Grant Funding
Equity-free grant funding to help you start or grow a business opportunity.
We can provide financial support to help you build or grow your business, freelance career, or social enterprise. Our grants are equity-free, meaning we don't take any shares or stakes in your business.
We can award grants in any amount up to £3,000. We issue smaller grants to help with business exploration, including market research. We issue larger grants to help with business development, such as prototyping.
The grant funding application process will also help you to create a strong proposition for your business idea. Everyone who engages with us will walk away with a stronger proposition and richer experience. The process can also help you with self-reflection and assessment, applying for future funding and practising your pitch.
Our grant funding is just one option available to you, book an appointment with our Entrepreneurship and Start-up Consultants to discuss your options.
How do I apply for grant funding?
We run selection panels to award grant funding. As part of this, we'll ask you to do a short pitch to explain what you would spend the funds on and why. The 'why' is the most important part.
An Entrepreneurship and Start-up Consultant or Business Adviser can refer you to a selection panel and help you prepare to pitch. You will need to make an appointment with the START UP team before you can access grant funding.
Important Dates
Applications for the next round of START UP grant funding will open Monday 3 March (09:00 GMT) and will close Friday 14 March 2025 (23:45 GMT)
If you are selected, you must be available on the days the grant funding panels will take place, which are Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 March. Times will be confirmed.
What important details do I need to know?
- funding is limited and not guaranteed; it's a competitive process
- your business/ business opportunity must be based in the UK (this is our area of expertise) but can be reaching wider markets.
- for our international students, visa restrictions may apply that limit how far you can engage with business activity – please contact the Visa Support team for advice
- if you go on to start a business after receiving grant funding the team will capture details of your start-up to track impact.
For more information, read our START UP Grant Funding Terms and Conditions 2025
START UP Grant Funding Terms and Conditions (Accessible document).
If you have any questions about grant funding, contact us.
Make it Happen Fund
The Make it Happen Fund is another source of funding you can explore to develop your business idea.
The Make it Happen Fund can be accessed to fund projects and initiative costs associated with extracurricular projects, such as conducting market research to develop your business idea or help you begin test-trading.
Projects could contribute to your overall student experience, build skills and experience related to your field of study or career interest or have a positive impact for the wider community.
How much is available?
Up to £500 is available.
