Funding and business support in Leeds, Yorkshire and the North
Grants, loans, investment and support programmes for businesses in Leeds, Yorkshire and the North of England. Leeds and West Yorkshire come first. Pick your area to see only what is open to you.
A free network for creative and digital SMEs, freelancers, cultural organisations, students and teachers in Wakefield, offering connections, opportunities, a resource catalogue and networking events.
Amount
Free to sign up, according to the page.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
WakefieldRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
A membership for manufacturers offering factory visits, member meetings, representation with local authorities and the Mayoral Office for West Yorkshire, and a talent pipeline with local schools.
Amount
£135 per year (2026). Sponsor membership is a separate tier at £300 per year.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Annual membership of the Mid Yorkshire Chamber, giving businesses networking events, a chamber directory, member offers, training and a voice with decision-makers. Priced by number of full-time equivalent employees.
Amount
Membership fee a year, excluding VAT: £221 (1 to 3 employees) to £649 (251 or more employees). MY Export Hub membership £402 to £649.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
Calderdale, Kirklees, WakefieldRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
A promise from local employers to review their working practices and foster a culture of fair work, giving members access to peer networks, a learning and development portal, a recognition mark and a pathway to sustainable growth.
Amount
Price not stated on the page.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Free support for people starting or running a business, including one-to-one specialist guidance, access to business databases and help protecting products with patents, trade marks, registered designs and copyright. Aimed at entrepreneurs in Leeds and West Yorkshire.
Amount
Free
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Information for employers on hiring apprentices, placement students, employability sessions, donating materials and sharing apprenticeship levy with small construction businesses, run by Leeds College of Building.
Amount
Up to £2,500
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Two-year programme giving entrepreneurs starting or running a new business or social enterprise a registered address, workspace, training, mentoring, networking and fundraising access. Open to home and international graduates who want to be based in Bradford.
Amount
Fees are £8,000 per year per entrepreneur, with a discount of £1,000 per year if paid upfront. Alternatively, the University of Bradford is willing to enter into an equity arrangement in lieu of fees.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
BradfordRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Personal loans for business purposes for people in West Yorkshire who want to grow their own business, including those with weak credit histories. Trust Leeds is an ethical lender that checks each application and credit history.
Amount
Representative example: a £1,000 Trust Leeds loan repaid monthly over 12 months, total repayable £1,060, 6% fixed interest per year, representative 10.9% APR
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Support for West Yorkshire businesses to connect with young people in schools and colleges, including a free Engage with Education toolkit for working with SEND schools and colleges.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
A service where larger employers transfer unspent apprenticeship levy funds to smaller businesses taking on apprentices, covering 100% of training costs. Businesses seeking a transfer must be located in West Yorkshire and register through a training provider.
Amount
Transfers of up to 50% of a levy payer's unspent levy; the transferred funding covers 100% of the training costs of the apprenticeship.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Leeds Conservatoire, Come Play With Me, CREATE Britain
A network for everyone working in music across West Yorkshire, offering a place to share knowledge, collaborate on projects and get support to grow a business. Aimed at music sector professionals of all kinds.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
Fully funded support from Green Economy to help green technology installers, suppliers and innovators in West Yorkshire develop products, enter new markets, raise their profile and increase sales.
Amount
Fully funded (no amount stated)
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
Invest in Bradford's business support team helps people planning a first business and established businesses looking to grow in Bradford, and points them to funding, local business grants and start-up and growth support programmes.
Amount
£1,500 to £315,000
Deadline
Open all year
Area
BradfordRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Business Kirklees offers targeted support for businesses of all sizes, sectors and stages, covering start-up, growth, relocation and investment. It is run by Kirklees Council's business team.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
KirkleesRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
A wide range of business support for small and medium-sized businesses in Leeds and West Yorkshire, including consultancy, finance for investment, leadership and management development, apprenticeship training, export support, energy and carbon advice, and help with Council services. Access is through Business Growth Managers.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
LeedsRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Free independent support for new and existing businesses across the Wakefield District, including access to funding, 1-2-1 business growth advice and start-up support. Wakefield First connects businesses to its own services or other relevant support programmes in any sector.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
WakefieldRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Completely funded support for ambitious businesses in West Yorkshire trading less than five years, with three levels: building momentum, ready to grow, and ready to scale.
Amount
Completely funded support (no cash amount stated)
Deadline
Open all year
Area
West YorkshireRating 10/10Local Landscape rating 10 out of 10
A grant for business property owners and tenants in Keighley to improve shop frontages within specified areas, offered through the Keighley Towns Fund.
Amount
£1,250 to £20,000
Area
BradfordRating 6/10Local Landscape rating 6 out of 10
Free support for Leeds employers covering recruitment, supported employment, social value, supported internships, apprenticeships and future skills, alongside related incentives and events.
Amount
Employer Incentive: £10,000 per eligible employee for recruitment and £5,000 for retention, per the text. Support package as a whole has no stated amount.
Area
LeedsRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
Lets private and public sector organisations with a presence in West Yorkshire collaborate on Masters or PhD postgraduate research courses, with optional work placements, through the scheme.
Area
West YorkshireRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Fully funded support to help businesses diversify and access regional, national and global supply chain opportunities, including workshops, networking, events, industry visits and sector-based Innovation Challenges.
Amount
Fully funded support (no monetary amount stated)
Area
West YorkshireRating 6/10Local Landscape rating 6 out of 10