[Updated 27th October 2026]
Access to the right funding at the right time can help businesses unlock new opportunities, accelerate growth and strengthen long-term resilience.
From start-up finance to government funded loans, here is a selection of upcoming funding opportunities that Greater Manchester businesses may wish to explore.
And don’t forget that if you’re unsure which route is right for you, our team is on hand to help you navigate your options with confidence!
Government-Backed Loans
Start Up Loans
For aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses, Start Up Loans provide access to government-backed finance of between £500 and £25,000, helping founders turn ideas into viable businesses. Delivered by GC Business Finance Start Ups for new and businesses trading for less than 5 years.
In addition to funding, successful applicants receive 12 months of free mentoring and ongoing business support, making it a valuable option for those looking to build a strong foundation for future growth.
Who should apply: Businesses trading for up to five years that are seeking start-up or early-stage funding, alongside practical support and mentoring.
NPIF II Smaller Loans
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II (NPIF II) Smaller Loans programme offers funding from £25,000 to £100,000 to support businesses across the North of England.
Whether investing in new equipment, expanding operations, recruiting staff or improving cash flow, the fund is designed to help businesses move forward with confidence. Delivered locally by GC Business Finance, the programme provides a tailored approach to supporting business growth.
Who should apply: SMEs with clear growth ambitions that require finance to invest in development, expansion or operational improvements.
Equity Investment
Early Stage Equity
Early Stage Equity provides investment for ambitious businesses with the potential to scale rapidly and attract future investment. Delivered by GC Angels to support Greater Manchester founders.
Typically investing between £25,000 and £2 million, the fund supports businesses that are developing innovative products, services, or technologies and seeking capital to accelerate growth, enter new markets, or strengthen their commercial position.
Who should apply: Innovative, high-growth businesses with scalable business models and plans for significant future expansion.
Innovate UK’s Frontier AI: SME Champions, Phase 1 Competition
This competition offers UK SMEs a share of £3.1 million to validate ambitious AI and machine learning innovations. Grants of up to £175,000 are available, depending on business size and eligible project costs. The competition targets advances in AI architectures, training methods and core algorithms across four themes:
- Health and life sciences
- Advanced materials
- National security and defence
- AI safety and assurance
Projects must address a specified priority within their chosen theme and demonstrate a clear technical advance beyond routine integration of existing AI tools.
Deadline: 11am on Wednesday, 11th November 2026
Find out more
Revenge Capital Venture Investment & Impact Fund
Revenge Capital aim to back the next generation of ambitious founders who have historically been overlooked by traditional VC. London headquartered impact fund invests across Pre-Seed to Series A, with typical equity investments ranging from £100,000 to £1 million+, supporting high-growth businesses across music-tech, media, fashion, design, art, lifestyle and consumer innovation.
Alongside capital, founders can access strategic brand support, international networks, media visibility and executive mentorship, with a focus on scaling without compromising creative ownership.
Revenge Capital particularly champions founders from underrepresented backgrounds, including women, BAME/BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent and socio-economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
Find out more
British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme
Applications for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme are now open.
The scheme will help eligible manufacturers cut electricity bills by up to 25%, supporting more than 10,000 businesses to invest, grow and create jobs.
It's a major Industrial Strategy commitment designed to strengthen British competitiveness, unlock investment and drive the reindustrialisation of Britain.
Deadline: 30th November
Looking for the right funding option?
With a wide range of finance options available, identifying the most suitable route can often be the biggest challenge. If you're interested in any of the funding opportunities above, we can help you on your journey.
The Access to Finance team works with businesses across Greater Manchester to explore funding opportunities, improve investment readiness and connect with relevant finance providers. Whether you're seeking start-up funding, growth finance or investment, tailored support is available to help you take the next step.
Innovation funding opportunities
December brings a fresh wave of opportunities for ambitious businesses and innovators ready to turn bold ideas into real-world impact. From artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced batteries to sustainable manufacturing, low-carbon construction and space-enabled services, this round-up highlights funding designed to support development, collaboration and growth. Whether you are exploring an early-stage concept, preparing to test a solution or looking to enter new markets, discover the opportunities below and find the right next step for your project.
Innovation funding opportunities (Closing December)
EIT Urban Mobility: SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027
The Call is designed to promote business growth and market expansion, encouraging the replication and scaling of successful solutions in new regions or sectors. It offers a strategic platform for SMEs with ambitions to scale by expanding into new markets.
Deadline: Tuesday 1 December 2026 16:00pm
Who should apply: This Call is a mono-beneficiary call addressed to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are supported by an end client, a public or private entity, committed to testing and demonstrating the solution.
ARIA: Standards and benchmarks for dexterous robotics
ARIA are seeking proposals that address a clearly defined barrier affecting multiple developers or users of dexterous robotic systems. Up to £3m per project.
Deadline: Tuesday 1 December 2026 13:00pm
Who should apply: ARIA funds and supports research teams, known as Creators, to achieve breakthroughs. They could be anyone, from individuals doing their own research and PhD students at a university, to startups and large organisations.
