Show Me The Money: Grants & Funding

Revised: April 2023

Hi people, 

Disabled (differently-abled) people living in the UK are four times more likely to be out of work than the general population by the age of 26. A recent study found differently-abled business owners generally feel being self-employed, even though their businesses are marginally viable, is preferable to being entirely dependent on benefits. So, we’ve included a few grants to help boost that Purple Pound, currently worth £360bn a year.

The Innovation Awards are now accepting nominations. Recognising and celebrating businesses, individuals and organisations dedicated to innovation. I personally love this event! There’s such a buzz being around so many innovators, all with a great story of how they overcame personal and business-related obstacles.

With the devolving of power, the implementation of the government Levelling Up initiative, ERDF being replaced by UKSPF (so many acronyms!) There has perhaps never been a better time to apply for grant funding, particularly if you’re based in the W Midlands. The amounts you can get are lower, but there is a lot more money out there. Reach out to your local Growth Hub (formerly part of the LEP’s) for information. Growth Hubs are now integrated with your local Council or Combined Authority.

I will be doing two rare Show Me The Money events for WM5G uXPLORE on 25th April in Coventry and BCU STEAMhouse on 7th June in Birmingham. Sharing my tips & tricks on getting that ‘Free Money!’ So pleased to say we’ve helped entrepreneurs access over £4.2m in grant funding and free support! Registration details below. Hope to see some of you there.

Stay amazing, stay courageous

Drew

Drew Currie

Founder, hibretOne CIC

Top Tips for New Subscribers:

• If a grant or programme is not shown in your region, many funds listed are for the W Midlands, where I am based. Google search using the keywords within the grant. Programme may be in your area, running under a different name.

LATEST:

Free clinic for disability businesses

Consultation sessions with disability experts & social enterprise SIC, to find out how to create a barrier-free journey. With 33% of working aged adults reporting a long-term health condition, and EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) being a hot topic, it's more important than ever to create accessible and inclusive business practices.

warwickinnovationdistrict.com/event-calendar/

Spring Budget 2023

Announcements in the Chancellor's Spring Budget which affect small businesses include:

Levelling up

·        Investment Zones will be re-introduced and 12 zones will be created across the UK.

·        Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will be taken over by local government.

·        New Levelling Up Partnerships over £400 million to England's areas most in need.

Support for businesses

·        Energy Bills Discount Scheme.

·        Over £100 million of support to charities and community organisations.

Tax

·        Fuel duty frozen for 12 months.

·        Government will undertake a review of tax guidance for small business.

·        HMRC's income tax services will be modernised.

Investment and R&D

·        Companies able to write off full cost of qualifying plant and machinery investment.

·        Increased rate of relief for loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs will be introduced.

·        British Patient Capital programme extended.

Workers

·        Lifetime Allowance on pensions will be removed. Annual Allowance increases to £60,000.

·        Returnerships to provide over-50s with access to retraining to help them return to work.

Childcare

·        New childminders will receive grants to help with start-up costs.

·        Working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of free childcare per week. Will be extended to working parents of children aged nine months to two years.

·        Government will increase hourly funding rate to childcare providers.

The Budget is available in full heret:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2023

VCSE Contract Readiness Programme

I’m a big fan of this one! School for Social Entrepreneurs, SEUK and Voice4Change England launch a new programme to help charities and social enterprises bid for and win public sector contracts. 

Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) the VCSE Contract Readiness Programme is a free series of webinars, workshops and longer programmes for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations in England. Courses are pitched for organisations at different stages of contract readiness. 

www.the-sse.org/vcse-contract-readiness-programme

Barclays Eagle Labs

Barclays are providing a whole range of business programmes and initiatives. Follow the link for a full list. Would be great if without skipping a beat, there’s a seamless handover from Tech Nation.

These Programmes now open for applications:

·        Funding Readiness Programme

·        Helping demystify the process of finding funding for business growth.

