Funding & support resources

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.

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.

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.

Search current funding opportunities from across UKRI, research councils and Innovate UK

CITB offer support to industry through their grants and funds.

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

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

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

The Key Fund invests in incorporated Community and Social Enterprises that have traditionally been excluded and turned down by mainstream lenders; particularly those in disadvantaged areas.

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

UK registered micro and small businesses can apply for a share of up to £500,000 to develop adoptable and investable innovations within communication networks. This funding is from the Telecoms Technology Missions Fund programme.

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

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

Cranfield University Green Seed Fund gives entrepreneurs and start-ups access to capital, alongside advice and education from the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship to help scale their businesses.

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

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