News, opportunities and helpful tools
Stay up to date with the latest news affecting rural business owners including, funding opportunities and helpful tips from the GrowBiz team.
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Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund
Scottish micro businesses and sole traders that operate within 20 kilometres of the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Dundee low emission zones (LEZs) could receive funding... Find out more here
Outer Hebrides Business Development Scheme (OHBDS)
Full time businesses in the Outer Hebrides could get up to £3000, and part time businesses up to £1,500. Find out more here.
Cairngorms Community Led Vision (CLV) Fund
Businesses and groups with projects that will deliver inclusive community-based activity in the Cairngorms National Park can now apply for this funding. Find out more here.
Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund
Now open for new applications, there’s two funds available for activities happening within rural Ayrshire.
Change Mental Health Rural Connections
Free funded introductory mental health awareness training is available from Change Mental Health for rural organisations and businesses with less than 50 members of staff. Find out more here.
Scottish Government funding to help you pay for your energy efficiency projects
Loans up to £100k are available to help you pay for energy and carbon-saving upgrades in your business. You could also receive a cashback grant of up to £30k. Read more.
Argyll and Bute Council Business Start-up Grant
New businesses in Argyll and Bute can apply for funding of up to £1000 to help with start-up costs. Find out more here.
HIE New Product Development Programme
For established businesses in the Highlands and Islands to bring a new product or service to market. Find out more here.
Argyll and Bute Small Business Development Grant
Up to £5000—for up to 50% of your approved costs—to help you develop your business.
Find out more here.
The Catalyst Fund
Loans of £50,000 or more to social enterprises through a flexible, revenue-based repayment model.
Find out more here.
SMART: SCOTLAND Grant
Grant from Scottish Enterprise to enable small or medium-sized businesses to conduct feasibility studies for technological projects.
Find out more here.
Firstport Build It Award
Up to £40,000 in grant funding for salary costs for early stage social enterprises. Next deadline is noon Thursday 26th September 2024
Technology Placement Programme
Enterprises in the Highland Council area can get up to 70% of the salary for a graduate or student placement.
Parental Employer Recruitment Incentive
This incentive offers businesses in Perth and Kinross funding to recruit parents facing barriers to employment
Workforce Innovation Voucher Scheme
This voucher scheme, the value of which is between £1,000 and £7,500, is for small or medium-sized business or social enterprise in Scotland.
Fife Start-Up Grant
Individuals intending to start a business in Fife, or who started one in the past 6 months, can apply for up to £500. The deadline to apply is 31 January 2025. Find out more here.
Renfrewshire Digital Development Grant
This grant is for between £1000 - £10,000, to support up to 50% of eligible expenditure. Find out more here.
Highland Start Up Grant
If you're a start up based in the Highland Council area you may be eligible for this grant of £1000. Find out more here.
Skills Passport
Applications to this Perth and Kinross Council fund are now open. Find out more here.