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

Lots of programmes and grants to add to the blog this month for a variety of sectors and businesses.
If you have just started out in business I just wanted to bring your attention to the changes in eligibility for the Start Up Loan Scheme that that has been refreshed from 6th April. The eligibility criteria has now been extended to include businesses that have been trading for up to 60 months.

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.

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

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

Female Founders Rise Accelerator

An accelerator sponsored by Barclays, to support 60 women-led businesses per quarter, who are proactively trying to raise capital.

The FFR Fundraising Accelerator is an 8-week intensive programme of weekly sessions for founders who are raising or planning to raise investment in the next 3 months. It equips startups with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to fundraise successfully through virtual sessions, practical frameworks, and hands-on exercises, alongside access to investors through pitch opportunities and discussions. Upon graduation, founders are invited to join the RAISE CIRCLE for ongoing support.

Eligibility requirements: the programme is for founders who are currently raising, or planning to raise within the next three months. Participating businesses must be investable, with a pitch deck in place and, where eligible, SEIS/EIS advance assurance secured.

Closing date: Ongoing
Find out more: Fundraising Accelerator | Female Founders Rise

Black in Business Award

The programme is designed to help scale and grow Black-owned businesses through television advertising. Successful applicants will receive a package centred on Channel 4 airtime and related marketing support.

Up to four Black-owned businesses will be supported, each receiving £200,000 worth of advertising spend on Channel 4. The offer also includes the creation of a bespoke TV commercial produced by Quiet Storm, alongside six months of marketing and business mentorship.

Applicants must be Black-owned businesses based in the UK that are ready to scale using TV advertising and business support. The business must have an established product or service that has been live in market for at least six months at the time of application. The business must be new to TV advertising and able to provide proof of business registration, such as a company number. Applicants must be aged 18 or over. Businesses are also required to demonstrate the operational capacity to scale in response to increased demand generated by television advertising.

Closing date: 24 May 2026
Find out more: Black in Business Award | 4 Sales

UK Games Fund

The UK Games Fund (UKGF) has opened its Starter Fund, offering grants of up to £20,000 to support UK games developers at the start of their professional journey. Grants are aimed at supporting own-IP game development and helping applicants build stronger commercial readiness, market understanding and audience development.

The Starter Fund includes tailored support delivered through the Fresh Start and Head Start pathways, with a stated route into the UKGF Prototype Fund for teams that progress.

Eligible applicants include new games studios, UK university graduate companies and solo developers working with UK-based contractors. Applicants must be at a very early stage of building a studio, have hands-on development capability and be seeking to strengthen the commercial aspects of their business. To apply, organisations must be wholly UK-based companies registered at Companies House with UK-resident directors. The application requires a clear game idea, an emerging plan for commercial success and a defined market opportunity.

The grant is intended to meet labour costs relating to the supported project. Applicants are expected to have begun early concept or pre-production work and to be ready to start supported development in summer 2026.

Closing date: 1 June
Find out more: Starter Fund – UK Games Fund

Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 2026 – Cohort 5

The Starter Fund includes tailored support delivered through the Fresh Start and Head Start pathways, with a stated route into the UKGF Prototype Fund for teams that progress.

Closing date: 1 June (12:00)
Find out more: Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator 2026 – Cohort 5 – Connected Places Catapult

F100 Growth Fund

Sky and civil rights organisation BEO are supporting Black entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. F100 provides investment and access to supply chains, backed up by expert business advice, coaching and mentoring. The aim is to break down the barriers faced by Black entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas that are disrupting their industry and who want to take their business to the next level.

F100 provides an opportunity for participants to pitch for funding of up to £15,000.

The most innovative businesses applying will also be offered a free Sky Business broadband and phone package for 12 months. Additionally, they will take part in a tailored 10-week programme to help them scale their operations through a series of workshops, mentorship, supply chain support and investment readiness support.

UK-based Black entrepreneurs with scalable businesses and an existing MVP (minimum viable product) are eligible to apply. Applicants must be over 18 years old. At least one founder of the business must be of Black African, Black Caribbean, Black British and/or Mixed-race descent.

Closing date: 2 June 2026 – the scheme may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received.
Find out more: F100 Growth Fund – BEO

Female Founder Accelerator

Are you a female founder leading a tech business thats ready to grow? The Female Founder Accelerator is designed by Barclays Eagle Labs and AccelerateHER to support 100 female founders like you, who are beyond idea stage and poised for growth. The aim is to bring more women into entrepreneurship and level the playing field.

Over nine weeks of masterclasses, you’ll learn about marketing strategies, sales and negotiation, financial management and building a team. Plus, you’ll get access to one-to-one mentoring, accountability groups, in-person community networking and the ability to connect with a community of like-minded female founders.

Closing date: 12 June 2026
Find out more: Female Founder Accelerator | Barclays Eagle Labs

Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition

Innovate UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have reopened the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition to support the commercialisation of innovations in agriculture.

The competition is linked to Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme and is intended to help solutions, technologies, systems or approaches reach market readiness. Supported projects are expected to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability and resilience, and contribute towards net zero emissions by 2050.

