Business Grants in North East England
The North East offers business funding through the North East Combined Authority, local councils, and the regional Growth Hub. The region is investing heavily in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital sectors.
North East Combined Authority
The newly formed North East Mayoral Combined Authority is developing business support programmes across the region. They focus on growth sectors and creating quality employment opportunities.
Newcastle and Gateshead
Newcastle and Gateshead councils provide business support including grants for SMEs, startups, and specific sectors. The area's universities create additional innovation funding opportunities.
Wider Region Support
Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland, and Teesside each have their own grant schemes. The region's focus on clean energy and offshore wind creates sector-specific funding opportunities.
North East Business Grants
59 grants found
The Mayor’s Opportunity Fund
A £1 million fund investing in the heart of communities, supporting people and projects working to lift others up, tackle poverty, and provide real opportunity.
Northumberland Small Business Fund
A fully-funded support and funding service delivering a range of business support services to businesses, ambitious innovators, and creative thinkers across Northumberland, with a focus on unlocking barriers to growth, farm enterprise resilience, and food and drink sector growth.
Business start-up support - North Tyneside
Free start-up and ongoing support for businesses in North Tyneside.
Creative Impact Grant
The Creative Impact Grant is an open call offered by Creative Central: NCL designed to shape the skills and business knowledge of the creative industries within the North East, with a distinct focus on creatives and organisations working in or based in the Creative Central NCL footprint in Newcastle upon Tyne. The grant size is significant, providing funding between £5,000 and £35,000, with applications being accepted on a rolling basis. This funding round follows a successful Round 1 of 12 pilot projects. Applicants for Round 2 are expected to propose activity that is either new or enhances existing good practice, while still addressing the skills and business needs of the sector. All projects must demonstrate a direct impact within the Creative Central NCL footprint. To qualify, applicants must be a legally constituted body. This includes a wide range of entity types such as: - Voluntary and community organisations - Social enterprises - Private businesses/limited companies - Registered charities - Statutory or non-statutory public organisations Informal groups, individuals, or sole traders are explicitly not approved and must submit a partnership bid if they wish to apply. All applications must deliver against at least one of the three broad strands of activity: - Encouraging young people (16–25) and those currently without access to the sector to grow their creative potential. - Forging connections and sharing knowledge between creatives and non-creatives and the growing Creative Central NCL community. - Building upon the built environment, public spaces, venues, places of creative work, and heritage assets to unlock real economic and social impact.
CDC Enterprise Agency - Durham
Advice and support for new and established businesses.
Next Wave: Breakthrough Wave 1
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £10 million for industrial research projects to explore industrial strategy aligned Createch innovation. The aim is to support early stage innovation in the intersection of high growth potential Createch and the Industrial Strategy Frontier industries, developing innovations beyond proof of concept, de-risking future investment and supporting long term sector growth.
Expression of interest: Biomedical Catalyst Accelerator Provider Pool: late stage
UK registered organisations can apply to join an approved provider pool for the BMC Accelerator Programme. Providers may be called upon over a period of up to three years to support programme delivery, subject to specific themes and requirements.
Electric vehicle infrastructure grant for staff and fleets
The grant provides small and medium-sized businesses money off the cost of installing electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints and supporting infrastructure for their staff and fleet vehicles.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) - Nottingham
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a funding programme that aims to support local businesses and communities.
Zero Emission Flight Demonstrator Round 1
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of a minimum of £8 million for developing zero emission capable flight in the UK, subject to a sufficient number of high quality applications being received. This funding is from DfT.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP): 2026 to 2027 round 2
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £10 million to fund innovation projects with businesses.
Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Discovery C6
Funding for collaborative Discovery Phase Projects that meet the Innovation Challenges to help transform gas and electricity networks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in North East