, cultural heritage and public access on their land.

Closing date: Extended to March 2029

Find out more: Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes FiPL

Co-operative Enterprise Loans

Co-operative and Community Finance offers loans of between £10,000 and £85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK. Loans are to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise.  

Loans will only be made to economically viable enterprises that are democratically owned and controlled organisations registered in the UK.

Closing date: Applications can be made at any time

Find out more: Co-op Loan Fund – Unique lending: to co-ops, from co-ops

Greener Homes Alliance Development Loans

Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance. The scheme provides discounted development finance to small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders. The initiative supports the construction of energy-efficient homes across England.

A total of £150 million is available. Loans range from £2 million to £20 million. Interest rate reductions of up to 2% are available for developers who meet environmental and social criteria. Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England.