Finance, Funding and Grants in North Ayrshire

Are you an actively trading business that is looking to access finance? UMi Debt Finance Scotland provides loan capital to new and existing small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland. Loans are available from £25,001 up to £250,000.

Interest rates range from 6.5% - 15%. All loans have a fixed term of 36 months.

Eligibility: Available for businesses that have begun trading.

Website: https://www.weareumifinance.scot/

Tel: 0131 3142008

Are you looking to introduce sustainable practices into your business?

Zero Waste Scotland is a publicly funded, not-for-profit organisation that aims to guide individuals and businesses towards sustainable practices. Businesses can access accelerator programmes, funding, advice, and guidance to assist them in exploring how to use products and resources responsibly.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk

Tel: 01786 433 930

Are you a digital or creative business looking to bring your ideas to life?

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen, and creative industries in Scotland, they also distribute funds on behalf of their partners. If you feel like this is something that your business may benefit from, you can take a look at the Creative Scotland website below.

Eligibility: Available for all stages of business including businesses not yet trading.

Website: https://www.creativescotland.com/

Funding programmes: https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes

Are you looking to run a project that benefits a local community? Awards for All Scotland funds a wide range of community projects aimed at developing skills, improving health, revitalising the local environment, and enabling people to become more active citizens.

Website: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/national-lottery-awards-for-all-scotland

Tel: 0300 123 7110

The SMART: SCOTLAND grant is one of our research and development (R&D) grants that aim to support high-risk, highly ambitious projects.

It covers conducting feasibility studies. It’s only available to small and medium enterprises (SMEs)* based in Scotland and supports activities that have a commercial endpoint.

Support available is up to 70% of the eligible costs for a small enterprise and up to 60% of the eligible costs for a medium enterprise.

Studies must last between 6 and 18 months, and the maximum grant is £100,000.

Feasibility is paid with a third of the grant in an upfront installment and the rest is quarterly in arrears.

Eligibility: Available to businesses that have begun trading. Other eligibility is required check website for more information 

Website: https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/funding-and-grants/business-grants/smart-scotland-grant

The GHISP supports innovation and capital investment that will accelerate the roll out and adoption of green heating solutions and associated products.

It's about encouraging the growth of Scotland’s green heat market and helping projects in areas such as:

• Energy efficiency products
• Green heat equipment, such as heat pumps and heat networks
• Supporting solutions, such as thermal storage
• Enabling solutions, such as digital and smart controls
• Green heat manufacturing or R&D in Scotland

Funding will be available to companies across Scotland until March 2026. The total program funding available over the four-year period is £17.6 million. There are three different levels of support, depending on which route your project takes. 

Eligibility: Available to businesses that have begun trading 

Website: https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/funding-and-grants/business-grants/green-heat-innovation-support-programme

Are you looking to grow your Scottish manufacturing company by developing low carbon products, processes or services? The LCMCF supports projects that will speed up the transition to a low carbon economy in the manufacturing industry. Grants with a minimum value of £150,000 are available.

The LCMCF doesn't provide 100% of funding towards eligible project costs. The level of grant support will be determined dependent upon project activity, the size of your company and the location of the project. 

Funding will be available until 31 March 2026, but may pause temporarily for new applications at busy times.

Website: https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/funding-and-grants/business-grants/low-carbon-manufacturing-challenge-fund

Email: [email protected]

RSA is a discretionary grant aimed at encouraging capital investment and job creation in Assisted Areas of Scotland. The grant is available for businesses that want to develop a project in these areas.

The postcode checker tool can identify what tier your project is in and the level of funding that’s available to you. 

Depending on the location of your project and the size of your business, different levels of RSA are available. 
Typically support up to 35% of the eligible costs for a small/medium-sized enterprise (SME) and 15% of the eligible costs for a large enterprise. Projects must last between 6 and 36 months, and the minimum grant considered is £100,000.

