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Last update 20/07/2025

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Liverpool 2025: Loans & Grants for Startups & Small Businesses

Liverpool City Council supports entrepreneurs and small enterprises through government-backed loans, local grants, and regional investment schemes, designed to help businesses launch, grow, and innovate.

🔹 Government-Backed Loans

Start‑Up Loans
Offers £500–£25,000 with fixed-rate interest (~6% APR) and 12 months of mentoring via the British Business Bank.
👉 Start‑Up Loans
Recovery Loan Scheme
Continues to provide affordable loans for businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

🔹 Local Council Support

**Liverpool City Council – Business Support**
Offers advisory sessions, workshops, signposting, and access to finance for startups and existing businesses.
👉 Liverpool City Council Business Support (Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Express)
**Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Rates Relief**
Eligible businesses receive 40% relief on business rates (up to £110,000 cap) in 2025/26.
👉 Liverpool City Council rates relief info (Liverpool City Council)

🔹 Regional & Liverpool City Region Funding

£10m LCR Seed Fund
Provides £250,000–£2m funding for innovative scale-up businesses in digital, advanced manufacturing, and life sciences.
👉 Open via Growth Platform and AXM Venture Capital (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk)
LCR Freeport Innovation & Skills Grants
- £750k for freight & maritime decarbonisation and logistics digitalisation
- £750k for skills infrastructure (logistics, green energy).
  👉 Applications open mid-June to end-July 2025 (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk, liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk)
**Local Business Support Grants**
Offers £3,750–£13,500 per business to support previously unfunded SMEs.
👉 Liverpool City Region funding info (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk)
**North East and Growth Platform Funding Programs**
Offers grants (£3k–£8k), scale-up programmes, export support, and innovation vouchers.
👉 Explore via Growth Platform (Growth Platform, liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk)

💡 How to Access Funding

Define your goal – startup, scale-up, green innovation, or workspace.
Check eligibility – sector, location, size, growth stage.
Engage support services – use Council Business Support & Growth Platform.
Apply for appropriate loans & grants, meeting deadlines and documentation requirements.
Leverage mentoring and workshops – Business Support Service events (e.g., Florrie startup breakfasts) (Liverpool Express)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What council support is available in Liverpool?
The Council’s Business Support Service offers advice, workshops, signposting, workspace guidance, and access to financial schemes (Liverpool City Council).

Q2: What loan amounts are available through the LCR Seed Fund?
Seed Fund investments range from £250,000 to £2 million for high-growth regional ventures (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk).

Q3: Are there grants for green or skills initiatives?
Yes—Two Freeport-linked grants (£750k each) target green logistics and skills infrastructure (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk).

Q4: How much can I access via local support grants?
Local business support grants range from £3,750 to £13,500 per business (liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk).

Q5: Where can I get help preparing applications?
Attend council-hosted startup events (e.g., at The Florrie) or seek assistance from Growth Platform and Chamber of Commerce events (Liverpool Express).

🧭 Next Steps

Visit:
- Liverpool Council Business Support Service (Liverpool City Council)
- Growth Platform Funding Programmes (Growth Platform)
Apply for:
- Start‑Up Loans / Recovery Loans
- LCR Seed Fund (£250k–£2m)
- Freeport Innovation or Skills Grants (£750k each)
- Local SME grants (£3,750–£13,500)
Attend events: Startup workshops at The Florrie (e.g., June breakfast) (Liverpool Express, liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk, liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk)
Contact:
- Business Support Service via Council web form (Liverpool City Council)

Value AD

2025

100% FREE

BUSINESS TOOl

What is Value Ad?

Value Ad is an innovative policy designed to foster a mutually beneficial relationship between two key groups: new businesses and service providers. This policy helps startups save significantly on essential services while enabling service providers to gain valuable traction and growth opportunities.

How is it a Win-Win Deal?

For New Businesses:

Cost Savings: Startups can save 50% to 80% on essential services such as website development and marketing. This means they don’t need to invest heavily upfront, making it easier to launch and grow their business.

Alternative Investment: The money saved through these discounts can be reinvested into other critical areas of the business, acting as an alternative investment that fuels further growth and development.

For Service Providers:

Initial Customer Base: Service providers, often tech startups themselves, can attract a significant number of initial customers by offering their services at a discounted rate. This helps them build traction and demonstrate value, which is crucial for attracting venture capital (VC) funding and other opportunities.

Marketing Efficiency: By providing affordable services, service providers do not need to spend heavily on marketing to acquire new customers. The discounted services themselves become a powerful marketing tool, bringing in customers who can spread the word and enhance the provider’s reputation.

Growth and Expansion: Attracting more customers through Value Ad helps service providers expand their client base and build long-term relationships, which can lead to increased revenue and business growth.

Alternative Investment for New Businesses:

For new businesses, the significant cost savings achieved through the Value Ad policy effectively serve as an alternative investment. Instead of spending large amounts on website development and marketing, they can leverage the affordable services provided by service providers. The saved funds can be redirected into other strategic areas of the business, enhancing overall growth and sustainability.

Benefits for Service Providers:

Service providers benefit from the Value Ad policy by gaining access to a ready pool of new customers who are drawn by the discounted rates. This initial customer base is crucial for:

Building Traction: Demonstrating product or service viability to potential investors.

Securing Funding: Enhanced customer traction and a growing user base can make the service provider more attractive to venture capitalists and other funding sources.

Market Penetration: Establishing a presence in the market quickly and efficiently without heavy marketing expenditures.

In Summary:

Value Ad is a strategic policy designed to create a win-win scenario for both new businesses and service providers. By offering significant discounts on essential services, startups can save and reinvest those savings, while service providers gain crucial initial customers and market traction. This mutually beneficial arrangement supports the growth and success of both groups, making Value Ad a powerful tool for business development and investment.

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