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.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North East EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
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.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North East EnglandRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
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.
Amount
Grants to help purchase new software and/or equipment (up to 50% of the overall cost); grants for expert technical advice (amount not stated)
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North East EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Equity finance of up to £5 million for ambitious, growth-focused start-ups and established SMEs in the North East of England. Run by Maven as fund manager for the British Business Bank's Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II.
Amount
Up to £5,000,000
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North East EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Loans of £25,000 to £100,000 from NEL Fund Managers for new or growing businesses in the North East and Tees Valley, for growth such as expansion, new staff, equipment, working capital or premises.
Amount
£25,000 to £100,000
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North East EnglandRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
A debt finance fund to help smaller business owners deliver their business ambitions and grow. Aimed at smaller companies that can demonstrate growth potential.
Amount
£100,000 to £2,000,000
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North East EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Equity investment in companies spinning out from Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside universities to commercialise research and innovation.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North East EnglandRating 6/10Local Landscape rating 6 out of 10
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.
Amount
£50,000 to £2,000,000
Deadline
Open all year
Area
The North of EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Business loans from £500 to £250,000 for startups, small and growing businesses across the North of England, for startup costs, working capital, growth, equipment and refinancing.
Amount
£500 to £250,000
Deadline
Open all year
Area
The North of EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
RTC North Ltd is a support provider that delivers publicly funded business support, expert advice and innovation programmes across the North of England, for start-ups, scale-ups, manufacturers and supply chains.
Area
The North of EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
National schemes 116 schemes
Open to businesses across England or the UK, including North East England.
Funding for industrial research solutions to strengthen supply chain resilience and onshore critical dual use capabilities in battery innovation. Open to organisations of any size.
Amount
Share of £2 million, inclusive of VAT (total fund £2,000,000)
Deadline
Closes 4 November 2026 at 11am (3 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £150 million to create scale up manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies.
Amount
£2,500,000 to £20,000,000
Deadline
Closes 4 November 2026 at 11am (3 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 10/10Local Landscape rating 10 out of 10
Phase 1 expression of interest for late-stage climate tech businesses developing First of a Kind (FOAK) projects, offering technical assistance (in-kind support) and possible Phase 2 grant funding. Companies must be UK registered micro, small or medium enterprises working alone, or as a lead.
Amount
Up to £315,000
Deadline
Closes 5 November 2026 at 11am (4 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
SThe SSE, School for Social Entrepreneurs, Social Enterprise UK
A free 12-month support programme for charities, social enterprises and community organisations preparing for social investment, with a choice of a Match Trading grant or a repayable grant.
Amount
Up to £24,000
Deadline
Closes 6 November 2026 at 12 noon (5 days)
Area
EnglandRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
Innovation Exchange programme, Innovate UK, Innovation Exchange, Innovate UK Business Connect
A challenge to develop a modern replacement electronics platform for the GeoSwath bathymetric sonar system, with a grant of up to £60K for a 3-month project. Open to established businesses, academic institutions, start-ups, SMEs and individual entrepreneurs that are UK based or intend to set up a UK base.
Amount
Up to £60,000
Deadline
Closes 6 November 2026 at 5pm (5 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
iX programme, Innovation Exchange, Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect
A competition to find innovators who can build a configurable industrial software solution for MBSE simulation within openSPDM. Winners get a chance to pitch and then apply for a grant of up to £60,000 for a 3 month project.
Amount
Up to £60,000
Deadline
Closes 6 November 2026 at 5pm (5 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
iX programme, Innovation Exchange, Innovate UK Business Connect, Innovate UK
A competition for solution providers to capture and verify social value delivery across defence supply chains, with up to £60,000 grant for a 3 month project. Open to businesses including SMEs and start-ups.
Amount
Up to £60,000
Deadline
Closes 6 November 2026 at 5pm (5 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Innovation Exchange, Innovate UK Business Connect, VSS
VSS is seeking open-innovation solutions to extend blast mitigation protection for personnel in armoured vehicles under drone attack. The winning applicant, selected by VSS, can apply for grant funding for a 3-month project.
Amount
Up to £60,000
Deadline
Closes 6 November 2026 at 5pm (5 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Innovation Exchange, Innovate UK, Innovate UK Business Connect
An Innovate UK Innovation Exchange challenge set by Advanced Integrated Technologies Ltd (AiT) seeking resilient communications, navigation and mission-connectivity technologies for a persistent high-altitude autonomous aircraft. Selected solution providers may be invited to apply for a grant of up to £60,000.
Amount
Up to £60,000
Deadline
Closes 6 November 2026 at 5pm (5 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10