Finance and support for your business

The most suitable finance option for your business depends on many things, including:

how much funding you need
your current business revenue or if you’re a new business
whether or not you’re willing to offer personal assets as security – this can make it easier to get funding but is risky if you’re not able to maintain payments
whether or not you own a business property – this can make it easier to get funding
whether or not you’re willing to sell shares

In this guide, we have compiled a range of useful local, regional and national funding and finance schemes.

In addition, our team is on hand and can support you with any queries through our dedicated Staffordshire Business Helpline – 0300 111 8002.

Local Funding and Finance Schemes

Support Staffordshire – communities and individuals

Support Staffordshire is a fully inclusive and democratic membership organisation for the entire local VCSE sector supporting communities, individuals, and organisations to work together to bring about positive change. Their online tool provides free access to a list of funding opportunities for the sector which can be filtered by location within the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire …

Stoke-on-Trent Powering Up Inward Investment

Available to Stoke-on-Trent businesses: The programme, Stoke-on-Trent Powering Up Inward Investment, is an exciting initiative aimed to propel the city’s economic growth by attracting new businesses and new jobs into the area. Grant funding between £10,000 and £50,000 for businesses in Advanced Manufacturing, Digital, Life Sciences and Energy sectors can apply with priority given to …

Green Solutions Programme

Is your business looking for support on how to reduce your costs and become greener? Green Solutions in affiliation with the Business Energy Advice Service is a programme that offers support to businesses in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You can access support from any of these: Carbon Literacy Training. This …

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent businesses that have been turned down by other lenders can now apply to the Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan Fund, supporting businesses to grow through affordable, unsecured loans from £10,000 to £50,000 BCRS Business Loans work in partnership with Staffordshire County Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council to deliver the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Business Loan …

Michelin Development Fund

Small and medium-sized enterprises located in and around Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and the Staffordshire Moorlands can apply for unsecured loans from £5,000 through Michelin’s associate bank at a subsidised interest rate (Repayment period of three to five years). A Michelin Development loan can be used for a whole range of projects which are linked to the …

Community Foundation for Staffordshire

The Community Foundation for Staffordshire administers many different grants schemes from various funders. These schemes are usually open all year, but tend to run in rounds, and so please make sure you check the individual cut off dates on each scheme. Learn more: https://staffordshire.foundation/

Loans Available to Support Co-operative Enterprises Across the UK

Co-operative and Community Finance is offering loans of up to £85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise. The Co-operative Loan Fund offers the following: Loans of between £10,000 and £85,000. Unsecured loans with no personal guarantees. Interest charged on reducing balance. …

UKRI Funding Offered to Support Future Leaders in Research and Innovation

UK-registered organisations can apply for grants to support ambitious research and innovation projects across all sectors. The Future Leaders Fellowships programme is jointly operated by Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council, with funding provided by UK Research and Innovation. The programme supports early career researchers and innovators, helping organisations attract and retain talent. Fellows …

Employer Support Fund for T Level industry placements

In February 2023, the Government announced the roll-out of a £12m support fund providing financial assistance to employers offering high quality T Level Industry Placements. Industry Placements are a core part of the T Level qualification which was developed in partnership with leading businesses and education providers to ensure that students build the technical knowledge …

UK Games Fund – Content Fund

DCMS has announced an additional £5 million for the UK Games Fund as part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision – a joint plan between Government and industry to drive growth, build talent and develop skills across the creative sectors. This new funding will offer £50,000 – £150,000 commercial games-for-entertainment content grants. Learn more and …

Made Smarter

Manufacturing or engineering SMEs in the West Midlands can benefit from Made Smarter and get help to transform their business through new digital technology. The programme includes: Specialist advice and support to develop an action plan for adopting digital technology in your own detailed roadmap. Up to 50% match funding (Maximum of £20,000) available for …

Midlands Engine Investment Fund

The Fund offers four different funding options to help your business grow, ranging from small business loans to fund start-ups, to later-stage equity investment that allows established businesses to continue growing. Funds available: Small Business Loans: £25k -£150k Debt Finance: £100k – £1.5mil Equity Finance: £50k – £2mil Proof of Concept: Up to £750,000 Learn …

Innovate UK – Innovation Hub

Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency and committed to supporting the innovation journey for UK businesses to start up and grow. We are practical and responsive. The Innovation Hub is a practical way to respond to the need to provide innovators with better and faster access to public support across the innovation landscape on …

Arts Council England Funding

Arts Council England invests public money from the Government and the National Lottery to champion and develop art and culture across the country. Throughout the year they have several open funds available and are looking for organisations, artists, events, initiatives and others to apply for our funding and help them achieve their strategy Learn more: …

British Business Bank Start-Up Loan

The programme offers loans (from £500 to £25,000, at 6% interest) alongside free mentoring and support to individuals who are starting a new business or who have been trading for less than three years. Learn more: https://www.startuploans.co.uk

Workplace Charging Scheme

This is a voucher-based scheme that provides eligible businesses, charities and public sector organisations with support towards the upfront costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) charge points. The grant covers up to 75% of the total costs capped at a maximum of £350 per socket 40 sockets across all sites per …

For more funding and finance schemes available in the UK, access the Government’s business finance and support finder. To find and apply for Government grants, you can also access the new Find a Grant service.

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Other sources of finance