A new wave of innovation funding is opening this spring, bringing fresh opportunities for founders, SMEs and ambitious businesses looking to turn bright ideas into market-ready solutions.
Whether it’s space-enabled sustainability or next‑generation materials R&D, these opportunities offer substantial support to help organisations develop, test and scale high‑impact innovations. And don’t forget that if you're unsure where to begin, our team is on hand to guide you every step of the way.
Government-Backed Loans
Start Up Loans
Start Up Loans offer £500 to £25,000 in government-backed finance, paired with 12 months of free mentoring and practical business support. The programme is aimed at founders who are starting a business or have been trading for less than three years. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Who should apply: Founders starting a new business or trading for less than three years.
NPIF II Smaller Loans
NPIF II Smaller Loans provides £25,000 to £100,000 in finance to support SMEs with working capital, expansion, asset acquisition or leasing commercial premises. The scheme includes flexible terms and dedicated one-to-one guidance throughout the application process.
Who should apply: Small and medium-sized businesses across the North West of England looking to grow, invest in assets, or strengthen their working capital.
Equity Investment Opportunities
Guinness Ventures
Guinness Ventures has launched a £3 million SEIS fund targeting early-stage UK startups. The fund typically invests £100,000 to £250,000 and supports both first-time and serial founders who demonstrate early product-market fit or commercial traction.
Need support reviewing your finance and investment options? The Access to Finance team can help businesses explore available finance routes, clarify eligibility and prepare funding applications. Click here to contact the A2F team for tailored support.
Innovation funding opportunities (Opening April)
Shott Scale Up Accelerator
Shott Scale Up Accelerator is designed for founders and leaders of high-growth engineering SMEs, providing them with the leadership skills and insights to scale their company. It comes with a £10,000 grant to access further leadership training anywhere in the world.
Opens: Mid-April
Who should apply: Founders and leaders of high-growth engineering SMEs
Innovation funding opportunities (Closing May)
European Space Agency – Sustainable Wetlands
This opportunity invites businesses to submit proposals for space-based applications and services that support wetland sustainability while delivering economically viable business cases. Selected studies can access 75% funding from the European Space Agency, with a maximum of €75,000 per activity.
Deadline: 1st May 2026
Who should apply: Businesses with early stage service concepts that: address customer needs, show commercial potential and technical feasibility and leverage satellite data or space technology
Advancing innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare
Organisations can apply for a share of £20 million across two competitions. Projects will advance development of pharmaceutical, digital and MedTech tools to improve treatment recovery and prevention of harm and deaths from drug and alcohol addictions.
The aim of this AHG Catalysing Innovation Awards scheme is to progress innovations for improving treatment outcomes, enhancing recovery and reducing harm and deaths in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare.
Funding is for pharmaceutical, MedTech and digital interventions that can show real world effectiveness and progress towards UK market use. Projects must also secure the regulatory approvals or certificates needed for rollout.
Deadline: 6th May 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: UK registered businesses of any size
Contracts for Innovation in drug and alcohol addiction healthcare
Organisations can apply for a share of £20 million, inclusive of VAT. Projects will advance development of pharmaceutical, digital and MedTech tools to improve treatment, recovery and prevention of harm and deaths for drug and alcohol addictions.
The aim of this competition is to support progress towards technology and market readiness, and regulatory approvals of promising innovative pharmaceutical, MedTech and digital interventions.
Funding is targeted at support for development of innovations with the potential to demonstrate initial efficacy and UK market fit by the end of the project.
Deadline: 6th May 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: Promising pharmaceutical, MedTech and digital interventions with potential to secure early efficacy and UK market fit data.
EPSRC Materials Innovation Partnerships
This funding forms part of the National Materials Innovation Programme, announced, as part of the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
Deadline: 14th May 2026 16:00pm
Who should apply: Businesses with projects co-created and co-delivered by academic partners focussing on at least one of the six high-growth opportunity themes: Materials for energy solutions, Materials for future healthcare, Materials for structural innovations, Materials for advanced surface technologies, Materials for next generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors, Materials for consumer products, packaging and specialist polymers
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 2025.
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