🚀 Apply for £10k+ grants with our Startup Launch Kit
shadow shadow shadow shadow shadow
    Last update 01/08/2025

    2025 Grants & Government‑Backed Loans for Start‑ups in South Northamptonshire (UK)


    🏢 Local Business Support & Grant Schemes

    West Northamptonshire Council (which includes South Northamptonshire) offers occasional grants and funding information through its economic development services.

    đź”— Explore business grant opportunities:
    westnorthants.gov.uk/business-support (silverstone-pc.gov.uk, westnorthants.gov.uk)


    đź’° Available Local Grant Schemes


    🔹 Driving Innovation Grant (West Northamptonshire – includes South Northants)

    • Purpose: Capital or revenue support (e.g. R&D, tech adoption, business growth) through UKSPF funding.

    • Grant range: £1,000–£25,000 with a minimum 50% match funding requirement.

    • Eligibility: Established micro or small businesses (min. 12 months trading) trading within West Northamptonshire—includes South Northamptonshire.

    • Status: Open until 23 June 2025 (application date) or until funds are exhausted. The project spend deadline is 31 January 2026.
      (find-tender.service.gov.uk, growthhub.southmidlands.org.uk, northnorthants.gov.uk)


    🔹 Rural Business Grant Scheme (South Midlands Growth Hub / North Northants)

    • Purpose: Capital grants for rural enterprise resilience and growth (e.g. farm diversification, premises improvements).

    • Grant size: £5,000–£15,000, typically 50% match-funded.

    • Eligibility: Micro or small rural businesses in North and West Northamptonshire, including South Northamptonshire.

    • Status: Ongoing capital rounds; subject to funding availability.
      (growthhub.southmidlands.org.uk)


    💼 Government‑Backed Loan Schemes


    🔹 Start‑Up Loans (via British Business Bank)

    • Offer: Up to £25,000 per founder, with 12 months of mentoring and support.

    • Eligibility: UK-based businesses trading for less than 36 months.

    • đź”— Apply: startuploans.co.uk


    🔹 Business Finance Support Finder (GOV.UK)

    • Tool: Matches businesses with relevant grants, loans, and support programmes based on region and sector.

    • đź”— Access: gov.uk/business-finance-support


    🌍 Regional & Growth Hub Support


    🔹 South Midlands Growth Hub (formerly SEMLEP Growth Hub)


    🔹 Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire (BIPC)

    • Offer: Workshops, webinars, market research tools, IP advice, and access to the "Build Your Business" UKSPF‑funded programme, including grants up to £2,000.
      (westnorthants.gov.uk)


    âś… What’s Currently Active (2025)

    • Driving Innovation Grant—live grant round until June 2025.

    • Rural Business Grants—capital grants available if funding remains.

    • Start‑Up Loans—open all year.

    • Growth Hub and BIPC support—ongoing advisory, training, and grant referrals.


    📝 How to Apply — Step-by-Step

    1. Identify suitable funding: Driving Innovation or Rural Business grants, or national loans.

    2. Check eligibility: trading length, location, project type, and match funding capability.

    3. Prepare documents: business plan or project outline, cost breakdown, bank and trading evidence.

    4. Email for grant applications: contact the WNC economic growth team for Driving Innovation or the Growth Hub for the rural scheme.

    5. Submit via the council or Growth Hub portal before deadlines (e.g. June 2025).

    6. Engage with Growth Hub or BIPC for coaching and grant-writing support.


    đź’ˇ Additional Tips

    • Clearly highlight how your project supports innovation, productivity or rural resilience.

    • Align proposals to local Economic Growth Strategy priorities.

    • Register for Growth Hub diagnostics or grant clinics to refine funding applications.

    • Join peer forums and newsletters via Growth Hub or BIPC.

    • Expand your networking digitally via:
      https://www.gmaxcard.com/business-networking


    📬 Contact & Resources


    âť“ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    (Extra spacing for clarity)

    🔹 Is there a local grant specifically for online startups?
    Not yet—current grants focus on innovation, rural business resilience, and capital growth. However, online ventures may be eligible if tied to innovation or premises investment.


    🔹 When is the Innovation Grant closing?
    Applications close on 23 June 2025, with projects required to be completed and funds spent by 31 January 2026. (westnorthants.gov.uk, northnorthants.gov.uk)


    🔹 Who qualifies for the Rural Business Grant?
    Businesses must be rural-based, trading for at least 12 months, and plan a capital or diversification project within North or West Northamptonshire. (growthhub.southmidlands.org.uk)


    🔹 Can I get a loan if I don’t qualify for a grant?
    Yes—Start‑Up Loans of up to £25k are available year-round for businesses trading under 36 months, accessible via GOV.UK portal.


    🔹 Where can I access growth support and mentoring?
    South Midlands Growth Hub and BIPC Northamptonshire provide free diagnostics, mentoring clinics, grant guidance, and workshops.


    🔹 How can I stay updated on new support or grant windows?
    Sign up for newsletters from West Northamptonshire Council and the Growth Hub. Monitor event listings and business support bulletins regularly.

     

     

     

     

    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