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Business and Employment Funding Round-up (Part 3)

Here is another collection of funding rounds from local and national organisations focusing on business and employment themes aimed at helping charities continue their work.

Due to the varying nature and progress of public policies and other related activity, MVA do advise that some of the information below may have changed since the time of its issue, and whilst every effort has been made to provide up-to-date details, they ask that readers please check with each organisation’s website for the latest news.

Funding Finder from UKRI
The UK Research and Innovation organisation (UKRI) invest in research and innovation to enrich lives, drive economic growth, and create jobs and high-quality public services in the UK.

Sponsored by the Government's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), they offer interested groups the chance to compete for Government-backed funding to:
  • Research and develop a process, product or service
  • Test your innovation ideas
  • Collaborate with other organisations
The UKRI can offer funding to researchers. businesses. universities, NHS bodies, charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other institutions.

Interested groups can search current funding opportunities from across UKRI, research councils and Innovate UK at the UKRI funding platform.

Start-up Loans from UK Government
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) can offer loans to entrepreneurs in the UK that would like to start up a new business.

The programme is intended to help solve the problem of supporting people who have a practical and valid business idea but have no access to finance.

Managed through British Business Bank, this programme aims to equip enterprising individuals with the tools needed to make their businesses a success.

Successful applicants will receive a low-cost unsecured loan, business mentoring, and a range of other business products.

The organisers advise interested groups applying for the scheme must be yet to start their business or have been trading for less than 3 years.

At the time of writing, there was no specified deadline, which means applications can be made at any time.

More information and how to apply can be found at the Start-up Loan’s dedicated website.

Innovate UK - SMART Grants
The UK Government is offering access to Smart grants for game-changing and disruptive ideas from business, through a regular, competitive application process.

Managed by Innovate UK (IUK) organisations can apply for a share of up to £25 Million for game-changing and commercially viable research and development innovation that can significantly impact the UK economy.

Relaunched recently, the organisers of the scheme advise there are rounds of funding to apply for until 24th July 2024.

Full opportunity details on this funding can be found on the Government’s dedicated website.