If you’re considering applying for a grant to provide your business with valuable financial support, it’s important to be aware of how grants are allocated and how likely you are to get one. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is grant funding?
Grant funding is when a business is awarded a sum of money by the Government or a private organisation to use for a specific purpose. Unlike a business loan, business grants do not need to be repaid, and no interest will be charged. You also won’t need to give away a share of your business in exchange.
Some grants will require a level of matched funding for the project, so be sure to check. If that’s the case, you will be required to invest a percentage or the equivalent amount of the grant in your business.
What is grant fundable?
There are hundreds of grants available in the UK, but they will usually be aimed at specific industries, community groups, geographies or types of business. You might be able to get a grant for any of the following:
- Start-up grants to help cover the cost of setting up your business.
- Grants for taking on an apprentice, giving you financial help to train an apprentice in your small business.
- Innovation grants to support innovative ideas and business growth – these are provided by Innovate UK.
- Grants to transform the UK’s heritage, including investment in museums, parks and historic places. Take a look at The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
- Grants to help young people start and run their own business – for example, the Prince’s Trust.
- Grants to help businesses become more environmentally friendly, such as by installing energy efficiency measures – these are known as sustainability grants or green grants.
- Grants for installing high-speed broadband. Businesses in rural areas might qualify for vouchers towards the cost of installing new gigabit-capable connections.
- Business grants for women – every year Innovate UK offers at least 20 Women in Innovation Awards to female entrepreneurs across the UK as part of a Government-backed funding competition.
There are also 38 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) across England. These are business led partnerships between local authorities and businesses that provide
Additionally, there are R&D Tax Credits which are provided by the Government to encourage businesses to carry out research and development projects related to science or technology. This incentive is a way for businesses to receive a cash back without paying interest.
How does the Government allocate funding?
The Government will generally only allocate funding to businesses that meet specific requirements. For example, your business might need to be:
- Located in a certain region – separate regions in the UK have their own schemes that focus on companies in that particular area.
- A certain size – some grants might be restricted to businesses with fewer than 250 employees, for instance, while others might be limited to companies that have fewer than 50 employees.
- Have been trading for a set number of months or years.
The decision will also be based on factors such as the type of business you run and what sector you’re in. Grants will usually only be given to meet a specific goal or support a specific project, so you’ll need to be able to show how the grant will help your business to achieve its aim.
Bear in mind that many Government-backed grants usually align with specific policies or targets. These might include reaching net zero or ‘levelling up’.
How many grant applicants get funding?
Although there are more than 400 Government grants available for small businesses in the UK, competition to get one is fierce. Most grants are awarded to help businesses grow from start-ups to established businesses.
The number of applicants that are successful will depend on the type of grant and the size of the funding pot. If it’s relatively small or if the eligibility criteria is very niche, only a handful of businesses might get funding.
On the flipside, grants that cover the loss of income, for instance, might be available to many more businesses. As an example, Government figures show that during the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of smaller businesses across the whole of England received £21.3 billion through the Government’s Covid-19 Local Authority Business Support Grants scheme.
Get started with our partner Swoop
If you’d like additional support with finding the right business grant for you and assistance in applying, the team at Swoop can help.
By registering with Swoop and entering your company information in the ‘grant funding’ section of your Swoop account, you will be able to see available grants to apply for. Simply choose the one that best suits your business needs and you’ll then be sent through to the application page for the relevant grant provider to make your application.
How do I apply?
It’s crucial that you check the eligibility criteria for each grant carefully to ensure you qualify before you apply. If you do, and you’re happy to apply, you will need to have all the required details and documents to hand.
For a start, you should have a solid and realistic business plan with sales projections, cash flow and loss forecasts. Make sure your business plan is also tailored for the grant you’re applying for. If you are already trading, you’ll also need to provide bank statements as evidence of your finances.
Prepare your application as early as you can to ensure you don’t miss the deadline. Understand why the grant is being awarded and make sure your application refers to these objectives. Explain exactly what your business will use the money for and what success looks like. Be as specific as you can.
It can also be worth getting a second opinion from a mentor, senior colleague or expert and make sure you proofread and spell check your application before you submit it.
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