Business Grants in North West England
The North West offers extensive business funding through the Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region combined authorities, Lancashire LEP, and local councils. The region's strong manufacturing, digital, and life sciences sectors have dedicated support programmes.
Greater Manchester Funding
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Business Growth Hub provide grants and support for businesses across the 10 GM boroughs. Programmes focus on growth, innovation, skills, and the green economy transition.
Liverpool City Region Support
The Liverpool City Region Growth Hub offers business advice and can connect you with grant funding. The combined authority runs various programmes supporting sectors including manufacturing, digital, and visitor economy.
Lancashire and Cheshire Grants
Lancashire and Cheshire have their own grant programmes through local councils and the LEP. These often focus on rural business support, manufacturing, and creating local employment opportunities.
North West Business Grants
223 grants found
I2F2 Inward Investment Facilitation Fund
The Inward Investment Facilitation Fund (I2F2) provides grant funding for projects new to the Liverpool city region (LCR) aimed at increasing employment and productivity in the LCR.
Innovation Sprint Programme
The Productivity & Innovation Centre (PIC) offers a fully-funded Innovation Sprint Programme designed to support the profitable growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through innovation. The centre's core focus is on driving product and service innovation, which is complemented by efforts to strip out inefficiencies within the business model and introduce modern business development processes. This support is funded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The programme has a proven track record, having supported over 300 SMEs, resulting in 186 new products and services being launched, and the creation of 664 new jobs. On average, SMEs who successfully complete the Innovation Sprint growth programme and fully implement their action plan report a profitability increase ranging from 28% to 45%. The Innovation Sprint Programme itself is delivered through 60 hours of intensive scale-up strategy development. This support includes four intensive online workshops delivered over four weeks, coupled with 1-to-1 facilitation by both academics and business experts. The programme incorporates market research, rich data collection for decision-making, and the application of world-class rapid innovation tools and frameworks. Businesses are required to have 1–4 of their key decision-makers participate. Upon completion, participants also gain access to follow-on opportunities to collaborate with Edge Hill University, its students, and the wider SME network.
Digital360 - Manchester
Events, advice and specialist workshops to help businesses with digital technology in the North West of England
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.
Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund Round 5 Discovery C6
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £30 million exclusive of VAT, for collaborative Discovery Phase Projects that meet the round 5 challenges. This funding is from the Ofgem Strategic Innovation Fund.
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships 6 (AKT 6)
UK registered academic institutions, RTOs or Catapults can apply for a share of a £2.5 million fund to run collaborative innovation projects with businesses
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in North West