|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Introduction
The Federation of Small Business has released its latest Small Business Index collating the sentiment of UK small businesses from the first quarter of 2025.
According to the businesses surveyed in Q1 of 2025, 47.8% projected that they will grow over the next 12 months, this is up from 43.4% in Q4 of 2024. This shows a slight decrease in negative sentiment, but still conveys concern about the current tough economic conditions in the UK, meaning businesses are still showing caution when planning for growth.
A total of 65% of businesses surveyed in Q1 2025 identified the weakness of the domestic UK economy as their main barrier to growth. The next biggest concerns were increased tax burden at 40%, high labour costs at 35% and low consumer demand at 32%.
Businesses who are looking to increase their growth prospects can apply for funding support, such as Government backed grants from providers in their local area, these include local authorities and enterprise support agencies. There is also support from national funding providers that cover growth for businesses in a particular sector. One of the main current sources of growth funding is the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which has been distributed across all regions of the UK in order to support SMEs in local areas.
What Are Some Of the Latest UK Business Growth and Development Funding Opportunities Available?
i) Keighley and Shipley Towns Fund
Invest in Bradford is providing funding to businesses in the local area to support investment projects that create new businesses, improve productivity and expand or diversify existing businesses leading to sustainable growth and job creation. Businesses who are based in Baildon, Bingley, Ilkley, Keighley, Shipley and Silsden are all eligible to apply. Funding up to £315,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
ii) The Content Fund 2025
UK Games Talent and the UK Government is running a scheme that aims to support projects to develop commercial games-for-entertainment with potential to secure a commercial audience at scale for developers across the UK. Eligible projects must have a prototype in place. Funding up to £150,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 31st March 2026
iii) Suffolk Economy Grant
Suffolk County Council is running a scheme providing funding to micro, small, and medium-sized businesses to support digital transformation and technology adoption, growth and development, innovation, and decarbonisation and sustainability. Grants of £2,500 to £10,000 are available for micro firms, grants of £5,000 to £50,000 are available for small businesses and grants of £10,000 to £100,000 are available for medium firms.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iv) West Northamptonshire Rural Business Grant
Ngage Solutions and West Northamptonshire Council is running a scheme providing funding to support capital projects for businesses in rural areas, including activities relating to tourism initiatives, food and drink processing, forestry and other rural enterprise activity that diversifies away from traditional agricultural activity. Funding up to £75,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 31st March 2026
v) Durham Business Growth Programme – Hybrid Grants
Durham Business Growth is running a programme that aims to support businesses to improve their productivity, reduce their carbon footprint or accelerate their growth. There are hybrid grants on offer that provide funding for both capital and revenue-based projects in the local area. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 31st March 2026
vi) Stafford Borough Business Growth Grant
Stafford Borough Council is running a scheme that aims to support micro, small, and medium sized businesses to grow. Eligible costs can include, but are not limited to, website design and digital projects, marketing materials, capital equipment, fitting out of new or existing premises, upskilling of employees and decarbonisation. Funding up to £25,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 30th November 2025
vii) Business Development Grant
Derbyshire Dales District Council is providing a scheme for local businesses to apply for funding to support investments which will assist business diversification, growth, adaptation and long term resilience. Eligible expenditure can include specialist consultancy services, digital adoption, bespoke training and new equipment or technology. Eligible sectors include manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, biotechnology, hospitality, food, engineering, digital technology, services and tourism. Funding up to £25,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 28th February 2026
viii) Elevate Worcestershire Grant
Worcestershire County Council is running a scheme that aims to enable businesses in the local area to undertake strategic initiatives that can lead to increased competitiveness. Eligible expenditure can include, but is not limited to, machinery and equipment, marketing and website development and relocation. Funding up to £10,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
How To Apply For Business Growth and Development 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 growth and development 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 Business Growth and Development Funding Opportunities?
If you want to see the full set of UK business growth and development funding currently available, please visit https://getbusinessgrants.com/