To be eligible for RSA funding, your project must meet all of the scheme criteria. Specifically, it must:

• Take place in an Assisted Area
• Involve an element of capital expenditure
• Create or safeguard jobs within your business (the expected job creation/safeguarding should be a minimum of 10 jobs)
• Must not offset job losses elsewhere
• Be financially viable
• Be mainly funded by the private sector
• Demonstrate the need for RSA funding to progress
• Align with Scotland’s net zero ambition
• Funding will not be offered where the applicant company is already committed to undertaking the project or where we believe it would proceed anyway.

Website: https://www.scottish-enterprise.com/support-for-businesses/funding-and-grants/business-grants/regional-selective-assistance-funding

Are you a sports group or club that is looking at embarking on a community project?

The Sports Facilities Fund (SFF) awards up to £100,000 for sports facility projects within clubs and communities, schools, and education and performance sports environments. Its great resources are targeted at projects that will create maximum impact in sports participation. Further application criteria can be found on their website.

Deadlines for submission of new Sports Facilities Fund applications are 1 April and 1 September each year.

Website: https://sportscotland.org.uk/funding/sport-facilities-fund/

A UK-wide, government-backed initiative financed through British Business Bank, providing loans for people starting a new business or have been trading for less than 3 years. Loans range from £500 to £25,000 with a fixed interest rate of 6% over 1-5 years. The scheme also offers 12 months of mentoring for successful loan applicants.

- The scheme is open to those over the age of 18 at the time of application

- Applicants must live in the UK. They must also have the right to remain in the UK for the duration of the loan term and the right to be self-employed.

- Applicants should be unable to access alternative finance for starting a business elsewhere.

- As part of the application process, a credit check will take place. Applicants with recent defaults or poor credit histories should check with a credit reference agency to ensure their records are up to date before applying.

Eligibility: https://www.startuploans.co.uk/faqs-2/eligibility/

Website: https://www.startuploans.co.uk/

Tel:0344 264 2600

E-mail: [email protected]

Start Up Loans also offers the below products through the listed dedicated providers.

Sharia compliant finance
The Start Up Loans Company provides a Sharia compliant investment product. This is provided through the Financing Startup Enterprise Group.
https://www.startuploans.co.uk/sharia-compliant-finance/
Tel: 0330 056 2528 

Creative Businesses
The Start Up Loans company provides loans specifically for the creative sector. This is provided through Creative England.
https://www.wearecreative.uk/investment/
Apply via the website.

Ex-service personnel
For military spouses & partners, reservists, cadets and children of forces personnel with entrepreneurial ambition.
Website: https://www.x-forces.com/
Tel:0800 368 9533
E-mail: [email protected]

UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency. It is like a government bank or insurer specifically for exports. Its ambition is to make sure no viable export from the UK should fail for want of finance or insurance from the private sector.

UKEF helps firms of all sizes access the finance and insurance needed to realise their export ambitions through:

• free and independent guidance on sources of export finance

• the release of working capital with bank guarantees for contract bonds or credit facilities

• security of payment with export credit insurance

• competitive finance for overseas buyers with buyer credit guarantees or direct loans

The amounts and terms of support available depend on the risk involved. UKEF works with exporters, project sponsors, banks and buyers.

Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-export-finance

Find an Export Finance Manager website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/find-an-export-finance-manager

Overseas Investment Insurance guide: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/overseas-investment-insurance

E-mail: [email protected] 

General Tel: +44 (0)20 7271 8010

Innovate UK is the UK’s innovation agency and works with companies and partner organisations to find and drive the science and technology innovations that will grow the UK economy.

They do this by offering loans, grants, competitions, and access to academic resources and support via Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Innovate UK Business Connect, and Catapult Centres.

They have also produced the good application guide to help you prepare your best funding application.

Website: https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/

Funding website: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search

Tel: 0300 321 4357

E-mail: [email protected]

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme is an equity scheme aimed at small riskier, early stage UK companies willing to hand over equity in their business in exchange for capital funding. It is designed to boost economic growth in the UK by promoting new enterprise and entrepreneurship. You can raise a maximum of £250,000 through SEIS.

The following criteria must be met by the company in order to be eligible and remain SEIS compliant:

- Must be established in the UK
- Must be fully independent (has not been controlled by another company since their date of incorporation)
- Must not be a member of a partnership
- Does not control another company unless that company is a qualifying subsidiary
- Must be unquoted before beginning SEIS (not listed on any major stock exchange)
- Has no arrangements to become a quoted company or a subsidiary of one at the time of the share issue
- Must be operating in a qualifying trade
- Must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees when the shares are issued
- Must not have gross assets over £350,000 when the shares are issued

Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-apply-to-use-the-seed-enterprise-investment-scheme 

E-mail: [email protected]

Is your business over 12 months old and looking to grow? The Government's new Help to Grow programme could help.

The scheme offers decision-makers and senior managers access to a 12 week programme, designed to be manageable alongside full-time work. It combines a practical curriculum with 1:1 mentoring, peer-learning and alumni networking. Participants are enabled to develop their skills in areas such as financial management, innovation and digital adoption, working towards a tailored business growth plan to lead their business to its full potential.

Delivered by leading business schools across the UK, the programme is 90% subsidised by the government, with participants contributing £750. Some business schools delivering the Help to Grow Management programme are providing bursaries of £750 - more information is available directly from the business schools.

Eligibility: Available for limited companies who have been trading over 12 months with between 5-249 employees. If your business employs between 10 and 249 people, you can send up to two participants on the course. For more information, please read the FAQs.

Website: https://smallbusinesscharter.org/help-to-grow-management/


As well as this scheme, you can find more information and support resources for starting and growing a business on the Government's Help to Grow campaign website: https://helptogrow.campaign.gov.uk/

BGF invests in a range of companies, from earlier stage SMEs of £1m revenues, to those with £100m+ revenues, and across all sectors. Investments provided range  are a mix of equity and loan notes for growth and/or cash out to existing shareholders. Initial investments are between £1m and £20m.

The BGF works with companies that have realistic expansion plans, offering a collaborative approach to financing growth, working closely with the companies in which they invest.

Website: https://www.bgf.co.uk/

Regional telephone numbers and online contact form: https://www.bgf.co.uk/contact/

The Momentum Music Fund offers grants of £5k-£15k for artists/bands to break through to the next level of their careers. Activities eligible for support include recording, touring and marketing. The fund is open to applications from artists and bands in the UK that are at a crucial point in their development, with the potential to significantly further their career within the next two years. Applications can be submitted by the artists themselves or those who are working on their behalf, e.g. a manager, an independent label or publisher.

Funding can be used for:

- Recording – new album, EP, single, producer, engineer, mixer fees, studio hire, session musician fees, etc.

- Touring (UK only) – travel, accommodation, musician fees, set/production design, tour management, equipment hire, etc.

- Marketing and promotions – online PR, radio plugger, digital marketing, music videos, merchandise production, etc.

Closing date: There are 4 application rounds per year, closing at 6pm on the dates listed here 

Website: https://prsfoundation.com/funding-support/funding-music-creators/next-steps/ppl-momentum-music-fund/

E-mail: [email protected]

Are you looking to access finance for your business? You may want to consider 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. Its platforms host fundraisers’ pitches and allows the transfer of money directly from the funders to the fundraiser. 

Some level of vetting is usually made before allowing pitches on the platforms, and fees are charged to either the fundraiser, funder, or to both.

Not all crowdfunders are regulated by the FCA. Some are regulated by their association codes of conduct. There is an element of risk involved in dealing with any organisation that is not regulated by the FCA to offer finance products. To find out more go to https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/crowdfunding

There are several types of crowdfunding platforms that you can consider, which usually depend on the stage and the sector of your business. Take a look at the British Business Bank information on equity crowdfunding: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/finance-hub/equity-crowdfunding/, and peer-to-peer lending: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/finance-hub/peer-to-peer-lending/ for the pros and cons of using these platforms.