Grant Directories

Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE) supports visionary creative entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-30 who are driven by a mission to create and sustain social value through their enterprise. Through the programme Deutsche Bank aims to reach ambitious individuals from all backgrounds with ideas that will improve the lives of others and the communities we live in. An award from DBACE includes up to £20,000 investment to start or grow the enterprise; 12 months business support with MeWe360 and Deutsche Bank’s high calibre industry & business mentors; recognition and the opportunity to raise your profile within the industry; access to peer and influential industry contacts; leverage to bring in additional funding and access to further investment opportunities; specially tailored business and leadership training for the cohort of winners.

The Oli Bennett Charitable Trust provides small grants for young people starting their own business. Through their Young Entrepreneur Grants, the Trust provides funding of up to £2,000 to help young people aged between eighteen and thirty, from all backgrounds across the UK, get their business ideas off the ground and turned into sustainable, profitable organisations, whatever their scale. Support is for new or very young businesses and the Trust prefers to provide funds for buying a business asset rather than towards general expenses. All applicants need to supply a business plan which must include a profit and loss and cash forecast. Applications can be made at any time.

VisitScotland is the national tourism organisation for Scotland which aims to contribute significantly to the advancement of Scottish tourism. Scotland’s Improvement Districts offer local businesses up to £20,000 to help set up Tourism Business Improvement Districts across Scotland to support the growth and development of their area’s tourism industry. Specialist advice and guidance on how to do so is also provided. They will also work in close collaboration with the businesses involved during the development process and when the Improvement District is operating.

The Geovation Accelerator Programme allows the Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry the opportunity to make it easier for businesses to use their data. The programme aims to help launch and grow innovative solutions to social, environmental and economic challenges that harness the power of data and technology. The programme will provide grant funding of up to £10,000 over 6 months with the opportunity for a further £10,000 of funding to build a product. The programme will also provide a wide range of support services. The programme has two streams: The Geotech stream is the call for any tech company creating location-based products and services; The Proptech stream is run in partnership with HM Land Registry. It supports innovative technology businesses to revolutionise the property industry using property and geospatial data.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Enterprise Fellowship Scheme provides support to researchers and innovators with promising technology-based business ideas. Awards consist of one year's salary, expert training in entrepreneurship and access to mentorship from business Fellows of the RSE and other successful business community entrepreneurs. Support for business ideas across a wide range of commercial sectors is available. Awards are specifically designed to support graduates and academic researchers.

Bethnal Green Ventures (BGV) is an accelerator programme, early-stage investor and support network for ambitious technology start-ups that are tackling problems in the areas of health, education, sustainability, civic engagement, tech to support young people, workertech. BGV's accelerator programme invests in and supports teams with new ideas through an intensive three-month programme. Supported teams may include software developers, designers or people with personal experience of something they want to change - from teachers and doctors, to patients and carers. BGV looks for early-stage ideas with the potential to help millions of people. Teams of between two and four people selected to be part of the BGV programme will benefit from a £60,000 investment in exchange for 7% equity. BGV also provides a three month programme of support and advice to help build, test and launch each start-up.

The Childcare Fund scheme is funded by Shetland Islands Council and managed in partnership with Shetland Childcare Partnership. The scheme is designed to support partner providers delivering pre-school education service and voluntary and private sector organisations registered to provide Day Care and/or Out of School Care. The aim of the scheme is to help to maintain, grow, develop and improve the services provided in this sector. Eligible organisations can apply for items such as car insurance and car safety seats (where a vehicle is used to deliver a childcare service); learning materials and resources; toys and outdoor equipment; non statutory training; works or equipment required to comply with Fire Safety, Health and Safety.

Funded by Shetland Islands Council and managed in partnership with Shetland Childcare Partnership, this grant scheme is designed to support Childminding Services in Shetland. The scheme can support local Childminders to start up, continue to provide or develop and improve a Childminding Service. The aim of the scheme is to help to maintain, grow, develop and improve the services of Shetland's Childminders. Examples of eligible expenditure include: Public liability and car insurance; membership of Scottish Childminding Association; subscriptions to Childcare publications; toy and outdoor resources; IT equipment; printer ink and admin resources; car safety seats; fire safety resources; works and/or equipment to meet Health and Safety requirements; work to meet standards required by the Care Inspectorate; accountancy fees.

The Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation scheme supports suppliers and producers whilst enabling them to contribute to the Scottish Government's overall vision for food and drink in Scotland to make Scotland healthier, wealthier and smarter, with stronger communities and production that is socially and environmentally sustainable. Through this scheme, supplier and producers can apply for start-up grants for a new business or development grants for an existing business. Capital and non-capital costs may be funded, examples of activities include developing or creating food processing facilities, including buildings and equipment; marketing products in home and export markets; running co-operative ventures to make sure more value is retained by both farmers and growers; improving supply-chain efficiency

The Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme offers social entrepreneurs the best possible chance of success by providing access to support and funding. To date 1,000 social entrepreneurs in the UK have been supported via this programme. The Programme is a package of support that includes three different elements; an inspirational and practical 14-day course, a business mentor from Lloyds Banking Group and a grant. The content of the course and the size of the grant award will vary depending on whether the applicant joins Start Up or Scale Up. Eligibility for each depends on the stage of development of the applicant's organisation.

Scottish EDGE is a funding competition aimed at identifying Scotland's top young, early stage and high growth potential entrepreneurs. Companies that demonstrate the most potential can win awards of up to £150,000 and access additional support for their business.

The Scottish Venture Fund invests in companies from start ups, early-stage to expanding businesses seeking funding to develop products and/or markets. The fund is not sector-specific but the following may be restricted: property development; Social and personal services; Pubs, clubs and restaurants; Local services; Banking and insurance; Motor vehicles; Nuclear decommissioning; Professional services; and Retail. Other activities may be restricted from time to time, in line with European Regional Development Fund.

The SCF is designed to address a finance gap alongside its accredited co-investment partners. Investment can be made in companies from start up, growth to expansion into new products and/or markets. The fund is not sector-specific but the following may be restricted: Property development; Social and personal services; Pubs, clubs and restaurants; Local services; Banking and insurance; Motor vehicles; Nuclear decommissioning; Professional services; and Retail. Other activities may be restricted from time to time, in line with European Regional Development Fund

The Enterprise Programme supports young people to explore and test their business idea and launch their business or move into education, training or employment. They provide support and personal mentoring helping people to learn the skills and knowledge required to start up a business including business planning, marketing, sales, raising capital, budgeting and tax.