A General Guide to UK Grants

Grants are available for a variety of projects, but each individual scheme will offer funding for a specific purpose. Most grants will cover at least one of the following:

- advertising
- attending exhibitions and marketing
- business expansion and relocation
- business start-up and trial trading
- capital equipment
- co-operatives and community enterprises
- consultancy or expertise
- environmental improvements
- exporting
- improving business premises
- information technology and e-commerce
- manufacturing
- recruitment and training
- research and development
- technology and innovation

There are often key criteria that your business will have to meet if it is to be eligible for a grant.

At a local and region-wide level, grants may be available from organisations such as Business Link, your Local Authority or County Council, the Government Office for the East, the East of England Development Agency,  Chambers of Commerce,  Learning and Skills Council.

Nationally, grants are available from various Government departments and agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Trade Partners UK, DEFRA.

All grants have specific terms and conditions that must be followed. Failure to do so may result in immediate repayment of any funding given.  Grants are not usually given in retrospect or for works that have commenced prior to receiving approval from the grant provider.

To apply for a grant, contact the awarding body and check that your project meets the specified criteria of the scheme.  It is important to remember that you will be required to prove that your business has a genuine need for grant assistance.  A detailed business plan will be the cornerstone of your grant application.

Back to Grants Home for details of specific grant schemes.