NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) has launched five 2024 challenges to continue to attract the best and brightest innovators across the Alliance in support of its mission to build a peaceful and more resilient future.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) has launched a new themed competition called Innovation in Support of Operations. Run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, this competition seeks fast paced scalable proposals across four key challenge areas.

A chance to win a better future for your small business.

The Early Connect Employer Service is your one-stop-shop for expert apprenticeship guidance and advice.

Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge is open to young leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs (18 - 30 years) with BIG ideas to take on the world's most urgent social and environmental issues.

A fund designed to drive economic growth by helping businesses to access external expertise to implement business growth and improvement plans.

The Energy Resilience Fund is an initiative assisting community businesses in retrofitting their buildings with energy-saving measures.

The Social Enterprise Boost Durham project can help you with free business support and funding to start you on your journey for change in your community.

A £50million fund to help catalyse UK supply chain capacity and capability for offshore wind.

This grant programme will help local growing businesses to access high quality external expertise to deliver business improvement projects.

Creative Growth Finance provides scale-up loans of £100k to £1m to UK businesses in the Creative Industries.

Flexible Social Finance has been designed with the social sector, for the social sector.

Growing inclusive funding opportunities for business

As part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Maven are offering Equity finance up to £5 million for ambitious businesses located across the North East of England.

As part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II NEL are offering Debt Finance from £100,000 to £2m

As part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II NEL are offering Smaller Loans from £25,000 to £100,000

UK registered businesses can apply for loans for innovative projects with strong commercial potential to significantly improve the UK economy.

Wear Together provides social entrepreneurs in Sunderland with access to business support and grants assisting them with start, development, and growth of social businesses.

Are you a female leader of an enterprise within UK engineering? Are you looking for funding to take your organisation to the next level? If so, this grant could be for you.

Delivered by Smarta, Gateshead Start-up Skills is all about ensuring startups, sole traders and freelancers in Gateshead get off to the best start with the right skills.

Enterprising Sunderland is a project designed to unlock the potential of future entrepreneurs within our communities and to support businesses from all sectors to grow and innovate.

The grant fund will support inward investment and the growth of companies in South Tyneside.

Crowdfund North of Tyne gives local people and communities the opportunity to create and fund projects which celebrate and improve our local area

The new Start-up Support Programme is available to new retail, hospitality and leisure businesses across County Durham

Support for businesses looking to expand or establish new operations in Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council and Sunderland City Council areas.

Eligible businesses in Northumberland can apply for a grant between £10,000 - £300,000.

The Creative Enterprise Business Builder is a grant initiative designed to support companies who work in moving image for storytelling, spanning film television, games, animation and immersive industries.

Funding for early-stage businesses with innovative, scalable ideas – from software to life science, start-up to scale-up.

Through this scheme SMEs can claim up to £3,000 against the cost of full fibre connection, either individually or as part of a group project.

Creative developers and start-up studios are invited to bid for a share of £5 million in government funding to turn their new video game ideas into market leaders.

Government support towards the up-front costs of the purchase and installation of electric vehicle chargepoints.

Grants plus business support are available to social entrepreneurs that are looking to start or grow an existing social venture.

Funding loans of up to £25,000 available to entrepreneurs within their first 3 years of trading, with potential top up loans within years 3-5 of trading.

Open North Foundation are dedicated to assisting the businesses and people of the North East to scale or pivot their business.

Northern Accelerator is an exciting collaboration between the North East’s universities, creating real-world impact from world-leading research, commercialising innovation and boosting the region’s economy.

Through the North of Tyne Culture and Creative Investment Programme, funded by the North East Combined Authority, Creative UK are investing £1.5m in loans in the North of Tyne’s cultural and creative industries.

Through the North of Tyne Culture and Creative Investment Programme, funded by the North East Combined Authority, Creative UK are investing £625k of equity finance in the North of Tyne’s cultural and creative industries.

Funding for companies which address a clear market need and have the potential to achieve significant growth.

A unique equity fund providing impact investments to north east charities and social enterprises ranging from £100,000 to £1 million for a wide range of purposes.

A £10 million fund offering development funding to SME house builders, construction and property development companies

Made Smarter Adoption North East helps manufacturers in the region increase profits, improve efficiency and grow by investing in smart technology.

The Productivity and Growth Programme supports businesses in all sectors in County Durham.

Boost your skills and get the knowledge you need to start a social enterprise in this exciting new programme.

A £35 million commercial property fund that supports developers in the North East.

Are you buying premises? Looking to grow? Wanting to launch a great business idea? The Key Fund has £4.5million to invest.

Ignite is an early-stage accelerator programme for start-ups with high-scaling potential (usually tech)

Debt and equity finance for businesses based in or looking to relocate to County Durham.

The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) finds and funds exploitable innovation to support UK defence and security quickly and effectively, and support UK prosperity.

Funded by North East Screen Industries Partnership, North East Screen is a regional screen agency for filmmakers, producers and creative professionals looking to start and grow their careers in the industry.

CITB offer support to industry through their grants and funds.

A service of business support to help small and micro businesses across Northumberland to start and grow.

Working with UKSE gives you more than just finance. Benefit from the support and knowledge of people who have been there before.

Save energy and money with free energy guidance and support from BEST

Sunderland City Council offers eligible SMEs a flexible approach to cutting their energy bills and their carbon emissions.

Durham County Council offers a wide range of services to help businesses to accelerate their growth and support their long-term sustainability.

The North of Tyne Combined Authority has £10m available to support businesses looking to invest and create jobs in the North of Tyne.

The Green New Deal Fund (GNDF) is an investment fund established to provide finance to SMEs and the public sector to reduce carbon emissions, create green jobs and develop skills in the region.

The Innovation SuperNetwork’s specialist business support gives North East businesses direct access to new market opportunities, finance and sector expertise.

North East Enterprise Agency is a unique collaboration of multi-award winning enterprise agencies supporting businesses across the North East of England.