Defra has allocated up to £5 million for grant support for experimental development projects only. Each application must propose total eligible project costs between £750,000 and £3 million.

Proposals must address challenges or opportunities in at least one of these subsectors: livestock, plants, novel food production systems or the bioeconomy and agroforestry. The call is open to single applicants only. Lead applicants must be UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprises carrying out project work in the UK. Applicants must also be seeking private financing of at least twice the value of the grant requested.

Closing date: 17 June 2026 (11:00)
Find out more: Competition overview – Defra Farming Innovation Investor Partnership – Innovation Funding Service

AXA Startup Angel Competition

The AXA Startup Angel Competition is inviting entries from entrepreneurs across the UK seeking support to develop new or early stage businesses. The contest provides financial awards and mentoring to help applicants progress their ideas or existing ventures.

In 2026, six awards are available. Two winners will each receive £25,000 to support their business or concept. In addition, they will be offered mentoring from AXA Startup Angels. Four runners up will receive non-financial support. This includes a 30-minute mentoring session with a representative of The Standard in a relevant business area. They will also be featured in The Standard’s print and online channels.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over and based in the UK. Eligible businesses may be unregistered, actively trading or trading for fewer than 24 months. Businesses must employ fewer than 10 people and present an original concept. The awards are intended to support business development activities, including refining ideas and accessing professional advice.

Closing date: 21 June 2026 (23:59)
Find out more: AXA Startup Angel Competition Full Terms & Conditions | The Standard

Heat Pump Ready Innovation Funding Competition

The Heat Pump Ready Innovation Funding Competition is offering grant support for applied research and development projects focused on advancing heat pump technologies. The initiative aims to address barriers to uptake, including the capital cost of hardware, in-property changes, space requirements and installation time from accepted quote.

Up to £20 million is available, with individual awards ranging from £200,000 to £2 million. Funding is intended for the design, build and testing of electrically driven heat pump systems and components that use ambient heat from air, ground or water to provide heating and hot water in domestic buildings.

Applicants must be private sector organisations, either applying individually or as part of a consortium led by a private sector business. Projects must demonstrate innovation not yet commercially available in the UK and, where relevant, achieve a seasonal performance factor of at least 3.5 in real-world domestic settings.

Closing date: 25 June 2026 (13:00)
Find out more: Heat Pump Ready Programme Round 2: innovation funding competition – GOV.UK

Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition

The second round of the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition has opened to support further investment in the UK heat pump manufacturing supply chain. The initiative aims to strengthen domestic production, support the transition to low carbon heating and contribute to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Up to £90 million has been allocated across the competition, with individual projects able to receive grants of up to £30 million. The funding is intended for capital expenditure linked to large scale manufacturing developments. Support is available for the construction of new factories or the expansion, refurbishment, retooling or reworking of existing sites. Projects must focus on the production of heat pumps or key components, including heat exchangers, compressors, evaporators, control systems and thermal storage.

The competition is open to UK registered manufacturing businesses, as well as industrial and engineering firms investing in production capacity. All supported projects must take place within the UK.

Closing date: 5 August 2026 (15:00)
Find out more: Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition: round 2 – GOV.UK

Barclays Eagle Labs Scaleup Programme

Starting in September the Scaleup programme is designed for high-growth UK tech companies ready to tackle the challenges of scaling. Built around the real-life challenges that fast-growth companies face. Over four months, you will explore four key pillars of scaling:

Leadership, people and operational foundations
Scaling commercial performance
Customer value, retention and expansion
Funding Strategy and capital planning.

You’d benefit most if you:

Run a UK-based tech business
Have raised or are generating £2M+
Employ at least 10 people
Have big ambitions and are ready for rapid growth.

Closing date: August 2026

Find out more: Scaleup Programme | Barclays Eagle Labs

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: 31 March 2027

Business Advice for Mole Valley Businesses

Businesses across Mole Valley can now benefit from expert guidance provided by IncuHive, fully funded by Mole Valley District Council.

Whether you’re launching your first venture or growing an established company, IncuHive’s team of experienced advisers are on hand to offer practical, tailored support.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Business Advice – Mole Valley for Business

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: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Business Support Grants | Business Support Grants | Reigate and Banstead

Business Advice – Waverley

Waverley Borough Council fund IncuHive (who are specialists in small business development) to offer free tailored support to all local businesses in the borough of Waverley, including advice onbusiness planning, funding and mentoring. All the Incuhive advisors have started and grown successful businesses, so they can provide expert advice on growing your business, covering areas such as procurement, premises, marketing, finance, bid writing, exports and investment.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Grow your business

Business Advice – Guildford

Guildford Borough Council fund IncuHive (who are specialists in small business development) to offer free tailored support to all local businesses in the borough of Waverley, including advice onbusiness planning, funding and mentoring. All the Incuhive advisors have started and grown successful businesses, so they can provide expert advice on growing your business, covering areas such as procurement, premises, marketing, finance, bid writing, exports and investment.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Guildford Borough Council

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

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.