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Cultural Enterprise Office, 2007-2011 www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk T: 0844 544 9990

Business Funding Guide

Directories

Business Gateway

The Business support finder allows you to search for potential sources of help with starting

up, running or developing your business.

www.bgateway.com

GRANTNET

A straightforward FREE-to-use service from GRANTfinder, can help small businesses,

charitable and community groups to find suitable funding.

www.grantnet.com

Interface

Lists funds available to companies wishing to work in partnership with universities and

research institutes.

www.interface-online.org.uk/2094

Aberdeen Council for Voluntary Organisations

ACVO provides access to an online funding database for the voluntary and community

sector in Aberdeen.

www.aberdeenccn.info/accn_funding_search.asp

Funder Finder

Database of charitable trusts and foundations that fund individuals, community groups and

voluntary organisations in the UK. Access the database for free in regional agencies such as

Business Gateway, Council for Voluntary Organisations and some local libraries:

www.funderfinder.org.uk

Funding Central

A free website for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises, providing access

to thousands of funding and finance opportunities.

www.fundingcentral.org.uk

j4bGrants

Database of government and lottery grants for small businesses and voluntary groups.

www.j4bgrants.co.uk

UK Sponsorship

Limited company database listing sponsorship opportunities across the UK.

www.uksponsorship.com/arts1.htm

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Cultural Enterprise Office, 2007-2011 www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk T: 0844 544 9990

Public Funding

National

Co-operative Development Scotland

CDS can offer funding support for feasibility studies and business planning.

www.cdscotland.co.uk/cds.htm

Awards for All

Grants for people to take part in art and community activities that promote education, the

environment and health in the local community.

www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/index.html

Big Lottery Fund

Grants to organisations ranging from small local groups to major national charities.

www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/funding-uk

Community Action Network (CAN)

CAN Social Investment deploys a range of funding and business support into social

enterprises and includes the pioneering Breakthrough fund.

www.can-online.org.uk/pages/social_investment.html

Commonwealth Foundation

Annual grants for each Commonwealth Association. Activities which encourage skills

transfer and experience sharing between Commonwealth countries are particularly

encouraged.

www.commonwealthfoundation.com/Howwedeliver/Grants/CommonwealthAssociatio

nannualgrants

Enterprise Nation Fund 101

Micro grants of between £50 and £500 are available for would be entrepreneurs to set up

their own businesses.

www.enterprisenation.com/fund101/

Event Scotland: National Events Programme

Funding is available to support events outside of the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow that

showcase Scotland and help to generate tourism.

www.eventscotland.org/funding-and-resources/national-events-programme/

Heritage Lottery Fund

Funding for not-for-profit projects with a heritage focus.

www.hlf.org.uk/HowToApply/whatwefund/Pages/whatwefund.aspx

John Logie Baird Awards

Designed to recognise and celebrate innovation by encouraging the commercial exploitation

of Scotland’s intellectual capital.

www.johnlogiebairdawards.co.uk

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Cultural Enterprise Office, 2007-2011 www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk T: 0844 544 9990

Live UnLtd

Offering young people aged between 11-21 up to £5000 of funding and all the support

needed to help to develop an idea which could change their community for the better.

www.liveunltd.com

New Enterprise Allowance Scheme

Available to people who have been on Job Seekers Allowance for 6 months or more who

want to start their own business.

www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/new-enterprise-allowance/

Peoples Postcode Trust

Funding for projects that last 3 months or less, from community groups, charities, not-for-

profit organisations and community interest companies.

www.postcodetrust.org.uk

Santander Social Enterprise Development Awards

These awards aim to support social enterprises and Community Interest Companies looking

to grow their business and improve their local community.

www.santanderseda.co.uk

Social Entrepeneurs Fund

Firstport and Scotland Unltd are working together in Scotland to provide advice and funding

opportunities for new start social entrepreneurs.

