Business Funding Guide Directories Business Gateway The Business support finder allows you to search for potential sources of help with starting up, running or developing your business. www.bgateway.com GRANTNET A straightforward FREE-to-use service from GRANTfinder, can help small businesses, charitable and community groups to find suitable funding. www.grantnet.com Interface Lists funds available to companies wishing to work in partnership with universities and research institutes. www.interface-online.org.uk/2094 Aberdeen Council for Voluntary Organisations ACVO provides access to an online funding database for the voluntary and community sector in Aberdeen. www.aberdeenccn.info/accn_funding_search.asp Funder Finder Database of charitable trusts and foundations that fund individuals, community groups and voluntary organisations in the UK. Access the database for free in regional agencies such as Business Gateway, Council for Voluntary Organisations and some local libraries: www.funderfinder.org.uk Funding Central A free website for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, providing access to thousands of funding and finance opportunities. www.fundingcentral.org.uk j4bGrants Database of government and lottery grants for small businesses and voluntary groups. www.j4bgrants.co.uk UK Sponsorship Limited company database listing sponsorship opportunities across the UK. www.uksponsorship.com/arts1.htm
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Public Funding National Co-operative Development Scotland CDS can offer funding support for feasibility studies and business planning. www.cdscotland.co.uk/cds.htm Awards for All Grants for people to take part in art and community activities that promote education, the environment and health in the local community. www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html Big Lottery Fund Grants to organisations ranging from small local groups to major national charities. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding-uk Community Action Network (CAN) CAN Social Investment deploys a range of funding and business support into social enterprises and includes the pioneering Breakthrough fund. www.can-online.org.uk/pages/social_investment.html Commonwealth Foundation Annual grants for each Commonwealth Association. Activities which encourage skills transfer and experience sharing between Commonwealth countries are particularly encouraged. www.commonwealthfoundation.com/Howwedeliver/Grants/CommonwealthAssociatio nannualgrants Enterprise Nation Fund 101 Micro grants of between £50 and £500 are available for would be entrepreneurs to set up their own businesses. www.enterprisenation.com/fund101/ Event Scotland: National Events Programme Funding is available to support events outside of the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow that showcase Scotland and help to generate tourism. www.eventscotland.org/funding-and-resources/national-events-programme/ Heritage Lottery Fund Funding for not-for-profit projects with a heritage focus. www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/whatwefund/Pages/whatwefund.aspx John Logie Baird Awards Designed to recognise and celebrate innovation by encouraging the commercial exploitation of Scotland’s intellectual capital. www.johnlogiebairdawards.co.uk
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Live UnLtd Offering young people aged between 11-21 up to ÂŁ5000 of funding and all the support needed to help to develop an idea which could change their community for the better. www.liveunltd.com New Enterprise Allowance Scheme Available to people who have been on Job Seekers Allowance for 6 months or more who want to start their own business. www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/new-enterprise-allowance/ Peoples Postcode Trust Funding for projects that last 3 months or less, from community groups, charities, not-forprofit organisations and community interest companies. www.postcodetrust.org.uk Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards These awards aim to support social enterprises and Community Interest Companies looking to grow their business and improve their local community. www.santanderseda.co.uk Social Entrepeneurs Fund Firstport and Scotland Unltd are working together in Scotland to provide advice and funding opportunities for new start social entrepreneurs. www.socialentrepreneursfund.org Scottish Centre for Enabling Technologies The feasibility study grant provides match funded support. www.ictthatworks.org/drupal/Funding_for_Innovation Scottish Enterprise A variety of funding and support is available to help develop innovative business ideas. www.scottish-enterprise.com/grow-your-business/find-money-to-grow/innovationgrants.aspx Shell LiveWIRE Shell LiveWIRE offers two types of funding awards for young entrepreneurs (aged 16-30) www.shell-livewire.org SMART:Scotland Provides financial assistance to SMEs to help support projects that represent a significant technological advance for the UK sector or industry concerned. www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/999.html Scottish Enterprise: Regional Selective Assistance Grant scheme available to encourage investment and job creation for businesses of all sizes in designated areas in Scotland. www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/208.html
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Skills Development Scotland: Flexible Training Opportunities Provides Scottish businesses with up to 150 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 towards employee training costs. www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-foremployers/encourage-employees-to-develop-new-skills.aspx The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) Business loans, grants and start-up funding for those aged 18-25 (or 26-30 with a disability) looking to develop a business idea. www.psybt.org.uk/StartUp/tabid/78/language/en-GB/Default.aspx UnLtd Awards UnLtd's Millennium Awards provide practical and financial support to social entrepreneurs in the UK. www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=1&PageName=whatareunltdawards Voluntary Action Fund Scotland's leading independent grant-making body investing in voluntary and community based organisations throughout Scotland. www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/5/grants/ Zero Waste Scotland An innovation fund dedicated to resource efficient products, services and packaging design. http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/wastepreventioninnovationfund
