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Last update 20/07/2025

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2025 Grants & Loans for Start‑ups & Small Businesses in Cardiff, UK

Introduction

Cardiff, Wales’s thriving capital, provides a diverse range of financial support—grants and government-backed loans—to help startups and small businesses grow and innovate throughout 2025.

Available Grants

🔹 Cardiff Growth Fund

Purpose: Supports businesses in Cardiff to relaunch or expand, with a focus on job creation and sustainability.
Amount: £2,500–£10,000 (50% of project costs, excluding VAT) (cardiff.gov.uk, forcardiff.com)
Status: Re-opened in 2025 under the Shared Prosperity Fund; now open until the end of the year (cardiff.moderngov.co.uk)
Apply: Via Cardiff Council's Business & Finance support pages

🔹 Future Proofing Fund

Purpose: Helps retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses invest in sustainability, premises improvements, or energy efficiency.
Amount: £5,000–£10,000 grants match-funded up to 75%; project must be completed by 28 Feb 2025 (Business Wales)
Status: 2024–25 window now closed; check Business Wales for potential new round (Business Wales)

🔹 Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)

Purpose: Provides emergency payments to individuals—not business grants.

🔹 Cardiff Community Building Grants

Purpose: Supports voluntary and community organisations to renovate community buildings.
Amount: Up to £10,000 (minimum 15% match funding).
Status: 2025/26 window now closed; next window expected in 2026 (Business Wales, devandregencardiff.co.uk)
Apply: Via Cardiff Council’s Regeneration department

Government‑Backed Loans

🔹 Start‑Up Loans Wales

Amount: £500–£25,000 personal loan, with 12 months of mentoring

🔹 Recovery Loan Scheme

Amount: £25,001–£2 million; helps businesses recover post-COVID

🔹 East of Scotland Investment Fund

Note: Not relevant to Cardiff—this fund applies to Scotland

🔹 Development Bank of Wales

Offering: Loans and equity finance ranging from £1,000 to several million for business growth

Key Resources

Business Wales – National advisory service for financing, mentoring, and support
Cardiff Council – Business Support – Local schemes and application portals
Find Business Support – Welsh Government’s central directory for funding options

Council Contact Information

📞 029 2087 1000
🌐 Cardiff Council’s Business & Finance pages

Advice on Applying

Connect early with Business Wales or Cardiff Council for eligibility checks.
Prepare key documents: business plan, quotes, matched-funding evidence, and financial projections.
Uphold deadlines—apply before windows close or funds are exhausted.
Seek mentoring where available (e.g. Start-Up Loans with 12-month support).
Double-dip grants? Possible if funding different parts of the same project.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

🔹 What is the Cardiff Growth Fund?
Grants of £2,500–£10,000 covering 50% of project costs, relaunched in 2025 via SPF (cardiff.moderngov.co.uk, Virtual HQ, forcardiff.com, Business Wales)

▫️ Can I apply for the Future Proofing Fund?
The 2024–25 window is closed—check Business Wales for next round (Business Wales)

🔹 What support is available for community buildings?
Community groups could apply for £10,000 max, with a 15% contribution—but 2025 funding is now closed (devandregencardiff.co.uk)

▫️ Do loans include mentoring?
Yes—Start-Up Loans Wales include 12 months of mentoring alongside funds.

🔹 What’s available in the Recovery Loan Scheme?
Unofficially up to £2 million, designed to help business growth post-pandemic.

▫️ How much funding does the Development Bank offer?
Financing ranges from £1,000 to multiple millions, adjustable based on business needs.

🔹 Can I apply for more than one fund?
Yes—multiple grants or loans can be combined, provided they fund distinct aspects of your project.

▫️ Is Business Wales available for help?
Absolutely—they offer support at all funding application stages.

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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