|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Introduction
According to the 2025 State of UK Business Survey by the Boston Consulting Group, 83% of business leaders surveyed stated they feel confident about their business’ prospects over the next 12 months, this is a small increase when compared with last year’s figure of 80%. It is also the case that business expectation on profit growth has gone up slightly this year, with 56% of business leaders surveyed expecting to see their profits go up, compared with 51% in 2024.
One of the main challenges UK businesses may face when achieving their growth goals over the next 12 months is a rise in the overall cost of doing business. The main counter for businesses in addressing these cost increases is to cut non-essential costs. A total of 41% of business leaders surveyed plan to reduce non-essential costs in 2025, this is a figure that has almost doubled over the last 2 years when cost cutting plans were at just 22% in 2023.
An additional way businesses can get help towards meeting their growth goals is by applying for grant funding from Government backed providers, such as local authorities and enterprise support agencies.
Here Is A Selection Of The Latest Business Growth Funding Schemes
i) Growing Places Fund – Business Growth Capital Investment Programme
Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership is providing grants to support businesses in Hull to invest in infrastructure, technology, and other capital projects that will stimulate growth and create jobs. Funding up to £250,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 31st March 2026
ii) Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s Innovation Service – Business Growth
Highlands and Islands Enterprise can provide support and match funding to help businesses get their innovation and growth projects off the ground. Projects could include a process change to improve productivity, adapting a business model to open up new ways of reaching customers, reducing waste and inefficiency to operate more sustainably, or opening up a whole new market through business diversification. Funding up to £100,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iii) Nelson Town Deal Grants
Pendle Borough Council is running a scheme to help manufacturing businesses in Nelson to become more resilient and help them grow. The funding will cover investments in new plant or machinery, energy efficiency/carbon reduction and premises improvements or adaptations. Funding up to £100,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iv) Greentech Business Growth Fund
Crawley Borough Council has funding available to support businesses that operate in the green-tech or low-carbon sectors to support projects and investments that will enable business growth and generate jobs. Eligible costs include investments in business premises, facilities, or equipment, product development, specialist research, training, or consultancy and market development. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
v) Small Business Assistance Special Grant Award
East Renfrewshire Council is providing funding for businesses that have been trading for over 12 months who can demonstrate the ability to grow their income and workforce by at least 10% within 12 months of receipt of the grant. Businesses can access funding towards costs including new equipment, IT hardware purchases, tooling costs, property extensions or improvements and exhibiting at home or overseas. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vi) Business Development Fund – Capital and Revenue
Caerphilly County Borough Council is running a UK Shared Prosperity Fund backed scheme that aims to support development activities for new and existing SMEs to achieve long-term goals through quantifiable economic, environmental and social outputs to add value to their operations. Businesses are encouraged to outline how they will either re-launch their business, develop it in innovative new ways and help create new jobs. Funding up to £20,000 is available (split between a £2,000 revenue element and £18,000 capital element).
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vii) Walsall Business Support
Walsall Business Support is providing a scheme for businesses in the local area to seek assistance with growth projects, tackling skills shortages and increasing job opportunities. Interested businesses can apply for grants and a free training needs analysis. Funding up to £25,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
viii) South Kesteven Business Growth Grants
South Kesteven District Council is providing funding to help businesses support productive investment and service improvements and achieve business growth and diversification. Eligible expenditure can include product development, promoting South Kesteven from within the visitor economy, purchasing advanced technology and feasibility studies. Funding up to £5,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
How To Apply For Business Growth Funding 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 specialists 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 More UK Business Growth Funding Opportunities?
If you want to see the full set of UK business growth funding currently available, please visit https://getbusinessgrants.com/