Startup grants in the UK
Getting a new business off the ground is easier with funding you don't have to repay — but startup grants are scattered across national schemes, local councils and innovation bodies, each with different rules about company age, location and founder. Subvention brings them together and matches the live ones to your new company, with a link to every official source.
Grants change frequently — always confirm eligibility, amounts and deadlines with the funder via the linked source. Subvention does not guarantee funding.
What startup grants are
Startup grants support early-stage and recently formed businesses with money for equipment, premises, training, product development or growth. Most expect an active company and some matched funding, and several are aimed at specific founders or regions. Alongside true grants, two government-backed routes are worth knowing: Start Up Loans from the British Business Bank (£500–£25,000 per founder, with free mentoring) and The King's Trust for founders aged 18–30 (grants typically up to around £5,000, plus support).
Where startup funding comes from
Local and regional schemes — delivered through councils, Growth Hubs and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund — are often the most accessible for new businesses, commonly offering a few hundred to a few thousand pounds, and sometimes up to around £40,000, for equipment, premises or training. Innovation grants from Innovate UK suit startups building something genuinely new. Sector and regional programmes add funding for net zero, the creative industries, rural businesses and specific nations and regions.
What Subvention covers
One search runs across GOV.UK Find a Grant, the British Business Bank, Innovate UK and UKRI, the devolved agencies, regional Growth Hubs and combined authorities, and council schemes — 49 sources, refreshed daily and colour-coded by region — so the funding relevant to a business of your age, size and location rises to the top.
How the matching works
Enter your company name and we pull your Companies House profile — including how recently you were incorporated, which matters for startup schemes. Tick what you want to fund and we return a ranked, explained shortlist, each match linked to the source with the date we last checked it, and any eligibility risks flagged up front.
Free to search
Search and matching are free. One-off passes add saved grants, alerts and deadline reminders for when you're actively applying.
Frequently asked questions
- What startup grants can a new UK business get?
- New businesses can look at local council and Growth Hub grants, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Innovate UK competitions, and founder-specific support like The King's Trust, alongside Start Up Loans. Subvention matches the live ones to your company.
- Are there grants specifically for new companies?
- Yes — many local and regional schemes target businesses trading for under three years, and some national support is aimed at younger founders. Subvention uses your incorporation date to flag these.
- Do startup grants need to be repaid?
- Grants don't, but be clear on the difference: Start Up Loans, for example, are repayable government-backed loans, not grants. Subvention labels what each one is and links to the terms.
- How much funding can a startup get?
- Local grants are often a few hundred to a few thousand pounds (sometimes up to around £40,000), while innovation grants can be much larger. Confirm amounts on each funder's page.
- Is the startup grant search free?
- Yes — search and eligibility matching are free, with optional one-off passes when you're applying.