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Finance and Funding Toolkit

Sourcing finance and funding is a vital part of any business's growth journey, whether you’re a sole trader, SME or large business. This toolkit is designed to help you build the knowledge and confidence to apply for finance, identify where you can get finance and funding support in the region, and how you can raise other sources of income from grants, tax credits, loans and other products.

Useful resources  

Explore useful information about finance and funding below:

Find a grant

Explore grants available in our region.

Find a loan

Explore loans available in our region. 

Find equity investment

Explore equity investment available in our region.

Financial checks that every business should carry out when costs are rising

NEL Fund Managers has been established in the North East for 33 years and makes investments from £10,000 to half a million pounds in local businesses that have plans for growth. CEO, Jonathan Luke, outlines some of the actions that businesses can take to help mitigate the impact of the current cost of living crisis.

For many businesses, the effects of Brexit, COVID, the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis have created a perfect storm, with rising costs of borrowing, supply chain issues and people and skills shortages.

It’s making it more difficult for many businesses to plan and continue with their growth plans. But there are things that businesses can do to put themselves in as strong a position as possible.

News and insights

Spring Budget 2023

On Wednesday 14 March, Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, delivered the Spring Budget, which focused on four key priorities: Employmen...

Talk to one of our team who will help you connect to the support you need to grow and develop your business.

if your local authority isn't listed above, you can view details of how to get in touch with your local LEP

Finance and funding schemes 

Find out more about the finance and funding schemes on offer across the region.

New Innovators in digital technology, North East England

UK registered micro and small businesses can apply for a share of up to £1.5 million for projects that grow their innovation activities in the digital technology cluster in North East England.
Finance & funding Grant Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

Creative Growth Finance II

Creative Growth Finance provides scale-up loans of £100k to £1m to UK businesses in the Creative Industries.
Finance & funding Loan Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

New Innovators in Communication Networks 2024

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.
Finance & funding Grant Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

Flexible Social Finance

Flexible Social Finance has been designed with the social sector, for the social sector.
Finance & funding Loan Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

Digital Twin Energy Grids

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1.2 million for collaborative projects that enable digital twins, data interoperability and cyber resilience in the UK energy networks. This funding is from Innovate UK.
Finance & funding Grant Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland

Smart Shipping Acceleration Fund

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £8 million for innovative smart shipping technologies for maritime decarbonisation. This funding is from the Department for Transport (DfT).
Finance & funding Grant Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance

Wray Forward Programme

Launched in 2021, Wray Forward is a free and inclusive programme built to nurture the foundations of the entrepreneurial community.
Finance & funding Grant Business support Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland County Durham Gateshead South Tyneside North Tyneside Northumberland Finance Leadership

Pathways to Funding

Growing inclusive funding opportunities for business
Finance & funding Start-up Trading business Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside Northumberland Finance