·        Carbon13 Venture Launchpad

·        Helping early stage businesses launch high-potential ClimateTech ventures which have global impact

·        Global Connect - learn from Silicon Valley veterans, on raising early stage funding in the US

I’ve enrolled on the latest Barclays Funding Readiness Programme.

labs.uk.barclays/what-we-offer/our-programmes/

Show Me The Money WM5G uXPLORE Event

People say I’m the 'Martin Lewis of grant funding'. All I can say is my tips, tricks, newsletters and programmes have directed entrepreneurs to ove £4.2m in grant & programme funding. This is a 3 hour session, to give you plenty of chance to download as much as your mind can handle on grant funding & how to access free-at-point-of-need business programmes from me, Drew Currie.

Also if you’re a business looking for Tech space, the uXPLORE hub is amazing!

Location: In-person, uXPLORE Digital Hub, Coventry

Date: 25 April 2023

Cost: Free

Eligibility:

·        Coventry & Warwickshire & Black Country LEP regions.

Contact the brilliant Clare, on clare.mckee@wm5g.org.uk to express an interest. 

Show Me The Money: Lunch and Learn with Drew Currie 

If you’re stuck for time, this one’s over an hour of me pointing out grant funding & how to access free-at-point-of-need business programmes. Hidden sources of grant funding available to entrepreneurs, small businesses, start-ups, academics, social enterprises, and even side-hustlers!

Guaranteed sources of Free Money you never even knew was out there!

Location: In-person Birmingham City University, BCU STEAMhouse, Birmingham

Date: 07 June 2023

Cost: Free

Eligibility:

·        Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP regions.

steamhouse.org.uk/event/lunch-and-learn-with-drew-currie/

Help to Grow website launched

Department for Business and Trade (formerly the DIT) has launched a new website, targeted at helping the UK's 5.4 million small businesses. The Help to Grow website will make it simpler for small businesses to find, access and use the information and support they need.

www.gov.uk/government/news/dbt-unveils-new-help-to-grow-site-to-support-businesses-and-grow-the-economy

Tree Production Innovation Fund

Grants from £20,000 to £400,000 to support innovative projects that will enhance the quantity, quality and diversity of tree planting stock available for planting in England. Funding from The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs via the Forestry Commission - Nature for Climate Fund

Eligibility:

·        Must demonstrate how their project will overcome one or more barriers to tree nursery production.

Deadline: 09 May 2023

www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-production-innovation-fund

The Kaleidoscope foundation

Business support and grants to enable individuals to achieve sustainable and livelihoods. Provides support to disabled entrepreneurs through an Incubation Programme to create businesses that are non-commercial, ie. charities, voluntary organisation or community enterprises. Grants up to £1,000 for individuals looking to start social enterprises or small life-style businesses. 

Eligibility:

·        Based in the UK,

·        Either you or a member of your team must be disabled.

thekaleidoscopefoundation.org/

Business Growth West Midlands (replaces the W Midlands LEPs)

As most of you are aware the LEP’s are being replaced & being assimilated into local government (Councils & Combined Authorities). Provides support with pushing existing business to the next level. Free guidance to business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Link below is the W Midlands URL. Hopefully, next month I’ll have the URL for some more regions, in the meantime reach out to your local council or authority.

businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk

NIYO Upskilling Black Women

Niyo are recruiting 180 black women to train, upskill and be empowered as #builders #innovators in the future of Tech.

XRHER bootcamp

·        16-week bootcamp for black women wanting to create their own #Metaverse.

·        No experience needed but demonstrable passion for the metaverse.

Data Analysis with Project Management Bootcamp

·        16-week bootcamp for black women wanting to get into data analytics

·        Passionate and ready for a data role post bootcamp

FoundHer Bootcamp

·        12-week bootcamp for very early stage black female founders,

·        A chance to win £5000 at the end.

Deadline: 23 April 2023

To attend Niyo’s taster sessions:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/niyo-group-15043910345

Register for the bootcamps:

bootcamps.niyo.co/bootcamps

Equalities Grants

Addressing unequal access for Southwark's Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to grant programmes. £400,000 is available to voluntary and community sector organisations. £200,000 of this sum is ring-fenced for Black, Asian and minority ethnic-led organisations.

Eligibility:

·        Underrepresented groups.

In-person discussion on grant on 11 April 2023.

