Open to businesses in County Durham, including schemes for the wider region and the whole country.
County Durham's page: people to ring, events nearby and what is only for County Durham
Northumberland National Park Authority
Expert guidance and practical support for farmers and land-based businesses across Northumberland and the North East Region to assist growth, resilience, and diversification opportunities.
UK Steel Enterprise
Business loans from UKSE for businesses in steel areas, at fixed interest rates: unsecured loans of up to £200,000 for a growing business, or up to £100,000 for a new one, and secured loans.
Maven Capital Partners
Flexible debt and equity funding from £150,000 to £2 million for businesses based in or relocating to County Durham, across all sectors.
North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, North East Growth Hub
Capital grants to help businesses in the North East automotive and EV supply chain invest in productivity, innovation and the transition to electrification. Backed by the Department for Business and Trade and delivered by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.
Northumberland Small Business Service
Targeted support for rural businesses and eligible individuals across rural Northumberland, County Durham and Gateshead to start, grow and become more resilient, including enterprise, growth, food and drink and farm business support.
Business Durham
Support for businesses in all sectors in County Durham, including productivity advice, growth specialists, and grants for investment projects.
Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland, Teesside and York Universities, Northern Accelerator, North East Growth Hub
Support for academics and business leaders to create spin-out businesses from university research, including training, funding, investment and business growth support.
FW Capital
Loans of £50,000 or more to companies seeking to finance growth plans, with investment up to £1 million in more established businesses.
UK Steel Enterprise
Equity investment from UKSE for businesses in steel areas: up to £1 million on a first round for a growing business, or up to £250,000 for a new one. UKSE takes only minority stakes and rarely asks for personal guarantees.
FW Capital
A £20 million fund offering development loans from £250,000 to £2 million to SME house builders, construction and property development companies for residential and non-speculative commercial development projects in the North East.
SWEF
Grants of up to £500 for pre-revenue businesses or up to £2,000 for established businesses, for young people aged 18–30 living in County Durham or Tees Valley.
Big Issue Invest
Repayable finance of £30,000 to £400,000 for socially trading organisations with strong social impact goals struggling to secure affordable finance elsewhere.
FW Capital
A £35 million commercial property fund providing loans of £1 million to £7 million to construction companies and property developers for development projects in the North East.
Business Durham
Business support and advice service for Durham County Council, offering tailored help with starting, growing or relocating a business in County Durham, including finance advice and premises.
North East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC), NEPIC
NEPIC is a membership organisation for companies in the chemical-using industries in the North East of England, offering events, mentoring, promotion and industry championing. It is run by industry and aims to help member companies grow.
North East Chamber of Commerce
A membership launched in 2025 to help early-stage businesses build foundations, make connections and grow, with members-only events, networking and funding advice.
Newcastle University
A range of specialist services and facilities, including research, consultancy, clinical trials, studentships, equipment and Business Innovation Centres, to help businesses find solutions to real-world challenges.
Durham County Council
A range of business grants and loans for businesses in the County Durham in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Franchise Angels
Investment in proven businesses with strong branding to support rapid growth via franchising, with comprehensive support and exit strategy assistance.
Durham Business Growth
A business growth support programme for businesses in County Durham.
NorthInvest
A business can apply to pitch to NorthInvest's angel investors for equity investment. Aimed at early-stage northern tech start-ups in healthtech, fintech, sustainability, AI and media.
Entrepreneurs' Forum
A membership network where owner-managers of North East businesses meet at events and through peer-to-peer mentoring to share experience and grow faster.
Invest North East England
A free search facility for commercial land and property in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and Durham, focused on key sites of 10,000 to 50,000 square feet. Provided with a free package of support from Invest North East England.
Made Smarter, North East Growth Hub
Support for small and medium-sized manufacturers in the North East and Tees Valley to adopt digital technology, with a digital roadmap, workshops, grants for expert technical advice and for new software or equipment, and fully-funded Digital Interns.