Regional Funding Aberdeen City Council Grants available for businesses based in Aberdeen. www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Grants/gra/gra_Funding_FurtherInfo.asp Employee Grant scheme www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CouncilNews/ci_cns/pr_firststaff_010311.asp Aberdeenshire Council Will consider applications from properly constituted voluntary sector organisations whose aims are in line with the Council's strategic priorities. www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/index.asp SAB offers loans and grants to both new and existing businesses throughout Aberdeenshire. www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/support/finance/sab.asp Dumfries and Galloway Council: Small Business Grants Offer discretionary grants of up to £5000 to support business development and sustainability amongst new start and established micro and small businesses in Dumfries and Galloway. www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=7395 Dundee City Council Leisure and Communities department offer various strands of grant funding. www.dundeecity.gov.uk/leisurecomms/grantaid
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Glasgow City Council Provide advice and grants for businesses in Glasgow. www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/Businesssupport/TrainingGrants Glasgow Social Economy Development Fund To allow enterprising small to medium third sector organisations with growth potential to take significant steps towards sustainability. www.glasgowregeneration.org.uk/news/story.php?newsID=120 Highland Opportunity Ltd: Rural Development Grant www.highland-opportunity.com/business-start-up-grants.htm All new businesses in the Highlands, including the Inverness area, can apply for a business start up grant. Neighbourhood Partnership: Community Grants Fund Edinburgh Council provides this small grants scheme for local community activity that supports the work of the Neighbourhood Partnerships and their Local Community Plans. www.edinburghnp.org.uk/about-nps/funding/community-grants-fund Perth and Kinross Council: Business Grants and Loans Offer various streams of funding for businesses in Perth and Kinross. www.pkc.gov.uk/Business+and+trade/Support+for+businesses/Grants+and+Loans/Bu siness+Grants+and+Loans.htm Renfrewshire Leader Funding for rural areas and communities in Renfrewshire, to support small scale, innovative community driven projects. www.renfrewshireleader.co.uk Union Square: Community Bursary Scheme Local charities and not-for-profit organisations in Aberdeen City and Shire are invited to apply for grants with the aim of supporting vital community work, across all age groups and backgrounds. www.unionsquareaberdeen.com/website/union-square-community-bursary-2011.aspx
Fundraising, Foundations and Trusts D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust - Funding for Charities The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds registered charities and supports projects in the arts, medical welfare and the environment. Applicants are requested to make a preliminary outline proposal by letter. Contact the Administrator, The D`Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, 1 Savoy Hill, London WC2R OBP. Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Trust Grants to assist voluntary organisations in their work. www.evoc.org.uk/evot/explanation.htm
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Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland Distributing funds to recognised charities throughout Scotland. www.ltsbfoundationforscotland.org.uk Prince's Trust Grants Funding for young people who need support with course fees or equipment or projects to help the local community. www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/in_your_region/scotland/grants.aspx Santander Foundation Donations to organisations with charitable status for their work within the UK. www.santanderfoundation.org.uk/whatwefund.aspx Scottish International Education Trust Financial support for individuals to meet training needs in a subject area or institution where public funds are not available. www.scotinted.org.uk The Co-operative Membership Community Fund Grant scheme which helps local communities throughout the UK. www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund The Tudor Trust Supports voluntary and community groups working in any part of the UK. www.tudortrust.org.uk
Private Finance and Loans Angels Den A website to connect with business angels; people looking to invest in great businesses. www.angelsden.co.uk Angel List AngelList is a community of startups and investors who make fund-raising efficient. http://angel.co DSL Business Finance DSL is a not for profit company whose aim is to finance start-up and growth companies. www.dsl-businessfinance.co.uk East of Scotland Investment Fund A consortium of 9 local authorities in the east of Scotland that provides loan finance to new and growing small and medium sized enterprises. www.eastscotinvest.co.uk
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Edinburgh Business Development Fund Aims to help people who live in regeneration areas to start up or develop their business. www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/business_solutions/accessing_funding/edinburgh_bus iness_development_fund.cfm Edinburgh Business Loan Fund Designed to provide loans to assist a new or expanding small business based in the City of Edinburgh. www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/business_solutions/accessing_funding/edinburgh_bus iness_loan_fund.cfm European Investment Fund EIF indirectly supports SMEs by working with a wide range of financial intermediaries that provide loans, micro-loans, guarantees and equity finance to SMEs. www.eif.org Highland Opportunity: Community Enterprise Loan Fund Loans are intended to support "non profit distributing" community-based enterprises in the Highlands. www.highland-opportunity.com/Highland%20Opportunity%20Services/copyCELF.html LINC Scotland National association for business angels in Scotland, with a membership network of hundreds of investors. www.lincscot.co.uk PRIME Business Start-up Loan Designed to support people aged over 50 to get access to funds to become self-employed or set up their own business. www.primebusinessclub.com/loans/prime-business-start-up-loan Social Investment Scotland Through loan finance they invest in social businesses that have the capability to make sustainable social impacts. www.socialinvestmentscotland.com West of Scotland Loan Fund A unique consortium of twelve west of Scotland Local Authorities working together to provide loan finance to new and existing small to medium sized enterprises within the west of Scotland. www.wslf.co.uk Disclaimer: Cultural Enterprise Office is not responsible for any advice or information provided by any external organisation referenced in this document.
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