Deadline: 14 April 2023

www.southwark.gov.uk/engagement-and-consultations/grants-and-funding/equalities-grants

BridgeAI

Join the launch event of BridgeAI - a national £100m Innovate UK funded programme aimed at supporting the adoption and diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the UK. Also developer organisations and academics working on AI & ML research themes with potential to engage in developing solutions for these sectors.

Event is for businesses of all sizes from:

·        Agriculture and food processing

·        Construction

·        Creative industries

·        Transport including warehousing and logistics

Date: 26 April 2023

Location: America Square Conference Centre, London

iuk.ktn-uk.org/events/bridge-ai-launch-event/

W Midlands £25m SME fund launched

Provide investment to innovative businesses with equity up to £1m. WMCA match funds the West Midlands Pension Fund. Will be managed by Midven, part of Future Planet Capital.

West Midlands Co-Investment Fund will build on the collaboration across the region and apply globally recognised sustainable investment practices to deliver both commercial return and social benefits.

W Midlands is really hot for funding right now!

www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/2072839-25m-sme-fund-launched

Funding in Wales to support EU links

The Welsh Government has launched a new programme to help Welsh businesses maintain and develop new partnerships, networks and collaborations with Europe. The Agile Cymru programme will award grants of up to £40,000 over the next 12 months to help fund travel, engagement, consultancy, forming networks, feasibility studies and pilot projects. Grants of up to £25,000 are also available to help create economic opportunities with EU regions.

www.gov.wales/new-funding-support-wales-business-economic-and-research-links-eu-regions

Future Frontiers Fund (FFF)

Green Future Investments Limited (GFIL) supports highly novel ideas, technologies, products and services. Grants of approximately £10,000 to test ‘might work’ concepts. The fund is directed at the early ideas research stage (TRL 1-3): TRL 1 covers investigation of basic principles; TRL 2 is concept development and core questions investigated; and TRL 3 includes concept validation experiments or tests.

All IP generated will belong to the applicant

Eligibility:

·        UK-based SMEs*, start-ups and spinouts, sole traders, and individual entrepreneurs, including staff and students from research institutions

Deadline: 17 April 2023

www.worldlabs.org/opportunity/gfil-future-frontiers-fund-fff-q1-2023

Mental health platform hubs

Apply for funding to establish a multidisciplinary mental health hub. £2,000,000 - £3,500,000

You can request up to £3.5 million at 80% full economic cost for five years.

Eligibility:

·        Based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.

Webinar on 20 April 2023 for more info.

Deadline: Expression of Interest form submitted by 09 May 2023.

www.ukri.org/opportunity/mental-health-platform-hubs/

Treasury announces review into university spinouts

Founders say average 24% stake universities take in spinouts impedes growth. A Treasury review into university spinouts questions the amount of equity universities take at seed stage, say founders (Beauhurst 2023). By comparison, Ivy League universities Stanford, MIT and Harvard hold between 7-10% equity in their spinouts.

Some entrepreneurs also complain that universities also impose excessive bureaucratic demands, said the newspaper.

growthbusiness.co.uk/do-universities-take-too-big-a-stake-in-spinouts-2562529/

Southwark Scholarship Scheme 2023

Since 2011, the scheme has helped 127 young people pursue higher education. The scholarship award covers the full cost of tuition fees for their chosen undergraduate university course.

Eligibility:

·        under 25 years old

·        household combined income of less than £28,000 per annum

·        record of being a Southwark resident

·        legal status in the UK with indefinite leave to remain

·        must be entering higher education for the first time in autumn 2023

·        record of positively contributing to the Southwark community 

Deadline: 07 May 2023

www.southwark.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/help-you-to-find-a-job-or-training/southwark-scholarship-scheme-2023

AXA Startup Angels Competition

Two top business prizes of £25,000 of funding each to start or build a new venture, plus business insurance for a year thanks to AXA and mentoring and support from the AXA Startup Angels.

Four further businesses will receive a runners up prize of a digital campaign to the value of £10,000 with the Evening Standard, plus mentoring from an Evening Standard representative. Three runners up will be selected by the judges, with a fourth awarded to the People’s Choice winner.

Deadline: 04 June 2023

www.standard.co.uk/business/axastartupangel/axa-startup-angel-competition-2023-enter-win-b1068049.html

Create Equity Capacity Building Programme

Delivered in partnership with MeWe360 & funded by Connect Fund, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Social Investment Business.

