Grant funding for businesses in Scotland

Last updated: 7 November 2019

'Grants' are a type of funding provided by the government, local councils and some private organisations.

You don't normally have to repay them. But you might have to meet some terms, for example a job creation target or deadline.

Grants are usually available to help ideas or businesses that will create jobs or develop new products, services or markets.

If you're looking for a grant to start a business it's worth contacting your local Business Gateway office.

There are new rates reliefs and grants to help owners of non-domestic properties, including businesses, with coronavirus (COVID-19).

What grants are available for

Grants are normally available to do specific things, for example to develop a new product.

You'll need to apply for a grant before your project has started.

Grants should only be used as an additional source of funding – not to fund an entire project.

The grants available to help your idea or business will depend on:

  • the kind of idea or business you have — sometimes called your business 'sector'
  • the potential of your idea or size of your business
  • what you intend to spend the grant on
  • where your business is based

How grants are paid

Most grants are paid 'retrospectively'. This means you'll need to pay out money upfront and reclaim the grant money later.

Some grants might pay you a percentage of the money up front and others will have terms you'll be expected to meet, for example a job creation target or deadline.

Applying for a grant

Each grant will have a different application process, although there will be common things you'll need to show, like how the grant will cover shortfall in funding and what other efforts you've made to raise funding.

Grants available in Scotland

The main grant funding available in Scotland is to help ideas or businesses that:

  • will bring social or economic benefits, for example creating jobs
  • are collaborative projects leading to new technology or ideas
  • for research and development

Some examples of the grants available include:

1. Grants to help during coronavirus

The Scottish Government have 2 grants to help owners of non-domestic properties, including businesses, during coronavirus.

The grants are one-off payments and do not need to be repaid.

Find more information on grants to help owners of non-domestic properties during coronavirus in Scotland.

2. Regional Selective Assistance grants

Regional Selective Assistance grants are available to help projects that will create or protect jobs in Scotland.

Find more information and apply for Regional Selective Assistance grants on the Scottish Enterprise website.

3. Research and development grants

Research and development grants are given out by both Scottish Enterprise and Innovate UK.

They help projects that will lead to innovative new products and services.

Find more information and apply on:

4. SMART: Scotland grants

SMART: Scotland grants are available to help you prove your idea, product or service will work.

Find more information and apply for SMART: Scotland grants on the Scottish Enterprise website.

5. Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 grants are given out by the European Union.

These grants are normally given to groups of individuals, businesses and organisations who are working collaboratively on a project.

The group will also usually need to include a university, college or another academic institute.

Horizon 2020 grants are normally made available as part of a specific call out for a particular business sector.

You can find more information on the European Commission website.

6. Make it to Market grant

A Make it to Market grant can help you get your products or services ready to be exported internationally.

It can be used for a range of activities that will help you get ready to export. These should be new activities (not something you're already working on), and your product or service must be close to market

Find more information and apply for a Make it to Market grant on the Scottish Enterprise website.

7. Innovate UK grants

Innovate UK run competitions for grants that target specific areas they're looking to help develop.

These grants are usually given to technology businesses working in a specific business sector.

You can find more information on GOV.UK.

FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot

FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot lists different funding options for businesses, including some of the grants mentioned above.

Search for funding, advice or training options in Scotland on FindBusinessSupport.gov.scot.

Alternatives to grant funding

You might want to consider other ways of funding your idea or business, like: