Resonance Social Impact Investment Funds

Investment opportunities for the community/voluntary sector.

Business Angel Co Investment Fund

Business Angel Co Investment Fund was created with a grant from the Regional Growth Fund. It invests alongside business angel syndicates from across the UK.

ECF - Enterprise Capital Funds

Enterprise Capital Funds (ECFs) bring together private and public money to make investments in high growth businesses.

British International Investment - The UK's Development Finance Institution (DFI)

Information about British International Investment, which supports companies that help to develop and emerging countries grow.

EIS - Enterprise Investment Scheme

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) is designed so that your company can raise money to help grow your business.

London Stock Exchange – AIM Programme

AIM helps founders and entrepreneurs fulfil their growth ambitions and potential.

Big Society Capital

Big Society Capital connects capital with social enterprises, charities and social purpose organisations.

UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund

Equity investment available to eligible businesses to support the commercialisation of UK science and technology.

Maven Capital Partners

Are you looking for capital investment funding solutions to help your business to grow?

British Business Bank - Programmes for Start-up

The British Business Bank via its partner the Start Up Loans Company, provides loans, mentoring and advice to make sure young businesses get the best start in life.

UK Business Angels Association (UKBAA)

Key information, training and networking from the trade association for angel and early-stage investing.

Scottish Development International - Invest and Trade Scotland

Are you looking for support to set up and grow your business in Scotland?

Invoice trading/selling

If you have a business that is already trading, you might be able to sell/trade outstanding invoices from customers to free up working capital.

British Business Bank - Programmes for Scale-up

British Business Bank can point businesses in the right direction when it comes to rapid scale-up plans.

British Business Bank - Programmes for Staying Ahead

Established businesses looking to achieve particularly rapid growth, might wish to consider some of British Business Banks scale-up partners through their Staying Ahead initiative.

Business Finance Guide

The Business Finance Guide provides businesses with information on the finance options that are available to them throughout their business finance journey.

Asset Finance Guide

The Asset Finance Guide from British Business Bank sets out the benefits of asset finance to help business owners decide if this type of finance can help them achieve their growth plans.

Recovery Loan Scheme

Loans to help businesses recover after the pandemic and transition period.

Finance Hub

An online hub to help businesses find the right finance programme for their business.

YFM Equity Partners

Equity investment for early-stage small businesses with growth potential.

Barclays Business Insights

Barclays Business Insights is an online tool that offers business resources and tips.

Financial Ombudsman Service

The Financial Ombudsman has official powers to sort out complaints between small and micro enterprises, charities and trusts, and financial businesses.

Barclays Green Trade Loans

Debt finance from Barclays for sustainable purposes.

Carbon Planner By NatWest

Natwest Carbon Planner is a free tool and could support your business to become more sustainable and reduce costs.

NatWest Accelerator

The Entrepreneur Accelerator programme offers a range of support for start-up businesses.

WRAP - Waste Resource Action Plan

Information, resources and practical solutions for businesses to improve resource efficiency.

RICS - Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors

Information on the professional body that accredits professionals within the land, property and construction sectors.

UKRI - UK Research and Innovation

UK Research and Innovation collaborate with other research centres to build an inclusive research and innovation system.

NESTA

NESTA is an innovation charity with a mission to help people and organisations bring great ideas to life.

Lloyds Bank Resource Centre

Practical guidance and resources for businesses through guides, case studies, articles and videos.

Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS)

The Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS) helps find solutions to unresolved complaints between UK SMEs and other organisations such as charities and trusts, and their banks.

Department for Business and Trade (previously DIT) - Report a Trade Barrier

A way to report and look for resolutions to new trade barriers or an issue with an existing trade barrier.

Growth Impact Fund

Social investment funding for organisations with growth, improved equality and diversity goals.

BGF

BGF can provide the know-how, connections and capital you need to grow your business.

Good Things Foundation

Good Things Foundation is a charity that helps to tackle digital and social exclusion by providing people with the skills and confidence they need to access digital technology.

International Banking – Making or Receiving Payments

Advice and guidance on sending or receiving money from overseas.

UK Space Agency

The UK Space Agency inspires and leads the UK in space to benefit our planet and its people.

The Climate Pledge Fund

A corporate venture capital fund investing in companies across multiple sectors that can help Amazon achieve its goal to be a net-zero carbon.

Thrive Together Fund

The Thrive Together Fund (TTF) provides a funding package of loan (75%) and grant (25%) to eligible charities and social enterprises in England

Flexible Finance Fund

4m of funding and support to 15-25 Black and Racially Minoritised charities and social enterprises in England with a material package of funding and support

Investment Zones

Plans for new zones to be created across the UK to form form knowledge-intensive growth clusters for business and research.

Innovate UK Business Growth

Are you an established business looking to grow through innovation? 

Trade Associations - Finance (including Accountancy and Insurance)

Websites and contact details for trade associations for the finance, accountancy and insurance sector.

Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)

Support for businesses to provide innovative technology solutions.

Disabled Entrepreneurs

Disabled Entrepreneurs assists people with disabilities to move into self-employment.

Creative Growth Finance Debt Fund

Offer loans to creative companies that are looking to grow.

Useful contacts for overseas businesses setting up in the UK

Money laundering/business investment scam

These scams start with an email/phone call from fraudsters overseas who claim they are interested in “investing” in new start-up companies within the UK.

Start Up Loans

Government-backed loans and mentoring for people starting a new business or within their first three years of trading.

Premises in Cumberland

Organisations that provide guidance to those looking for premises.

SEIS - Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme

Equity investment for eligible small and early-stage businesses.

UK Export Finance

Information and guidance from the UK's export credit agency to help businesses to access finance and insurance in relation to exporting.

Deutsche Bank – Made For Good​

The Deutsche Bank enterprise programme for social good,

Federation for Industry Sector Skills and Standards

The Federation for Industry Sector Skills and Standards represents, promotes and supports the 15 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) across the UK.

Intellectual Property Office Guidance and Tools

Online resources provided by the Intellectual Property Office

Premises in Dudley

Organisations that provide support and guidance to businesses who are looking for premises.

Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office

Provides services to British businesses overseas through a global network of embassies.

DBT - Department for Business and Trade

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) brings together responsibilities for business and trade into one single department.

Non-Executive Directors (NED)

Information on Non-Executive Directors and what Non-Executive Directors can bring to your business.

European Space Agency (ESA)

The European Space Agency aims to help businesses develop services that use satellite communications, Earth observation, satellite navigation, or other space technologies.

National Funding Tools

Grants, Finance & Support Schemes - National Portals

Prototype Fund

National Lottery Heritage Funds

Funding for heritage projects.

Heritage Enterprise Programme

The Heritage Enterprise programme is for community projects that are looking to grow by investing in neglected historic buildings and bringing them back into use.

Wolfston Foundation - Funding for Places

Grant funding for registered charities and local authorities.

National Lottery Community Funds

A range of funds for organisations providing services in their communities

Create Growth Programmes

High-growth SME businesses in creative sector industries can access between £10,000 - £30,000 for innovation projects that will lead to growth and help them reach their full potential.  

Calf Housing for Health and Welfare

Grants for cattle farmers

PPL Momentum Music Fund

Offers grants for artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers.

Access to Work

Access to Work can help you get or stay in work if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability.

Useful Resources and Contacts

Oli Bennett Charitable Trust

The Oli Bennett is a charity to help young people, from all backgrounds, get their business ideas off the ground and turned into sustainable, profitable organisations.

Kaleidoscope Foundation

Kaleidoscope Foundation helps entrepreneurs with disabilities to realise their dream of running and growing their own business.

Community Shares Unit

Community Shares Unit provides resources and guidance via the website including a directory of businesses with Community Shares and listings for news and events.

Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme

Grant funding to help rural businesses upgrade and improve their business broadband.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a method of getting finance by sourcing small amounts from a large number of people, rather than getting large amounts from one or a few.

Incentive payments for hiring a new apprentice

Information for employers on incentive payments for hiring apprentices.

Community Ownership Fund

Provides matched funding for community organisations to help run community-owned businesses.

Barclays Eagle Labs

A range of programmes and support services for entrepreneurs and scale-ups across the UK.

The Commonwealth Games Inclusive Communities Fund

The Inclusive Communities Fund will support local communities to propose and implement solutions to real issues in their areas, allowing local people to drive positive change.