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Introduction
According to the November 2025 Labour Market Tracker from the Recruitment and Employment Federation (REC) the number of new jobs posted by UK businesses in October 2025 was 754,359, up by 2.1% from September 2025. Active job postings were also 7.5% higher in October 2025 when compared with October 2024.
The REC consider these figures to show that employer confidence in hiring is increasing this Autumn, but the job market recovery is still considered fragile and that plans for employers in the Government’s Autumn Budget could be make or break when it comes to encouraging UK businesses to invest further money into hiring new staff and boosting the overall economy.
The key areas employers are looking to be addressed in the Autumn Budget include:
i) Cost of Employment – Measures to help tackle the rising costs of employment
ii) Skills Support – An increased level of skills support and funding that actively matches the needs of businesses for their staff
iii) Employment Rights Bill – The incoming Bill does not create too much administrative burden or overall negative effects for businesses
Businesses looking to take on new staff or train up their existing staff can receive financial support in the form of grants to help reduce the overall burden of some of the 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) Training Grant
Invest in West Lothian is providing grants to businesses in the local area to invest in accredited training and upskilling. Applicant businesses need to be viable, have a plan for growth and operate in a higher-value sector such as construction, food and drink, manufacturing, engineering, technology and life sciences. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: 31st January 2026
ii) Greentech Business Growth Fund
Crawley Borough Council is making 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 can include specialist research, training, or consultancy and market development. Funding up to £50,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iii) Skills Advancement Grant
Invest Northern Ireland is providing a grant to help small businesses invest in building a highly skilled workforce through staff training and upskilling activities, developing a culture of continuous learning and improvement to boost company performance and competitiveness across Northern Ireland, the UK and into overseas export markets. Funding up to £15,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
iv) Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy Scheme
Inverclyde Council is providing funding to employers in the local area towards the costs of recruiting residents into new apprenticeship posts. The funding will cover wage costs for the first 18 months of the post. Funding up to £10,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
v) Future Works 2025/2026
Perth and Kinross Council is providing funding to employers towards the costs of recruiting Inverclyde residents into new apprenticeship posts. The funding will cover wage costs for the first 18 months of the post. Funding up to £8,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
vi) Small Business Adaptation Grants
Derbyshire Dales District Council are allowing local businesses to apply for funding to support investments which will assist business diversification, growth, adaptation and long term resilience. Eligible expenditure can include buying-in bespoke training necessary to upskill the workforce and address skills shortages including training for business owners, employers, managers or employees. Funding up to £6,500 is available.
Application Deadline: 28th February 2026
vii) Future Apprentices for Business Grants Programme
Wigan Council in conjunction with Wigan Works are running a scheme that aims to help local employers invest in their business, meet recruitment needs and attract a higher calibre of applicants to apprenticeship roles. Apprentices can be selected from a talent pool of individuals identified by the council’s employment and skills programmes. Funding up to £5,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
viii) Small Business Growth Grant
Wyre Council is providing a scheme that will support business growth projects that safeguard existing jobs or help create new jobs. Eligible funding includes training for staff members, or assistance in gaining accreditation for professionals or gaining membership to a recognised professional body. Funding up to £5,000 is available.
Application Deadline: Applications are invited on an ongoing basis
How To Apply For Recruit and Develop Staff 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 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/