Offering grants up to £70k, project support in finance, marketing, project management, business, financial planning and governance. An 18 month capacity building fund. Application is made up of 2 parts.

Eligibility:

·        Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority (BAME) led

·        Turnover of at least £100k

·        Based in England

·        Operating for a minimum of two years

·        A social enterprise or charity (with a focus on arts and creative industries)

Deadline: 02 May 2023.

createequityuk.com/project/capacity-building-accelerator/

Majority of lockdown start-ups still trading

Research by Barclays has revealed that 28% of people in the UK have started a new small business or found a way to supplement their income since March 2020. The majority (86%) of those who started a new venture are still running their small business, with 34% saying it has become their main source of income.

Popular start-ups included cleaning, online tutoring, translation services, baking, cat-sitting, jewellery making and online fitness classes. For more info read on:

home.barclays/news/press-releases/2023/03/lockdown-legacies-and-leave-behinds--the-lasting-impact-of-the-p/

Plan to help local businesses revitalise high streets

Businesses and local communities will be helped to take control of empty shops on high streets, as part of plans to revitalise high streets and tackle anti-social behaviour. Local authorities will receive new powers through High Street Rental Auctions to take control of empty buildings, giving communities and local businesses the opportunity to bid for the chance to rent shops. A new £2.5 million High Street Accelerator programme will also be introduced to incentivise local businesses and communities to develop a long-term vision for revitalising high streets.

www.gov.uk/government/news/anti-social-behaviour-action-plan-to-help-communities-take-back-control-of-high-streets

Businesses struggle to find skilled workers

Around 80% of UK businesses are struggling to fill roles because of a lack of skilled talent, according to research by ManpowerGroup. The reported shortages mark a 17-year high, while the number of businesses reporting skills shortages has more than doubled since 2019.

www2.staffingindustry.com/eng/Editorial/Daily-News/UK-Majority-of-businesses-struggle-to-find-the-right-talent-ManpowerGroup-65018

Help to Grow: Management

A 12-week course covering the critical components required to develop a resilient business strategy. It includes online and face-to-face sessions, 10 hours of 1-to-1 mentoring, peer networking, and support to develop a Growth Action Plan. This programme is 90% funded.

Eligibility:

·        Work for a UK Small or Medium-sized Enterprise.

·        Employ between 5 and 249 employees

·        Be a member of the senior leadership team

smallbusinesscharter.org/help-to-grow-management/

Fredericks Foundation

The Frederick Foundation is a charity that helps disadvantaged people to set up or expand their own business. It is open to sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. Operates in the south of England covering Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Loans vary from a maximum of £10,000 (average £5,000) for start-up businesses and a maximum of £20,000 for established businesses. Repayments are negotiated over 2 to 5 years depending on the amount borrowed.

To apply: complete the on-line form to request an application pack. The application form should then be forwarded with a business plan and supporting documentation.

www.fredericksfoundation.org

NBV Business Grant

NBV’s business programmes supports the start-up and growth or development of existing micro, small and medium-sized businesses through advice, training and grant funding. Match funded grants of between £1000 and £2500, for a maximum of 25% of eligible costs. financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Eligibility:

·        Ready to start trading / Currently trading

·        Sell business to business or business to consumer (service only NOT retail)

·        Based in Nottingham City, Broxtowe and parts of Gedling, Rushcliffe and Ashfield

·        Small to Medium Enterprise (SME)

nbv.co.uk/finance-your-business/nbv-business-grant/

Return To Tech Bootcamp

Delivered by Coding Black Females for Black women with a few years of experience as software engineers who want to work in this field again after a break in their career. Limited bursaries available up to £6000 to support you during training.

·        30-week part-time Software Engineering bootcamp

·        2+ years of tech experience / career breaker

Deadline: 30 April 2023

codingblackfemales.com/academy/returntotech/civil-service

Challenger bank lending reaches record high

Research from the British Business Bank has revealed £35.5 billion of bank lending came from challenger and specialist banks in 2022. This exceeded lending by major banks and gave challenger and specialist banks a 55% share of the market. Gross bank lending to smaller businesses in 2022 was £65.1 billion, a 12.8% increase on 2021.

www.british-business-bank.co.uk/press-release/challenger-and-specialist-bank-lending-reached-record-high-of-35-5bn-in-2022-finds-latest-british-business-bank-research/

Founderfest 2023 Pitch Competition

Showcase your startup or scaleup in front of investors and industry leaders?.

