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 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.

Businesses and residents anywhere in the Highlands and Islands can take advantage of the UK Governments £67million Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to contribute to the installation cost of a full fibre connection. Individual businesses can claim up to £3,500 towards the cost of connection. They can apply individually or join with nearby businesses and/or residential premises to make a group application. Residents, who can apply alongside a business, can claim for a voucher up to £1500. This is a great opportunity for businesses to get access to full fibre connections, which can provide a huge leap forward in connection speeds. It offers businesses with a critical need for extended bandwidth an option to get the kind of connection they need.

The Reach Fund is a two year £4million grant programme that is funded by Access - The foundation for Social Investment and is available to social enterprises in England. The programme aims to test a new model for investment readiness support. Investment readiness has long been recognised as an issue that prevents charities and social enterprises from accessing social investment. This programme provides grant funding of up to £15,000 to pay for the support required for these organisations to become investment ready. To be eligible for funding organisations must be referred to Reach by their social investor (an approved access point) and complete the diagnostic tool on the website.

Advanced Innovation Voucher awards are aimed at building sustained relationships between small and medium sized companies (SMEs) and universities in Scotland who have previously worked together and jointly received funding. The proposed collaborative project should lead to new products, services and processes that will benefit the company, the university and the Scottish economy. Grant awards of £5,000 up to £20,000 are available for individual projects. Projects can be a continuation of the previous partnership, demonstrating further innovation (i.e. novel/pioneering ideas) or new collaborations in a new area with a research group drawn from a different department or institution.

Regular Funding is one of Creative Scotland's three routes to funding for arts, screen and creative organisations. Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs) are a network of organisations across Scotland which, individually and collectively, form an important part of Scotland's cultural sector, making a significant contribution to society: creatively, socially and economically. Regular Funding provides 3-year funding for organisations, and is one of the key means by which the ambitions, priorities and connecting themes highlighted in the Creative Scotland 10 Year Plan are be addressed. It provides stable support for a range of organisations and consortia across Scotland who make an important contribution to the development of the arts, screen and creative industries, enabling them to plan and deliver activities over a 3-year period.

Through the Scottish Rural Development Programme, the Scottish Government provides grants for small farmers to make improvements to their holdings, help to sustain their businesses and reduce production costs. Funding for eligible capital projects can cover all aspects of the project including the cost of materials; transportation of materials; costs of contractors and own labour and capital projects, such as the construction or improvement of agricultural buildings. Examples of projects include improving stock control; protecting crops from damage by deer; wintering of livestock; storing winter fodder and improving grassland management.

The Northern Periphery Programme 2014-20  aims to help peripheral and remote communities on the northern margins of Europe to develop their economic, social and environmental potential.  During the period 2014-2020, the Programme will allocate approximately €56 million of ERDF to Projects and will focus on using innovation to maintain and develop robust and competitive communities;  promoting entrepreneurship to realise the potential of the programme area's competitive advantage;  fostering energy-secure communities through promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency; and protecting, promoting and developing cultural and natural heritage.

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has a £100,000 prize fund for  disabled entrepreneurs in the UK to further the growth of their business, and become Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year.  To be eligible to enter individuals must be registered with a disability; own at least 50% of the business; the business must have been started since 2010; and the business must be registered in the UK. This Award is sponsored by Sir Stelios Hajiloannou, the entrepreneur best known for founding easyJet and is run by Leonard Cheshire which works to serve disabled people around the world.