North East business grants & funding

30 schemes, all checked on 15 Oct 2026. Closed schemes are kept at the bottom so you don't waste time on them.

Areas:

NewcastleNorth TynesideNorthumberlandGatesheadSouth TynesideSunderlandCounty DurhamTees ValleyUK-wide (open to North East firms)

Categories:

Growth & business adviceMarketing & websiteCapital & equipmentInnovation & R&DLoans & equityStart-upsPremises & shop frontsExportDigital & manufacturingCreative & cultural

30 of 30 schemes

Open

North of Tyne Business Support Fund

NBSL (North East CA, UKSPF) · Grant

Up to 50% of eligible spend on projects costing £3,000–£8,000 (up to £4,000)

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland · Checked

Open

Sunderland Business Support Fund

NBSL (North East Mayoral Strategic Authority) · Grant

£3,000–£6,000 grants covering up to 40% of eligible spend

Sunderland · Checked

Open

North East Accelerate Fund

North East Fund, managed by Mercia Ventures · Equity / convertible loan

Initial £50,000–£350,000, up to £1m in total

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham · Checked

Open

North East Elevate Fund

North East Fund, managed by FW Capital · Loan / mixed loan-equity

Loans from £50,000, up to £1m for established businesses

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham · Checked

Open

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: NEL Smaller Loans

NEL Fund Managers (British Business Bank NPIF II) · Loan

£25,000–£100,000 (per Review North)

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Open

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: NEL Debt Finance

NEL Fund Managers (British Business Bank NPIF II) · Loan

£100,000–£2m (per Review North)

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Open

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: Maven Equity Finance

Maven Capital Partners (British Business Bank NPIF II) · Equity

Up to £5m (per Review North). Check with funder.

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Open

Finance Durham

Durham County Council, managed by Maven · Debt and equity

Investment range: check with funder (from £150,000 per Review North)

County Durham · Checked

Open

Durham Business Growth (productivity support)

Business Durham / Durham County Council · Fully funded advice

One-to-one engagement, action plans and productivity interventions (no cash amount)

County Durham · Checked

Open

Start Up Loans

Start Up Loans Company (British Business Bank) · Loan

£500–£25,000 per owner (up to £100,000 per business), fixed 7.5% a year, 1–5 year term, 12 months' free mentoring

UK-wide (open to North East firms) · Checked

Rolling

SWEF Enterprise Fund: Start-up Grant

Community Foundation North East · Grant

Up to £500

Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland · Checked

Check with funder

BIPC Citylife Business Support

Business & IP Centre North East · Fully funded expert support (grant-paid)

Up to 12 hours of expert support, fully funded

Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside, Northumberland · Checked

Check with funder

Business Growth Fund

North East CA, delivered by UMi (UKSPF) · Grant

£20,000–£300,000 discretionary grants (per Invest North East England)

Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland · Checked

Check with funder

Culture and Creative Investment Programme

North East CA with Creative UK · Finance plus business support

Combined finance and support package. Amounts: check with funder

North Tyneside, Northumberland, Newcastle · Checked

Check with funder

Made Smarter Adoption North East

Made Smarter with North East Growth Hub and Tees Valley CA · Grant plus support

Up to £3,500 for technical advice. Up to £20,000 (max 50% of cost) for software or equipment

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Check with funder

North East Early Stage Equity Fund

North East Fund, managed by Mercia Regional Ventures · Equity

£35m fund. Deal sizes: check with funder

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham · Checked

Closed

Durham Business Growth Grant

UMi · Grant

Previously £10,000–£200,000 (per Invest North East England)

County Durham · Checked

Closed

Tees Valley Export Fund

Tees Valley Combined Authority (UKSPF) · Grant

£3,000–£10,000, 25% match funding

Tees Valley · Checked