Deadline: 14 April 2023

Location: County Hall, London

www.foundervine.com/programs

Everyone Can

Formally the Aidis Trust offers help to the disabled with their assistive technology needs. Advice, assessment and training on how to use assistive technology and gaming equipment.

There is also a gaming centre in Manchester set up with the most up to date equipment. Although it does not provide any grants its work is free to the disabled.

www.everyonecan.org.uk

Win your way to Europe's busiest shopping high street

Enterprise Nation with Adobe Express brings you the latest iteration of the Small Business Goes Big competition. Your chance to win a place on Oxford Street with a store takeover exclusively for small businesses.

To enter, use Adobe Express to create a simple page sharing your business story and telling us why you deserve to win. A page is a digital document that you can easily make, edit and share. You won't need any prior experience. 

Deadline: 24 April 2023

www.enterprisenation.com/small-business-goes-big/

£100m R&D levelling up funding awarded to accelerate innovation

The Innovation Accelerators programme is investing £100 million in 26 projects to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation clusters in Glasgow, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.

www.ukri.org/news/100m-rd-levelling-up-funding-awarded-to-accelerate-innovation/

Startup Visa Scheme for Graduates

The programme provides an opportunity for international graduates to test and refine their business idea, draft a business model for their start-up and develop their entrepreneurial skills. Over 24 months, supported by the Graduate Enterprise Team, participants will clarify their vision, strengthen their mindset and evaluate market opportunities in order to build and launch their business idea. Most universities have a scheme like this.

A number of my brilliant Graduate interns have applied for this programme, with some excellent ideas. Reach out to me & I can connect you if necessary.

www.gov.uk/start-up-visa

Woman Who Inspires Online Network

If you’re looking for a nationwide woman’s network to join post-international Women’s Day, this is an excellent one! Monthly online networking event with a different inspirational speaker. The theme in May is Purpose, Passion & Vision.

Date: 2 May @ 9:30 am - 10:30 am BST

Location: Virtual Event

Cost: Free

www.womanwho.co.uk/event/woman-who-inspires-online-network-purpose-passion-vision/

ISCF SSPP collecting flexible plastic packaging waste at home

Apply for a share of up to £250,000 to develop innovative ideas that help with the collection of flexible packaging waste from households.

Eligibility

·        Competition open to single applicants.

·        UK registered business

·        Charity

Deadline: 12 April 2023

www.ukri.org/opportunity/iscf-sspp-collecting-flexible-plastic-packaging-waste-at-home/

The Oli Bennett Charitable Trust

Financial support to young entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 30 years.

It supports new or very young businesses, preferring to purchase equipment rather than general running costs.

Grants are usually in the region of £1,000 to £1,500 but no more than £2,000.

All applicants will be required to submit a business plan.

www.olibennett.org.uk

Janki Saye Foundation

Grants to fund assistive technologies to transform the lives of people with disabilities and special needs across the UK.

Can include electronic pointing devices allowing users to control the cursor without the use of hands, touch screens, screen readers and text to speech communication aids.

www.jankisaye.org

Beauty Tech: The Rise of Technology in the Beauty Industry

The UK beauty industry is worth over £35b today.

www.beauhurst.com/blog/rise-of-beauty-tech/

SBRI: medicines and dementia phase one

Apply for a share of up to £240,000, to develop disruptive, innovative solutions supporting people at risk of dementia to manage their medications.

Eligibility

be an organisation, registered in the UK, EU and the European Economic Area

work alone or with any other organisations as subcontractors

Deadline: 24 May 2023

www.ukri.org/opportunity/sbri-medicines-and-dementia-phase-one/

Government report on funding for Midlands Pilot

Exploring role of universities as drivers of trade and inward investment

Proposing the UK unleashes the levelling-up potential of its world-leading universities to attract greater international inward investment into local innovation clusters.

midlandsinnovation.org.uk/News/funding-secured-for-drivers-of-trade-and-inward-investment-pilot-

The Innovation Awards 2023

Nominations are open for the Innovation Awards, to recognise and celebrate businesses, individuals and organisations dedicated to innovation. Delivered by The Technology Supply Chain (TSC).