www.socialentrepreneursfund.org

Scottish Centre for Enabling Technologies

The feasibility study grant provides match funded support.

www.ictthatworks.org/drupal/Funding_for_Innovation

Scottish Enterprise

A variety of funding and support is available to help develop innovative business ideas.

www.scottish-enterprise.com/grow-your-business/find-money-to-grow/innovation-

grants.aspx

Shell LiveWIRE

Shell LiveWIRE offers two types of funding awards for young entrepreneurs (aged 16-30)

www.shell-livewire.org

SMART:Scotland

Provides financial assistance to SMEs to help support projects that represent a significant

technological advance for the UK sector or industry concerned.

www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/999.html

Scottish Enterprise: Regional Selective Assistance

Grant scheme available to encourage investment and job creation for businesses of all sizes

in designated areas in Scotland.

www.scottishbusinessgrants.gov.uk/rsa/208.html

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Cultural Enterprise Office, 2007-2011 www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk T: 0844 544 9990

Skills Development Scotland: Flexible Training Opportunities

Provides Scottish businesses with up to 150 employees the opportunity to apply for up to

£5,000 towards employee training costs.

www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/our-services/services-for-

employers/encourage-employees-to-develop-new-skills.aspx

The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT)

Business loans, grants and start-up funding for those aged 18-25 (or 26-30 with a disability)

looking to develop a business idea.

www.psybt.org.uk/StartUp/tabid/78/language/en-GB/Default.aspx

UnLtd Awards

UnLtd's Millennium Awards provide practical and financial support to social entrepreneurs in

the UK.

www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=1&PageName=whatareunltdawards

Voluntary Action Fund

Scotland's leading independent grant-making body investing in voluntary and community

based organisations throughout Scotland.

www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/5/grants/

Zero Waste Scotland

An innovation fund dedicated to resource efficient products, services and packaging design.

http://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/wastepreventioninnovationfund

Regional Funding

Aberdeen City Council

Grants available for businesses based in Aberdeen.

www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/Grants/gra/gra_Funding_FurtherInfo.asp

Employee Grant scheme

www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/CouncilNews/ci_cns/pr_firststaff_010311.asp

Aberdeenshire Council

Will consider applications from properly constituted voluntary sector organisations whose

aims are in line with the Council's strategic priorities.

www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/funding/index.asp

SAB offers loans and grants to both new and existing businesses throughout Aberdeenshire.

www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/support/finance/sab.asp

Dumfries and Galloway Council: Small Business Grants

Offer discretionary grants of up to £5000 to support business development and sustainability

amongst new start and established micro and small businesses in Dumfries and Galloway.

www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=7395

Dundee City Council

Leisure and Communities department offer various strands of grant funding.

www.dundeecity.gov.uk/leisurecomms/grantaid

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Cultural Enterprise Office, 2007-2011 www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk T: 0844 544 9990

Glasgow City Council

Provide advice and grants for businesses in Glasgow.

www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Business/Businesssupport/TrainingGrants

Glasgow Social Economy Development Fund

To allow enterprising small to medium third sector organisations with growth potential to take

significant steps towards sustainability.

www.glasgowregeneration.org.uk/news/story.php?newsID=120

Highland Opportunity Ltd: Rural Development Grant

www.highland-opportunity.com/business-start-up-grants.htm

All new businesses in the Highlands, including the Inverness area, can apply for a business

start up grant.

