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Introduction
According to the CIPD Quarterly Labour Market Outlook Summer 2025, only 57% of private sector businesses plan to recruit staff in the next 3 months over Autumn 2025, which is down from 65% in Autumn 2024. These figures are considered to be at record low levels outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The main reason for the decline in planned hiring activity is due to the rise in cost pressure on employers, with 36% of employers stating the increase in national insurance contributions (NICs) that came into place in April 2025 having the biggest impact. The other high impact cost pressures cited were that 15% of employers are struggling with the overall increase in energy costs running their business and means spending needs to be cut in other areas such as hiring staff and 12% of businesses are most affected by minimum wage increases.
Businesses looking to take on new staff or train up their existing staff can receive financial support in the form of grants to help address some of the increase in costs. Funding is available in local areas 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 Recruit and Develop Staff Funding Opportunities Available?
i) Conwy Supporting Local Business Key Fund
Conwy County Borough Council is running a UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) backed fund that will enable the provision of grants to support economic growth, sustainability and the creation and safeguarding of jobs. Eligible costs include training and job creation activity that supports new-to-firm innovation, productivity-enhancing activities, energy efficient and low carbon technologies and techniques. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 30th November 2025
ii) Business Growth Grant
Derbyshire Dales District is running a scheme that aims to assist manufacturing and engineering businesses with business diversification, growth, adaptation and long term resilience. Eligible expenditure includes specialist consultancy services and bespoke training that can help expand business activities. Funding up to £40,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 28th February 2026
iii) Gwynedd Business Resilience Grant – Round 2
Gwynedd Council is running a scheme that aims to support businesses to implement activities that build long-term resilience and adaptability. Eligible projects include those that protect existing jobs and create new jobs. Funding up to £15,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 17th October 2025
iv) Pre-Start Grant
Swansea Council is running a scheme that aims to support pre-start businesses and can fund costs related to training and accreditation activities. The fund offers up to 95% of the project costs for the first £1,000 of expenditure and 50% for expenditure between £1,000 and £10,000.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
v) Fife Investment Fund
Business Gateway Fife and Fife Council are running a fund supporting local businesses that are looking to invest in and grow their business or progress towards Net Zero. Eligible costs include training and bespoke support aimed at helping businesses achieve energy efficiency or growth goals. Funding up to £10,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vi) Grants 4 Growth Business Support Grant
Cannock Chase District Council is running a scheme providing funding to support expenditure that will contribute to growth of businesses in the local area and help create and safeguard jobs. Eligible costs include the upskilling of employees. Funding up to £10,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 18th December 2025
vii) Enterprising Ashfield Graduate and Talent Support
Nottingham Trent University and Enterprising Ashfield is offering funding to local businesses towards the cost of 12-week graduate placements to help support new talent development and foster business growth. Funding up to £7,500 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
viii) Building Futures Grant – Enhanced
Apprenticeships Norfolk is running a UKSPF backed scheme that aims to help non-levy paying businesses unable to take on an apprentice due to financial barriers and practical support to hire individuals for green apprenticeships. The funding will cover the first 18 weeks of the apprenticeship. Funding up to £5,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 19th December 2025
How To Apply For Recruit and Develop 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 individuals and 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 Recruit and Develop Staff Funding Opportunities?
If you want to see the full set of UK recruit and develop staff funding currently available, please visit https://getbusinessgrants.com/