Categories include Manufacturing, Engineering, Sustainability, Tech, and Services Innovator of the Year. With two new categories in the third sector the Community Innovator of the Year award and the the New Innovation of the Year Award. Make as many nominations as you wish. 

Nominations deadline: 14 April 2023

tiawards.co.uk/

Local Giving

Simple 20-minute application process for a £500 grant and an outcome within six weeks, the Magic Little Grants fund reduces the work required for grass-roots organisations to access the funding. Funded by the Peoples Postcode Lottery. 2,650 charitable organisations received grants in 2022. Funding can be used to launch new projects or, support existing ones.

Eligibility:

·        Organisations in first year of operation

·        Have an annual income under £250,000.

·        Be located within England, Scotland, or Wales,

Deadline: 31 October 2023

localgiving.org/magic-little-grants/

Funding to Encourage Disadvantaged Communities to Get Active

Grants up to £15,000 available to charities, voluntary and community groups, local authorities, clubs, schools, and other not-for-profit organisations delivering sports and physical activities to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged communities in England. Schools are eligible to apply if their sports facilities are open for use by the wider community.

Funding is made available through Sport England’s Small Grants Programme which aims to encourage inactive and less active people, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to become more active.

Sport England is also particularly keen to support projects seeking to reduce their impact on the environment through the goods and services they use to deliver the activity.

Eligibility:

·        Based in England

Deadline: 30 June 2023.

www.sportengland.org/funds-and-campaigns/our-funds/small-grants-programme#whoandwhatwellfund-19454

Metaverse 100 Days Challenge

2 Programmes being launched to empower underrepresented founders of established & idea stage Metaverse businesses. Apply for a limited number of spaces on a unique cultural exchange programme, grant support, then a showcase to Meta.

Metaverse Business Applicants: For established Metaverse businesses.

Eligibility:

·        Established Metaverse businesses

·        18+ & from an ethnic minority background,

·        UK based

Deadline: 23 April 2023

Metaverse Idea Applicants: You or your team have an idea for a world you would like to build in the Metaverse.

Eligibility:

·        Idea stage Metaverse businesses

·        18+ & from an ethnic minority background,

·        UK based

Deadline: 14 May 2023

Hackathon Events in Manchester, London, Birmingham, Glasgow & online, from 17th April 2023

www.colorintech.org/100-days

#SBS Small Business Scale-Up Award

Theo Paphitis’ #SBS has teamed up with the Business Leader’s Scale-Up Awards. Companies that are #SBS winners can enter this category and enter other categories at the awards.

Benefits of winning; receiving over 100k brand impressions, national publicity, inclusion in finalist’s brochure, feature in Business Leader Magazine.

Entry Deadline: 26th April 2023

www.scaleup-awards.co.uk/categories/the-sbs-small-business-award/

Smart Path Global Small Business Program

Mastercard has launched a four-month program for startups to collaborate for solutions that drive simple, secure digital experiences for SMEs.

Startups innovating across a range of digital services including, accounting software, ecommerce solutions, lending platforms, payment technologies, digital banking. Customer Service, Banking, Security, SME, E-commerce, Customer Acquisition, Artificial Intelligence, Retail Banking, Cash Flow Management, Payments, Payment Processing, POS, Commerce, Blockchain, Financial Inclusion, IoT (Residential and C&I), Fraud, Loyalty Solutions, Digital Lending, FinTech.

Eligibility:

·        Located in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America

·        incorporated

·        users or paying users

·        have raised funding or not

·        have revenue or not

Deadline: 30 April 2023

developer.mastercard.com/programs/start-path-small-business/

The Sequal Trust

Help for severely disabled people who rely on electronic communication aids (AAC) and specialist computer access equipment.

www.sequaltrust.org.uk

Launch innovation challenges

Lloyds Banking Group, FinTech Scotland & GrowthBuilders deliver a 12 week collaborative Innovation programme offering rapid experimentation with access to subject matter experts and free business masterclasses. FinTechs and InsurTechs apply, also if you have a wildcard proposal you want them to consider.

