A Start Up Loan is a government-backed personal loan available to individuals looking to start or grow a business in the UK.  

Advice around available finance within the region for businesses.

The government has introduced a new Kickstart Scheme in Great Britain, a £2 billion fund to create hundreds of thousands of high quality 6-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are on Universal Credit and are deemed to be at risk of long term unemployment.

Small business loans from £25,000 - £150,000  

Businesses will be able to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 and access the cash within days. Loans will be interest free for the first 12 months, and businesses can apply online through a short and simple form

Eager to re-build your business, stabilise, then look for new opportunities, Ready to join like-minded businesses to explore new markets, new ways to do business and be ready for the new world. Prepared to commit the time to make this a reality over the next 2-4 months. Then the free part EU funded AIM for GOLD Programme could be for you.You must have been trading for at least 12 months to join the Programme; most sectors are eligible though retail, construction, banking and insurance, estate agents and social care are excluded; for the finance element there must be evidence of trading statements covering at least 2 years.

Eager to re-build your business, stabilise, then look for new opportunities, Ready to join like-minded businesses to explore new markets, new ways to do business and be ready for the new world. Prepared to commit the time to make this a reality over the next 2-4 months. Then the free part EU funded AIM for GOLD Programme could be for you.You must have been trading for at least 12 months to join the Programme; most sectors are eligible though retail, construction, banking and insurance, estate agents and social care are excluded; for the finance element there must be evidence of trading statements covering at least 2 years.

Business Support and Funding for Innovative Ideas either through grants or competition-based funding.

Princes Trust Enterprise Programme  Eligibility Criteria  18 - 30 years of age  Employed or studying part time  Ineligible Criteria  Full Time employment  Full Time education  The Princes Trust offer a 4 day training course called Explore Enterprise that allows the individual to explore if self employment is right for them. Loans can be provided from £500 - £5000 with 6%apr (this is subject to application and credit checks) Grants are a maximum of £1500 Eligible clients can chose either face to face or can do the programme online with an Ementor attached to them. Alice Looks after Wolverhampton Richard looks after Dudley & Sandwell  

Innovation Networks is a grant scheme offering grants of up £10,000 to SMEs who are working with at least 2 other businesses to develop innovative new products, processes or services.

Business loans from £100,000 to £1.5 Million fior companies with up to 250 employees that can demonstrate areas for growth.

Local Restrictions Support Grant, which is for certain businesses that pay business rates and have been instructed to close by the Government. Additional Restrictions Grant, which is designed to support both open and closed rated and non-rated businesses, or businesses that are severely impacted that require support in local areas. This scheme is discretionary.

Short term business loans up to the value of £20,000 for a maximum period of 12 months.

Science in Industry Research Centre supports companies to develop new science based products 

Following the introduction of national restrictions on 5 November 2020 the government announced further financial support for businesses who have been required to close or severely affected by the new measures.

National Construction College Providing a range of funding for upskilling the workforce within the construction industry   

Early Stage Equity Funding up to £750,000 for businesses looking to get their product off the ground

BGF is an investment partner for growing companies in every sector of the economy. We provide the tools you need to grow, from funding to expertise, while letting you set the course.

Later stage equity funding of upto £2million for businesses with ambitious plans for growth.

Provide funding for those “up-front” costs associated with remediation, render sites more attractive to the market, remove the delays and risks associated with abnormal ground conditions, Provide infrastructure to facilitate development  

The government have announced a business grant scheme to cover the 4 week national lock down period. The scheme will cover businesses occupying properties subject to business rates, that have been mandated to close by Central Government

Investment funding for charities and social enterprises

Dow Schofield Watts Angels brings together early-stage technology businesses with experienced entrepreneurs and investors. Our angels understand the challenges facing growing businesses and have been through the entire growth cycle of building and selling a business themselves, and are now willing to invest time and money in helping others. We are looking for promising early-stage technology companies with inspired founders, particularly those with early revenues but which may fall short of the size required by most technology venture capitalists.

 Loan and Gap Funding programme to bring forward stalled development sites that will generate employment floorspace, jobs and/or residential units.  

Grant funding to train/recruit employees and improve IT in preparation for Brexit.

Aerospace Unlocking Potential (Aerospace UP) is a £20M three-year project (2020 to 2022) which aims to support the aerospace supply chain in the Midlands by helping to unlock its innovation potential. The project is being delivered by the University of Nottingham and the Midlands Aerospace Alliance. Aerospace UP is supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which helps businesses to access funding and expertise to improve their performance through innovation in all aspects of their enterprise. As a pan-Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) project, Aerospace UP is available to SMEs in 8 Midlands LEP areas.

The FSE Group invests in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have the potential for significant growth. Can invest in pre-revenue companies also.

ScreenSkills offers bursaries  of up to £1,000 to those working in feature film, high-end TV and television. High-end TV refers to big-budget television content and major drama productions

The fund provides a variety of lending services to support the growth plans of SMEs including Up to £250,000 overdraft limit for working capital for manufacturing businesses  

The Small Business Commissioner (SBC) is an independent public body set up by Government under the Enterprise Act 2016 to tackle late payment and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector. The SBC covers the whole of the UK - England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will repay employers the Statutory Sick Pay paid to current or former employees. Who can use the scheme, You can use the scheme as an employer if, you’re claiming for an employee who’s eligible for sick pay due to coronavirus, you have a PAYE payroll scheme that was created and started on or before 28 February 2020, you had fewer than 250 employees on 28 February 2020, across all your PAYE payroll schemes

This scheme will issue convertible loans between £125,000 to £5 million to innovative companies which are facing financing difficulties due to the coronavirus outbreak. The new Future Fund will support innovative UK companies with good potential, that are essential in ensuring the UK retains its world leading position in science, innovation and technology. These companies typically rely on equity investment and are currently affected by Covid-19. There is £125k-£5m of government support. Companies must be UK-incorporated and if part of a corporate group, only the parent company is eligible. Companies in receipt of the loans will be required to have previously raised at least £250k in equity investment from third party investors in the last five years. Only eligible companies that can attract at least 50% of third-party investment will receive funding. • Companies cannot have any of their shares traded on a regulated market, multilateral trading facility or other listing venue. The company must have been incorporated on or before 31 December 2019.

Grants at this present time are available up to £3,000. The Foundation is opening the fund to constituted groups with an income below £250,000 who are providing, but not limited to the following services, Food banks or social eating projects, Delivery of emergency food/medicine parcels to those isolated due to the virus, Street Pastors or those engaging in outreach activities, Befriending services supporting the elderly or vulnerable through isolation.

We offer investment from £5k to up to £300k to community and social enterprises operating in the North of England and the Midlands.Details of our standard funds can be found below, but we are committed to providing the right kind of money at the right time, so please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your needs. We have £17 million in loan and grant to deliver over the next 3 years.