Neighbourhood Partnership: Community Grants Fund

Edinburgh Council provides this small grants scheme for local community activity that

supports the work of the Neighbourhood Partnerships and their Local Community Plans.

www.edinburghnp.org.uk/about-nps/funding/community-grants-fund

Perth and Kinross Council: Business Grants and Loans

Offer various streams of funding for businesses in Perth and Kinross.

www.pkc.gov.uk/Business+and+trade/Support+for+businesses/Grants+and+Loans/Bu

siness+Grants+and+Loans.htm

Renfrewshire Leader

Funding for rural areas and communities in Renfrewshire, to support small scale, innovative

community driven projects.

www.renfrewshireleader.co.uk

Union Square: Community Bursary Scheme

Local charities and not-for-profit organisations in Aberdeen City and Shire are invited to

apply for grants with the aim of supporting vital community work, across all age groups and

backgrounds.

www.unionsquareaberdeen.com/website/union-square-community-bursary-2011.aspx

Fundraising, Foundations and Trusts

D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust - Funding for Charities

The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust funds registered charities and supports projects in the

arts, medical welfare and the environment. Applicants are requested to make a preliminary

outline proposal by letter.

Contact the Administrator, The D`Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, 1 Savoy Hill, London

WC2R OBP.

Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Trust

Grants to assist voluntary organisations in their work.

www.evoc.org.uk/evot/explanation.htm

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Cultural Enterprise Office, 2007-2011 www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk T: 0844 544 9990

Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland

Distributing funds to recognised charities throughout Scotland.

www.ltsbfoundationforscotland.org.uk

Prince's Trust Grants

Funding for young people who need support with course fees or equipment or projects to

help the local community.

www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/in_your_region/scotland/grants.aspx

Santander Foundation

Donations to organisations with charitable status for their work within the UK.

www.santanderfoundation.org.uk/whatwefund.aspx

Scottish International Education Trust

Financial support for individuals to meet training needs in a subject area or institution where

public funds are not available.

www.scotinted.org.uk

The Co-operative Membership Community Fund

Grant scheme which helps local communities throughout the UK.

www.co-operative.coop/membership/local-communities/community-fund

The Tudor Trust

Supports voluntary and community groups working in any part of the UK.

www.tudortrust.org.uk

Private Finance and Loans

Angels Den

A website to connect with business angels; people looking to invest in great businesses.

www.angelsden.co.uk

Angel List

AngelList is a community of startups and investors who make fund-raising efficient.

http://angel.co

DSL Business Finance

DSL is a not for profit company whose aim is to finance start-up and growth companies.

www.dsl-businessfinance.co.uk

East of Scotland Investment Fund

A consortium of 9 local authorities in the east of Scotland that provides loan finance to new

and growing small and medium sized enterprises.

www.eastscotinvest.co.uk

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Cultural Enterprise Office, 2007-2011 www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk T: 0844 544 9990

Edinburgh Business Development Fund

Aims to help people who live in regeneration areas to start up or develop their business.

www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/business_solutions/accessing_funding/edinburgh_bus

iness_development_fund.cfm

Edinburgh Business Loan Fund

Designed to provide loans to assist a new or expanding small business based in the City of

Edinburgh.

www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/business_solutions/accessing_funding/edinburgh_bus

iness_loan_fund.cfm

European Investment Fund

EIF indirectly supports SMEs by working with a wide range of financial intermediaries that

provide loans, micro-loans, guarantees and equity finance to SMEs.

www.eif.org

Highland Opportunity: Community Enterprise Loan Fund

Loans are intended to support "non profit distributing" community-based enterprises in the

Highlands.

www.highland-opportunity.com/Highland%20Opportunity%20Services/copy-

CELF.html

LINC Scotland

National association for business angels in Scotland, with a membership network of

hundreds of investors.

www.lincscot.co.uk

PRIME Business Start-up Loan

Designed to support people aged over 50 to get access to funds to become self-employed or

set up their own business.

www.primebusinessclub.com/loans/prime-business-start-up-loan

Social Investment Scotland

Through loan finance they invest in social businesses that have the capability to make

sustainable social impacts.

www.socialinvestmentscotland.com

West of Scotland Loan Fund

A unique consortium of twelve west of Scotland Local Authorities working together to provide

loan finance to new and existing small to medium sized enterprises within the west of

Scotland.

www.wslf.co.uk

Disclaimer: Cultural Enterprise Office is not responsible for any advice or information provided by any

external organisation referenced in this document.