As we approach the end of the financial year, many funding programmes are entering their final stages. With deadlines fast approaching, now is the perfect time to make sure you don’t miss out on the support available.
Below, you’ll find a selection of current and upcoming opportunities worth keeping an eye on as you plan your next steps. And if you’re unsure how to move forward with an application, remember that our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Ongoing support
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 3 years. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Who should apply: Founders starting a new business or been trading for less than 3 years
NPIF II Smaller Loans
NPIF II Smaller Loans provides £25,000 to £100,000 in finance, designed 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.
Early Stage Equity
Early Stage Equity provides equity investment to ambitious early-stage businesses across Greater Manchester and the wider Northwest, delivered by GC Angels. It focuses on innovative businesses in digital, creative and technology sectors, supporting product development, innovation and growth. Investment is typically available from £25,000 to £2 million.
Who should apply: Early-stage businesses in the Northwest with high-growth potential and a scalable business model
The Access to Finance team can help you explore suitable finance routes, clarify eligibility and prepare for applications or investment conversations. Contact the A2F team for tailored support.
Innovation funding opportunities
Innovation funding opportunities opening in February
Regional Talent Engines
A six-month programme designed to help early-stage engineering and technology entrepreneurs, based in Northern England, Northern Ireland and Wales, build the foundations for a successful start-up. Participants receive funding, critical business skills training, one-to-one coaching and mentoring, along with access to an invaluable community of founders.
Award value: £20,000
Opens: 23rd February 2026
Who should apply: Engineers and innovators with an early-stage idea.
Innovation funding opportunities opening in March
Aerospace Technology Institute Strategic Programme
Grants of up to £18m are available in the aerospace sector and supply chain for industrial research or capital infrastructure investment via the ATI Strategic Programme. Applications to the Strategic Programme must align with the ATI aerospace technology strategy, Destination Zero, and have a potential application within the civil aerospace sector. (Destination Zero outlines ultra-efficient, zero-carbon and cross-cutting technology roadmaps which detail the objectives and milestones for the UK aerospace sector across aircraft design, manufacture, assembly and operations.)
Opens: 2nd March
Who should apply: UK registered businesses, carrying out aerospace research or capital infrastructure projects in the UK
Innovation funding opportunities closing in March
ARIA - Scaling Trust (AI)
Backed by nearly £50m, this programme sits within the Trust Everything, Everywhere opportunity space and seeks to create the capability for AI agents to securely coordinate, negotiate, and verify with one another on our behalf.
Deadline: 24th March 2026
Who should apply: interdisciplinary teams bridging fields like cryptography, AI security engineering, game theory, robotics, and more, from universities, research institutes, startups, and established companies, as well as from individuals.
Innovation funding opportunities closing in April
The Water Discovery Challenge
The Water Discovery Challenge (Discovery) is a £7.5 million competition to accelerate the development and adoption of promising new innovations for the water sector to benefit customers, communities and the environment. Supporting organisations with bold, early-stage solutions and facilitating their engagement with water companies.
Discovery is a 20-month competition that brings together a blend of seed funding, non-financial support and sector mentorship to support innovations to launch and succeed in the water sector in England and Wales
Deadline: 8th April 2026
Who should apply: In particular, they are inviting innovators from other sectors – including energy, construction, agriculture, aerospace and Tech/AI – to bring fresh thinking to the urgent challenges facing the water sector in England and Wales.
Praeseed
PraeSeed is an annual six-week cohort investment programme that provides pre-seed founders with investor readiness workshops, hands-on support and the chance to pitch to our co-investment network. Each year PraeSeed invests up to £200k in 5-7 businesses from the 10-12 companies on the course.
Deadline: 10th April 2026
Who should apply: Pre-revenue startups (no more than £250k in revenue in the last year) based in the north.
Rolling Calls
European Innovation Council Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers a Lump sum contribution below € 2.5 million, for innovation activities (TRL 6-8), to be completed within 24 months.
Who should apply: start-ups and SMEs that, have a innovative, game changing product, service or business model that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and even worldwide, have the ambition and commitment to scale up, and are looking for substantial funding, but the risks involved are too high for private investors alone to invest.
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.
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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