The lowdown on government grants for businesses

Government grants for small business

Government funding for small businesses aims to assist in a business’s development, with the funds often used to invest in new equipment, train staff members, or help to break into new markets.

Often, a government grant will be allocated for a specific project or purpose and will have conditions that state how the funds can be used.

A government grant for business owners differs from a loan, as a grant does not need to be repaid.

To apply for a new government grant for your business, you’ll need to check the individual requirements, but as standard, you’ll need:

• A business plan
• A budget plan to show how the funds would be spent

Government self-employed grant

What about government self-employed grants for tradespeople looking to expand their business?

Perhaps you need financial support to recruit and train new employees. One way to do this is through the apprenticeship scheme, for which you can apply for government help.

Another way to receive funding for your self-employed business is through a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). There are 38 of these across England, where local authorities and businesses pull together to provide business funding, support, and guidance in their region.

The most comprehensive list of government grants for business can be found on the gov.uk site. Here, you can filter the funding available depending on:

• Business stage (start-up or established)
• Industry
• Number of employees
• Region

Gov grant for energy

There are government funding schemes available for homeowners aimed at improving energy efficiency, for example, boiler upgrades, solar panels, and heat pumps.

For businesses looking for a government grant for energy efficiency improvements in the workplace, check out the Low Carbon Workspaces scheme (please note this is location dependent).

Start-up grants

If you’re looking to start up a trade business, you might be wondering what funding is available to help get your venture off the ground.

The best place to search for government grants for business start-ups is the gov.uk finance and support page. Filter by ‘start up’ and ‘region’ to find the most suitable options for your business.

Take some inspiration from one of our member’s stories:

Nigel’s story to starting up his decorating business

Business startup grants for over 30s

The government grant schemes are available for all age groups, which is great news if you’re looking to change careers and become your own boss.

Read our guide to retraining as a tradesperson at 40.

FAQs

What grants are available in Wales?

You’ll find a comprehensive list of what grants are available in Wales on the Welsh Government website.

Are there grants in the UK?

Yes, there are grants in the UK. Applications are launched and closed throughout the year, so check out the gov.uk finance and support page for available grants.