Deadline: 21 April 2023

www.fintechscotland.com/lloyds-banking-group-and-fintech-scotland-launch-innovation-challenges/

Foundervine Immerse Early Stage Accelerator

Empowering diverse founders to build, grow and scale businesses. Lloyds Bank in partnership with Foundervine.

9-week programme.

Deadline: 16 April 2023

www.foundervine.com/immerse

Foundervine Founder Matching

Want to meet & network with like-minded individuals in Birmingham? Foundervine are hosting a Founder Matching event in Birmingham on 26 July 2023!

www.foundervine.com/immerse

Birmingham Black Business Show

Exhibits, deep-dive workshops, interactive panels, and seminars, delivered by industry pioneers, this event will enable personal, professional and corporate development.

Attendees will gain cutting-edge insight and advice in entrepreneurship, leadership, soft skills and cultural development from some of the UK’s leading Black business owners.

If you want to attend this show, send an email to info@hibretone.org, as I have a couple of tickets spare.

Date: 17 June 2023

Location: Birmingham NEC

www.birminghamblackbusinessshow.co.uk/

The Cost of Childcare

In the UK, the total cost of childcare is around twice the average for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The OECD is an intergovernmental organisation with 38 member countries. So if your gut was telling you childcare is too expensive in the UK, you were right.

www.nesta.org.uk/data-visualisation-and-interactive/the-cost-of-childcare-where-are-englands-affordability-blackspots/

Pathways to Entrepreneurship

Pathways to Enterprising Futures at Aston University will be delivering a series of free business workshops for people that are considering becoming self-employed or starting a business.

This is a partnership with CREME at Aston University, Citizen’s Advice and Punch Records working to deliver pathways and support enterprise skills for communities for underserved communities.

Eligibility:

·        GBSLEP based

·        Unemployed

·        18+

·        Right to live & work in UK

rb.gy/1owlqs

Department of Business and Trade (DBT) Export Academy

DBT was formerly the DIT. Sign up to the online and in-person events to help you get export ready and prepare you to export to new markets. Once you sign up, an Export Academy International Trade Advisor will contact you to provide support.

The DBT are on a mission to help businesses scale through export. If you or anyone you know haas a product with international ambitions, reach out to them.

www.events.great.gov.uk/website/6264/

Black Business Incubator

A partnership with Mentor Black Business and Morgan Stanley, at Somerset House aims to help early-stage creative Black entrepreneurs.

Eligibility:

●    Identify as Black or Mixed-race, based in the UK

●    Launched a product or service in the UK less than 3 years old

●    Operate within the creative sector: this includes fashion, film, media, design, photography, gaming, marketing and advertising.

Location: Hybrid in-person & online events.

Deadline: 28 April 2023

www.somersethouse.org.uk/bbi

Innovate UK - Germany Bilateral: Collaborative R&D

UK organisations, working with at least one German SME, can apply for upto £400,000 of a £4 million fund. For collaborative research projects resulting in innovative solutions.

Eligibility:

●       UK SME

●       Collaborating with at least one German SME

Deadline: 07 June 2023

www.ukri.org/opportunity/uk-germany-bilateral-collaborative-research-and-development/

Lambeth Business Fund

Programmes in partnership with Foundervine. Apply for a grant of up to £1,000 to support your innovative business ideas and projects.

Eligibility:

●    Lambeth-based resident

●    Have finished one Lambeth course

●    Aged 19+

Other entrepreneurial skills programmes available such as Lambeth Adult Learning, Immerse & Lambeth Money Matters.

www.foundervine.com/lambeth

 Fund to decarbonise freight and boost innovation

Government has launched a new fund to help small and medium-sized businesses develop greener and more efficient freight solutions. The freight innovation fund (FIF) will provide funding to up to 36 small and medium-sized enterprises that will work with industry-leading companies to develop innovations which will make freight more efficient, resilient and green.

www.gov.uk/government/news/7-million-tech-fund-to-decarbonise-freight-and-boost-innovation

Government Funded ECO+ energy efficient scheme

To make homes more energy efficient and reduce energy bills by helping to insulate homes. The ECO+ scheme is designed to be complementary to the current ECO scheme. ECO+ is an obligation for larger energy suppliers across Great Britain to give their customers grants for insulation to reduce home heating costs. It has £1 billion in funding.

