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Introduction
According to a June 2025 Business Trends report from BDO, it has been revealed that the UK employment market is currently stagnating at a 13-year low. The Employment Index fell again in June 2025 to 94.22 from 94.32 the previous month. What this means in real terms is that hiring activity remains subdued across UK businesses as they face continued cost pressures, with one of the most notable issues affecting hiring decisions coming from the increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) introduced in April 2025.
The report also revealed that payrolled employment figures fell by 109,000 in May 2025, which was almost twice the drop seen in April, pointing to a possible acceleration in job losses.
In order to help with the costs required to recruit new staff, protect existing jobs or to train and upskill staff, businesses may seek grants from councils, enterprise support agencies and universities and colleges. Businesses can receive funding to help train and develop new skills for their existing employees, create new job roles, take on apprentices or have graduate or intern placements. In many cases match funding from the employer is required to part pay new salaries or for training courses and activities.
What Are Some Of the Latest UK Recruiting and Developing Staff Funding Opportunities Available?
i) Invest to Grow Grants
The University of Derby is running a programme that provides funding towards the cost of investments to create long term sustainable job and business growth in the East Midlands for the manufacturing, biotechnology, construction, creative, environmental, food and transport sectors. Funding is available to create new jobs and safeguard existing jobs. Funding up to £250,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
ii) Business Growth Grant
Carmarthenshire County Council is providing funding to businesses in the local area with plans to grow and/or ensure sustainability. The funding can cover costs including equipment, fixtures and fittings, IT hardware, specialist software and training for staff. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 30th September 2025
iii) Walsall Business Support
Walsall Business Support is providing funding for businesses who are seeking assistance with growth projects, tackling skills shortages and increasing job opportunities. Grants and free training needs analysis support is available. Funding up to £25,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iv) Falkirk Growth Fund
Falkirk Council is running a scheme that aims to support business growth projects which will bring economic benefit to the area and protect jobs. Eligible expenditure can include the purchase of new equipment, plant and machinery, property expansion or improvements, exhibiting at trade exhibitions, Development of new products, services and processes and training of staff. Funding up to £15,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
v) Hospitality and Tourism Worker Incentive – Employee Relocation Incentive
The Isle of Man Department for Enterprise is providing funding for hospitality and tourism businesses towards the costs incurred in recruiting and relocating off-Island employees where it has not been possible to recruit locally. Funding up to £10,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vi) Enterprise Development Grant
Ashfield District Council is running a scheme providing funding to support businesses with a viable growth plan which will lead to new jobs being created. Eligible costs include, but are not limited to, capital expenditures that increase productivity and efficiency, Specialist training and accreditation for staff and support with accessing new markets/supply chain. Funding up to £10,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 31st October 2025
vii) Tay Cities SME Skills Fund
Dundee and Angus College is providing funding for small businesses in the Tay Cities region to apply for grants to access training from the scheme’s partner training providers to upskill or re-skill their workforces. Funding up to £5,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
viii) Young Apprenticeship Grant
Lancashire County Council is providing a scheme with funding to employers to support either a new recruit or an existing staff member under 25 to undertake an apprenticeship in industrial sectors, including aerospace and manufacturing. Funding up to £3,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
How To Apply For Recruiting and Developing Staff Schemes
Full details about how to apply for schemes and the eligibility criteria is available on each individual scheme page on the relevant website. Any deadlines, who can apply and what eligible costs the grants will cover will also be outlined on these pages. Interested businesses can speak to funding advisors based at each provider who can guide them through requirements and eligibility criteria to see if the relevant funding is a match with their needs and help them to apply. There are also application forms and other supporting guidance available on scheme pages as well.
Want To Find The Latest UK Recruiting and Developing Staff Funding Opportunities?
If you want to see the full set of UK recruiting and developing staff funding currently available, please visit https://getbusinessgrants.com/