Find start-up finance

There are different funding options to consider for your business, depending on your circumstances. Here are some suggestions to help you find out more about what support you can access and what might be right for you.

If you have been trading over 6 months, then you are not eligible for start-up funding you need to look at the Business finance for established businesses in our Growing a business section:

Start-up Finance information

Business grants websites

You can search for available grants using the following websites:

Enterprising Ashfield programme - HeadStart

This business support programme is designed to help entrepreneurs, living in or working in Kirkby in Ashfield and Sutton in Ashfield, to acquire the skills and information they need to start and grow a business. 

Participants may also be eligible to receive a £1000 grant at the end of the programme to help establish their new venture.

SWEF Programme

If you are aged between 18 to 30 years old, from a low income household or facing other challenges preventing you from developing your business, and you live and work Nottinghamshire then this programme may help you with grant funding up to £2000.

You can be at pre-start, start up or established trading stages as long as you have not been trading for over 2 years.

This grant can be used to pay towards:

  • Equipment that will help a business bring in a second revenue stream or increase production where there is proven demand
  • Materials/stock for a new product line,
  • Prototypes
  • Website/booking system build
  • Training and product development.

British Bank

The British Bank can provide loans between £500 to £25,000 to help start or grow your business.

This is an unsecured personal loan not linked to your business. You can also get free support and guidance to help write your business plan, and successful applicants can get up to 12 months of free mentoring.

Eligible businesses also include those that have been trading up to 3 years, and second start-up loans are now available to eligible businesses that have been trading for up to 5 years.

High Street Banks

You can check the latest loan facilities with high street banks such as:

Crowdfunding

This is the practice of funding a project or new venture by raising small amounts of money from many people, typically via the internet.

They offer services for you to showcase your project/idea/business to potential investors.

 Some platforms specialise in certain markets and industries; however, the most popular ones are:

  • website: Crowdcube - the UK's most rated crowdfunding platform
  • website: Seedrs- great for start-ups, minimum investments £10
  • website: Kickstarter - ideal for creative industries, food, music, film, technology
  • website: Funding Circle - investments from £60,000 to £1 million
  • website: gofundme - great for charities and social enterprises needing support
  • website: Crowdfunder – they don’t always charge a fee for using this platform as it depends on the project.

Other sources of information

 

 

Contact details

Page last updated 08 September 2025

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