UK-Germany Bilateral Collaborative R&D: Round 5
UK registered SME’s can apply for a share of up to £2.4 million for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with Germany. You must collaborate with at least one German SME applying under the equivalent German ZIM programme.
Deadline: Tuesday 1 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: The aim of this competition is to fund business-led collaborative research and development (CR&D) projects focused on industrial research. Projects must focus on one of the following sectors: Clean Energy, Life Sciences or Engineering Biology
Battery Innovation: Feasibility Studies Rd 3
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million to support innovation in battery grade material technologies for electrification. This funding is from The Battery Innovation Programme.
Deadline: Wednesday 2 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: UK registered businesses looking to accelerate the development and commercialisation of state of the art battery technologies.
Battery Innovation: Concept Development Rd 3
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million to support innovation in battery grade material technologies for electrification. This funding is from The Battery Innovation Programme.
Deadline: Wednesday 2 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: UK registered businesses looking to strengthen UK capability in battery cell manufacturing, pack manufacturing including high performance cell technologies, automated manufacturing techniques, non-destructive testing, AI driven design and simulation of manufacturing processes.
Growth Cohorts: Next-gen low carbon concrete cohort entry Round 2
UK registered businesses can apply to join a cohort of ambitious businesses. These businesses will develop solutions to decarbonise concrete and access funding and sector specific support, to develop and deliver innovation and growth plans.
Deadline: Wednesday 2 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: UK businesses looking to accelerate their ambitions to decarbonise concrete and scale their business by exploiting their intellectual property (IP) in the UK and internationally.
Full ADOPT Grant: Round 10
Farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England can apply for a share of up to £5 million for on-farm trial and demonstration projects, to improve adoption of new ideas or solutions in the agricultural sector.
Deadline: Wednesday 2 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: The aim of this competition is to support innovative on-farm trials or experiments to test ideas or solutions and demonstrate that they will address major on-farm or immediate post farmgate challenges or opportunities.
Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation: CR&D Round 2
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, will work with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to invest up to £7 million to support the development and adoption of sustainable technologies for the manufacturing of medicines.
Deadline: Wednesday 2 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: This competition is open to collaborations only. The aim of this competition is to drive innovation in sustainable medicines manufacturing across: green chemistry, circularity and productivity and resource efficiency
Engineering Biology Investor Partnerships Round 1
UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £8 million to develop engineering biology products and services with selected investor partners.
Deadline: Wednesday 2 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: To be offered grant funding your project must be assessed as eligible for grant funding and you must have secured aligned investment with a lead investor.
BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for Operational Systems
UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that perform, control or coordinate operational activity. Funding is from Innovate UK.
Deadline: Tuesday 8 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: The overall aim of this competition is to fund the development of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) deployment use cases that can progress through later programme stages towards full deployment and replication.
BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for Decision Critical Systems
UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that support consequential judgements, recommendations or decisions. Funding is from Innovate UK.
Deadline: Tuesday 8 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: The overall aim of this competition is to fund the development of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) deployment use cases that can progress through later programme stages towards full deployment and replication.
BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst: AI for Assurance and Compliance
UK registered SMEs can apply for a share of up to £5 million to deploy Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning solutions that monitor, test, verify or evidence compliance with requirements, standards or controls. Funding is from Innovate UK.
Deadline: Tuesday 8 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: The overall aim of this competition is to fund the development of innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) deployment use cases that can progress through later programme stages towards full deployment and replication.
UK Space Agency: Unlocking Space for Business - Environmental Intelligence and Emissions
Up to £400,000 each for projects seeking to accelerate the adoption of space-enabled data and services to address environmental intelligence and emissions challenges across the UK economy.
Deadline: Friday 11 December 2026 16:00pm
Who should apply: This competition is open to UK-registered end-user businesses, including SMEs, leading a consortium with at least one UK space supplier and any additional integrator or delivery partner organisations required to support project delivery.
The competition is particularly aimed at end-user organisations operating in sectors including financial services, insurance, asset management, energy, utilities, infrastructure, agriculture, land management and environmental services.
UK-Singapore CRD 2026
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £3 million for the purpose of developing innovative proposals with Singapore. You must collaborate with at least one Singapore business applying under the equivalent Enterprise Singapore programme.
Deadline: Wednesday 16 December 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: Businesses with projects in the following sectors: Your project must focus on one of the following sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Life Sciences or Digital and Technologies (specifically the frontier technologies including Semiconductors, Quantum, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Advanced Connectivity Technologies and Engineering Biology)
Applying for grant funding can be daunting; from finding the right fund to preparing an application, support is available to you.
If you’re an Innovation business, reach out to your Specialist today, to find out more about how we can help you reach your innovation and business goals in 2026.
Get in touch
Please contact us at 0161 3593050 or query below.
Take that first step and we’ll support you with whatever you need to succeed.
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