🚀 Apply for £10k+ grants with our Startup Launch Kit
shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow
    Last update 19/07/2025

    2025 Grants & Government‑Backed Loans for Startups in Brent (UK‑Wide Guide)


    Introduction

    Brent provides a dynamic business environment with accessible local support programmes, government-backed loans, and sustainable funding opportunities. All links below are current and from official sources.


    Local Support

    🔹 Brent Council Business Support

    • Access to grants, loans, business advice, energy efficiency funding, and procurement support

    • No council‑run grant schemes are currently open—sign up for updates via their e-newsletter (Startup Grant, brent.gov.uk, brent.gov.uk)

    • Contact: 020 8937 5000 · [Brent Council Business Support](brent.gov.uk)

    🔹 Brent Business Digital Support & Rebel Business School

    • Free digital mentoring: webinars, tutorials, and one‑to‑one support via UKSPF-backed programmes (brent.gov.uk)

    • Rebel Business School offers free “start‑up” courses to residents (brent.gov.uk)

    🔹 Contracting & Procurement Workshops

    • Running Jan–Mar 2025: bid‑skills workshops, 1‑2‑1 support, plus "Meet the Buyer" summit in March for Brent SMEs (brent.gov.uk)

    🔹 Energy Efficiency Grants

    • Grants up to £9,000 for local businesses to improve premises energy performance, part of Brent’s climate charter (brent.gov.uk)

    🔹 Community Funding Platforms

    • Open4Community portal lists local and national grants for community and VC organisations (brent.gov.uk)

    • Young Brent Foundation: £250–£9,000 grants for youth or community projects (youngbrentfoundation.org.uk)


    National Government‑Backed Loans

    🔹 Start‑Up Loans (British Business Bank)

    🔹 Recovery Loan Scheme & Bounce Back Loan Scheme

    • Both are no longer accepting new applications (brent.gov.uk)


    Other Funding Options

    • Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG): Government guarantee for bank-sponsored SME lending

    • Social Investment Business: Offers funding for social enterprises (Syob, brent.gov.uk)

    • Crowdfunding, Angel & VC funding: Accessible through Brent programmes like Rebel and Rebel markets (LinkedIn)


    Eligibility Guidance

    • Digital/Bid‑training programmes: Brent-based entrepreneurs & SMEs (LinkedIn)

    • Energy grants: Available to commercial premises within Brent (brent.gov.uk)

    • Young Brent Foundation: Projects supporting youth/community initiatives (youngbrentfoundation.org.uk)

    • Start‑Up Loans: UK-resident founders with viable plans and creditworthiness


    Application Process

    1. Choose your route—local digital, procurement, energy, or loan

    2. Prepare materials—business plans, financials, premises details, project scopes, and credit records

    3. Apply via Brent Council website, digital portals, or GOV.UK (for loans)

    4. Engage with workshops or mentorship programmes

    5. Receive funding and follow reporting or compliance requirements


    Additional Tips

    • Stay informed via e‑newsletters like "Brent Business" for updates on grants and programmes (brent.gov.uk, Startup Grant, brent.gov.uk)

    • Attend Rebel courses and markets to enhance your pitch and access seed support (LinkedIn)

    • Use Open4Community to explore VC and cultural funding streams (brent.gov.uk)


    Contact & Further Information


    FAQs

    ▫️ Are there any council grant schemes open right now?
    Currently, no—but you can sign up for the Brent e-newsletter to be notified when funding becomes available (Instagram, brent.gov.uk).

     

    ▫️ How can I get mentoring and digital help?
    Rebel Business School and Digital Hub offer free programmes via Brent Council-backed schemes (brent.gov.uk).

     

    ▫️ Can I get help to bid for contracts?
    Yes—Brent’s free workshops on procurement run from January to March 2025 with 1‑2‑1 support and a “Meet the Buyer” event (brent.gov.uk).

     

    ▫️ Is there support for energy efficiency?
    Grants up to £9,000 are available to improve business premises energy performance (brent.gov.uk, brent.gov.uk).

     

    ▫️ Who can apply to the Young Brent Foundation?
    Community and youth‑focused organisations can apply for grants from £250 to £9,000 (youngbrentfoundation.org.uk).

     

    ▫️ Are the Start‑Up Loans still available?
    Yes—you can still apply via GOV.UK, featuring mentoring post-funding (brent.gov.uk).

     

    ▫️ What about Recovery or Bounce Back Loans?
    These schemes are now closed to new applications (brent.gov.uk).

     

     

     

     

    We use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary to operate the website.Please read our cookie policy.

    We use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary to operate the website. Additional cookies are only used with your consent. We use the additional cookies to perform analyses of website usage and to check marketing measures for their efficiency. These analyses are carried out to provide you with a better user experience on the website. You are free to give, deny, or withdraw your consent at any time by using the "cookie settings" link at the bottom of each page. You can consent to our use of cookies by clicking "Agree". For more information about what information is collected and how it is shared with our partners, please read our cookie policy.

    • Required to run the website
    • Monitoring website usage and optimizing the user experience
    • Evaluation of marketing actions
    • Storage of your preferences from previous visits
    • Collecting user feedback to improve our website
    • Recording of your interests in order to provide customised content and offers
    Cookie Settings Accept