[Updated 28th May 2026]
The sun is now upon us in Greater Manchester, and with it comes even more funding opportunities for businesses in the region.
Whether you are looking to innovate, strengthen cashflow or are preparing to scale internationally, there is a range of funding options available to support you. Alongside broader funding programmes, there are also targeted opportunities for specific sectors, including biotechnology, low-carbon construction, space, deep-tech and clean maritime.
And don’t forget that if you’re unsure which route is right for you, our team is on hand to help you navigate your options with confidence!
Government-Backed Loans
Start Up Loans
Start Up Loans continue to support early stage businesses with government backed funding between £500 and £25,000, alongside 12 months of free mentoring and ongoing business support.
With applications open throughout the year, the programme offers a flexible funding route for founders looking to launch, stabilise or grow their business.
Who should apply: New and early-stage businesses trading for up to five years that are looking for accessible finance and additional business support.
NPIF II Smaller Loans
NPIF II Smaller Loans offers funding from £25,000 to £100,000 to help SMEs invest in growth, improve cash flow or support day-to-day operations.
The funding can be used for a range of business needs, including expansion projects, equipment purchases, commercial premises and working capital, with businesses also benefiting from dedicated support throughout the process.
Who should apply: Small and medium-sized businesses across the North West seeking finance to support growth plans or strengthen business operations.
Equity Investment
Early Stage Equity
Early Stage Equity supports innovative businesses across the North West with investment typically ranging from £25,000 to £2 million.
The fund is designed to support businesses with strong growth potential, particularly those operating in digital, creative and technology sectors, helping them accelerate development, innovation and market growth.
Who should apply: Early-stage businesses with scalable business models and ambitions to grow.
BGF Growth Capital
BGF provides long-term growth capital for ambitious SMEs looking to scale, expand or strengthen their operations. Investment typically ranges from £3 million to £30 million, supporting businesses across a broad range of sectors.
Funding can support a range of growth activities including acquisitions, international expansion, technology development, talent growth and working capital.
Who should apply:
Established SMEs with ambitious growth plans, particularly businesses looking to scale, expand internationally or strengthen their long-term growth strategy.
Need support exploring your options?
The Access to Finance team can help businesses understand the funding landscape, identify suitable finance options and prepare for funding conversations or applications.
Whether you are exploring loans, investment or growth funding, the team can provide tailored guidance based on your business goals.
Get in touch with the A2F team for tailored support.
Innovation funding opportunities (Opening June)
European Space Agency - The Arctic Region: Environmental and Economic Resilience
This is part of the ESA’s Arctic Region funding call, and supports the development of space‑enabled services addressing environmental protection and climate resilience in the Arctic region. The UK Space Agency will support up to 50% of costs for both Proof of Concept and Pilot Project activities (maximum of €300,000 funding for Proof of Concept Studies).
It focuses on monitoring, protecting and strengthening Arctic ecosystems together with economically critical activities such as fisheries and aquaculture, which are increasingly exposed to climate change, pollution and growing maritime pressure.
Open From: Thursday 4th June
Who should apply: Innovators developing services that support environmental monitoring, risk reduction, decision‑making and sustainable resource management in the Arctic and sub‑Arctic regions.
Innovation funding opportunities (Closing July)
Bhattacharyya Award
The Bhattacharyya Award celebrates outstanding collaboration between universities and industry. There are two strands, which are each awarded £25,000 to support continued collaboration and knowledge transfer - one for SMEs and one for large established partnerships.
Deadline: 7 July 2026
Who should apply: SMEs or large organisations with collaborations that demonstrate: Sustained strategic partnership, Innovation and originality and Meaningful societal or economic impact
Growth Cohorts: Next generation low carbon concrete
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will invest up to £11.5 million to create a cohort of ambitious businesses, across a two-stage competition, to accelerate concrete decarbonisation.
Deadline: Wednesday 8 July 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: Businesses looking to accelerate their ambitions to decarbonise concrete.
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Pre-deployment trials
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £121 million across the three strands of this competition for innovative clean maritime technologies. This funding is from the Department for Transport (DfT).
The aim of the Pre-deployment trials strand is to fund pre-deployment testing of innovative clean maritime technologies. Your proposal must design, develop and test but not deploy innovative clean maritime technologies for on-vessel or maritime infrastructure use, or both.
If your project addresses on-vessel technologies, you must only involve land-based testing such as a factory or dry dock. Your project must not plan to test technologies in the water as part of this project.
Deadline: Wednesday 15 July 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: Innovators developing innovative clean maritime technologies for on-vessel or maritime infrastructure use, or both.
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Feasibility studies
The aim of the Feasibility strand is to fund feasibility studies of innovative clean maritime technologies and skills. Your project must undertake a primarily desk based technical and economic feasibility study. Your study must be associated with the development and future real world demonstration of innovative technologies for on-vessel use, maritime infrastructure use, skills or a combination of each.
Your Feasibility project must not plan to test technologies in the water as part of this project.
Deadline: Wednesday 15 July 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: Innovators developing clean maritime technologies and skills.
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Deployment trials
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £121 million across the three strands of this competition for innovative clean maritime technologies. This funding is from the Department for Transport (DfT).
The aim of the Deployment trials strand is to fund real world demonstrations of innovative clean maritime technologies in an operational setting. Your proposal must develop, test and deploy innovative clean maritime technologies for on-vessel or maritime infrastructure use, or both.
Deadline: Wednesday 15 July 2026 11:00am
Who should apply: Innovators developing clean maritime technologies and looking to deploy these in an operational setting.
DeepTech Catalyst Bio
DeepTech Catalyst Bio is designed to support early-stage biotechnology companies in achieving their commercial potential. The DTC Bio provides £50k of R&D funding, a £10k innovation voucher for R&D activity, and technical, commercial and IP protection support to help start-ups de-risk their technologies and get to market faster.
Deadline: Friday 17th July 23:59
Who should apply: UK-registered companies under 5 years old that are majority-owned by founders and employees and can demonstrate that they are beyond the concept stage of their product and commercial development.
Rolling/Open Calls
Innovate UK Venture Builder Pilot Expression of Interest
Innovate UK is funding up to £150,000 for a pilot Innovate UK Venture Builder Programme to support new deep-tech spin-outs and to help them in raising their first significant investment. This is the Expression of Interest stage of the competition. This expression of interest (EoI) competition focuses on three UK Government Industrial Strategy technology sectors: Frontier AI, Engineering Biology and Advanced Materials and Manufacturing.
Who should apply: Eligible ventures must be a spinout from an eligible UK university, Public Sector Research Establishments (PSRE), or research institute.
Get support with your funding application
Applying for grant funding can be daunting; from finding the right fund to preparing an application, support is available to you.
If you’re an Innovation business, reach out to your Specialist today to find out more about how we can help you reach your innovation and business goals in 2026.
Get in touch
Please contact us at 0161 3593050 or query below.
Take that first step and we’ll support you with whatever you need to succeed.
Sign-up to our newsletter
Insights, news, events and opportunities straight to your inbox.