Grants for sole traders
118 live grants, deadlines from 11 Jun 2026 to 30 Sept 2030. Updated daily.
Sole traders and the self-employed can apply for grant funding — but the picture is different from a limited company. In the UK funding system a sole trader is treated as an individual carrying on a business, so the grants open to you are those that accept individuals and unincorporated businesses, plus the many general business grants that don't require a company structure. Fewer grants are written specifically for sole traders, which is exactly why a matched search helps: rather than reading every scheme's small print, you see the live grants that accept your set-up. Typical funding includes equipment and tools, training and skills, local council and Growth Hub support, and innovation grants for a specific project. This page lists live grants tagged as open to individuals and sole traders; for the full set of business funding — much of which also accepts sole traders — see business grants.
Grants change frequently — always confirm eligibility, amounts and deadlines with the funder via the linked source. Subvention does not guarantee funding.
Who qualifies
If you're self-employed and registered with HMRC as a sole trader, you're eligible to apply for any grant that accepts individuals or unincorporated businesses, and for general business grants that don't specify a company structure. Some innovation and regional schemes ask for an active, trading business but don't mind whether you're incorporated. Always check each grant's eligibility on the funder's own page — Subvention links to it for every result.
What's typically funded
Common areas include equipment and machinery, premises and fit-out, training and qualifications, going greener, and developing a new product or service. Local council and Growth Hub grants — often backed by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund — are usually the most accessible, while Innovate UK competitions suit sole traders working on something genuinely innovative.
Live grants for this group
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Frequently asked questions
- Can a sole trader get a business grant in the UK?
- Yes. Sole traders can apply for grants that accept individuals or unincorporated businesses, and for many general business grants that don't require a limited company. Subvention shows the live ones open to your set-up and links to each source.
- Are there grants only for sole traders?
- A few schemes are aimed specifically at sole traders or the self-employed, but most relevant funding is general business or local support that happens to accept them. That's why a matched search is useful — it surfaces the ones you qualify for.
- Do I need to be VAT-registered or incorporated?
- Usually not. Most grants require an active, trading business rather than a particular structure or VAT status, though individual schemes set their own rules. Confirm on the funder's page before applying.
- Where do sole-trader grants come from?
- Mainly local councils and Growth Hubs (often via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund), Innovate UK for innovation projects, and devolved agencies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.