Enhanced Trade Partnership in Greater Manchester, GM Business Growth Hub, Enhanced Trade Partnership
A programme for fast-growing Greater Manchester businesses preparing to expand internationally, with workshops, a 1-2-1 International Trade Adviser and an export grant of up to £2,500. It is run by the Enhanced Trade Partnership and brings together GM Business Growth Hub, Department for Business and Trade, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Amount
Up to £2,500
Deadline
Closes 22 November 2026 (21 days)
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Invest Manchester offers a free and confidential package of services tailored to individual business needs, including finance and funding guidance, market intelligence, PR and marketing support, property solutions, recruitment and relocation support.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
A fully funded support programme for creative businesses in Greater Manchester offering 1:1 business advice, workshops, masterclasses and networking to help businesses grow and scale.
Amount
Fully funded
Deadline
Open all year
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
A 12-month support programme for founder-led businesses in Greater Manchester with annual turnover of £1m or above, offering workshops, mentoring, networking and access to investment opportunities.
Amount
fully funded (no amount stated)
Deadline
Open all year
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Free fully funded training and tailored business support to develop workforce skills, address skills gaps and strengthen workforce resilience for Greater Manchester organisations and individuals.
Amount
fully funded (no amount stated)
Deadline
Open all year
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Invest Manchester offers a free and confidential package of services tailored to individual business needs, including finance and funding guidance, market intelligence, PR and marketing support, property solutions, recruitment and relocation support.
Deadline
Open all year
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
CCentre for Sustainable Innovation, University of Salford (with GM Business Growth Hub
A free three-day workshop for Greater Manchester SMEs with an innovation or R&D project ready for its next stage, covering market research, design sprints and advice on finding more funding. Businesses that qualify can then get help applying for technical assistance from an expert.
Amount
Fully funded (free to attend)
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10
A six-week scale-up support programme for businesses in Greater Manchester covering strategy, innovation, customer insight, people management, finance and social value.
Deadline
Apply now for a place on a cohort: cohort 8 starts on 28 January 2027 and cohort 9 on 22 April 2027.
Area
Greater ManchesterRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
For all of North West England, or the whole North 6 schemes
Membership of a life science business network in the North of England, giving access to industry knowledge, expertise, business support and member introductions. Open to life science businesses based in the North of England.
Amount
£195 to £955
Deadline
Open all year
Area
The North of EnglandRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Support for small and medium-sized manufacturing and engineering businesses in the North West to adopt industrial digital technologies, including expert guidance, match funding, digital interns and leadership training.
Amount
Up to £20,000
Deadline
Open all year
Area
North West 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
A funded programme for senior leaders and managers in SMEs, mixing online and face-to-face sessions on digital strategy, identifying priorities and where digital tools can help.
Amount
Described as funded; no amount stated.
Deadline
Next cohort: January 2027
Area
North West EnglandRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
National schemes 126 schemes
Open to businesses across England or the UK, including Wigan.
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
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
Grants of £5,000 to £25,000 for engaged Money Guiders Partner organisations to run projects improving customer referrals and collaboration (Lot 1) or raising awareness of money guidance (Lot 2). Each organisation can make one application per Lot.
Amount
£5,000 to £25,000
Deadline
Closes 10 November 2026 at 5pm (9 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 10/10Local Landscape rating 10 out of 10
DDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Innovate UK
A grant of £2,500 for farming, growing or forestry businesses in England to engage an external Project facilitator to support development of a full ADOPT grant application. Single applicants only.
Amount
Up to £2,500
Deadline
Closes 11 November 2026 at 11am (10 days)
Area
EnglandRating 10/10Local Landscape rating 10 out of 10
A competition run by Simply Business to win £10,000 of funding, with one-to-one business coaching from Hatch Enterprise, for five business owners aged over 40.
Amount
Up to £10,000
Deadline
Closes 12 November 2026 at midnight (11 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
Funding of up to €30,000 and a 9-month training programme for early-stage founders with pre-incorporation business concepts in Materials and Built Environment (fashion and architecture). Includes an in-person Startup Sprint and an online Spark Incubation Programme.
Amount
Up to €30k per project (up to €30,000 in funding per selected venture)
Deadline
Closes 16 November 2026 at 5pm (15 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 7/10Local Landscape rating 7 out of 10
UK registered research and technology organisations or academic institutions can apply for up to £4 million to establish a hub improving the targeting and commercial impact of grant-funded manufacturing digitalisation activity.
Amount
From £3,800,000
Deadline
Closes 18 November 2026 at 11am (17 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
A national pitching competition where founders submit a 90 second pitch video to join regional finals, with one winner per regional event going to the London Grand Final. Open to founders with a business idea and proof of traction.
Amount
Prize: a shining trophy and founder perks (no cash amount stated)
Deadline
Closes 1 December 2026 (30 days)
Area
United KingdomRating 8/10Local Landscape rating 8 out of 10
A Innovate UK competition to join a cohort of ambitious businesses that will develop solutions to decarbonise concrete and access funding and sector specific support for innovation and growth plans.
Amount
Up to £54,400
Deadline
Closes 2 December 2026 at 11am
Area
United KingdomRating 9/10Local Landscape rating 9 out of 10