This scheme will help a wider group of people to insulate their homes than previous versions of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.

Starts: April 2023 to March 2026.

energysavingtrust.org.uk/what-is-the-uk-governments-eco-scheme/

£1.8 Million Fund Launched to Improve Support for People Facing Complex Issues

Lloyds Bank Foundation has launched a £1.8 million funding programme for charities and CICs seeking to influence and achieve change in national policy to improve support for people facing complex issues in England and Wales.

The National Influencing Programme will provide grants of between £30,000 and £150,000 for up to three years, to organisations working to influence those in power to tackle specific issues within accommodation, social security, and refugees and asylum seeker support in England and Wales. The funding will support a range of activities, including research, policy work, campaigns, and communications activity.

Eligibility:

·        England & Wales

Deadline for expressions of interest: 19 May 2023.

www.lloydsbankfoundation.org.uk/funding/national-influencing-programme

Adobe Express Premium Plan

1-Year Individual Free Membership. The Adobe donation programme with Charity Digital Exchange provides a range of donated software products to eligible UK registered charities.

charitydigital.org.uk/products/adobe-express-premium-plan-1-year-individual-membership

Mass Challenge UK: Artificial Intelligence Accelerator Program

Program to connect high-potential startups in AI to experts, corporations & communities to deliver growth & impact. Startups in these categories using AI to solve global societal problems, such as:

·        Decarbonisation of Industry & Society;

·        Health & Well-Being (Medtech to Drug Discovery);

·        Biotechnology (Precision Fermentation/Cellular Agriculture/etc.);

·        Food System Transformation;

·        Materials Development;

·        Sustainable Mobility;

·        Energy Demand Reduction;

·        Transportation and Logistics, including Maritime;

·        Generative AI, especially in the areas of Mobility, Industry, Consumer Goods, and Energy;

Eligibility:

·        Have impactful products, technologies, processes, and solutions

·        Have a viable idea with traction & scalable idea.

·        Are under £2M capital raised and £2M sales.

·        Do not need to be incorporated.

·        UK based

Deadline: 26 April 2023

apply.masschallenge.org/en/en/en-us/mc-uk-2023

35 free investor lists/ databases

Thank you Eva, this list is so valuable for people looking for VC investment. Do bear in mind VC’s invest in less than 1% of the startups which approach them! So, it will be making sure your deck is on point & a numbers game.

www.linkedin.com/posts/evadobrzanska_startupfunding-investors-vcfunding-activity-7048965237714112512-9IVP/

Social Enterprise Boost Fund

Funded by the DCMS to kickstart and accelerate social enterprise activity. WMCA’s aim is to double the size of the social economy within the next 10 years.

SEB Fund will run from March 2023 - March 2025 across County Durham, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Thanet, Sandwell and Wolverhampton. The Fund aims to grow and sustain the social enterprise sector in local areas and to share evidence on the impact of the Fund on social enterprises, and their impact on local areas.

Send expressions of interest for programmes to run in West Midlands to:

sebfwestmids.com/

Finance Evening Spotlight

Delivered by the Immerse Foundervine & Lloyds Bank programme for start-up founders struggling to navigate the complex financial landscape. Foundervine & Lloyds are offering amazing support initiatives in their drives to make starting a business fair for everyone.

Location: Lloyds Bank, 120 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 3BD

Date: 03 May 2023 

www.foundervine.com/immerse-finance-evening-spotlight

UK Export Finance to receive additional £10 billion

Extra £10 billion to boost its support for exporters. Funding will ensure that no viable UK export fails due to lack of finance or insurance

www.gov.uk/government/news/british-businesses-set-to-benefit-from-10-billion-boost-to-uk-export-finance-support

Sign-up to this Show Me The Money newsletter, or share with anyone needing support in these times of opportunity & change:

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Big Thank You to these supporters….

E&OE

Disclaimer:

•     Information is produced for entertainment purposes only and is for the sole use of the recipients.

•     The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.

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•     Items added in the order I found out about them, not importance.