Scotland has no single business grant. Funding is spread across national agencies, local councils, sector organisations and energy programmes, each with its own eligibility rules, deadlines and application process.
Most programmes fund a specific project rather than general running costs. You describe what you want to do, what it costs and what changes as a result, and the funder pays a share of eligible costs — often between 40% and 70% — after approval.
Eligibility usually turns on five things: where you trade, how long you have been trading, your legal structure, your sector, and the size of your business by turnover and employees. Our questionnaire uses exactly these attributes to score each programme against your business.
Demonstration data. The funding records on this site are clearly labelled examples used to test the directory. They are not real funding opportunities and are not currently available.
Example Third Sector Trust
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Start-up funding for social enterprises.
Example Skills Agency
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Subsidised staff training for Edinburgh employers.
Example Tourism Board
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Support for visitor experience improvements.
Example City Council
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Early-stage support for new Glasgow businesses.
Example Creative Fund
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Project funding for creative businesses in Dundee.
Example Innovation Board
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Competitive funding for research and development projects.
Example North East Fund
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Equipment and machinery funding in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Example Enterprise Agency
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Support for websites, ecommerce and digital systems.
Example Trade Support
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Vouchers for international market research and trade shows.
Example Rural Partnership
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Capital support for rural businesses in the Highlands.
Example Energy Programme
Example funding programme — demonstration data. Interest-free loan for energy efficiency upgrades.
Choose your council area to see local programmes alongside Scotland-wide funding.
See also small business grants in Scotland.
Funding falls into a few broad groups: startup support, capital grants for equipment and premises, energy and net zero programmes, innovation and R&D funding, training subsidies and export support. Some are national, others are limited to one council area.
National economic development agencies, local councils and business gateway teams, sector bodies, energy programmes and UK-wide competitions all fund Scottish businesses.
Grants are not usually repaid provided you meet the conditions of the offer. Loans and repayable finance must be repaid, so check the funding type on each record.
Small local schemes can decide within a few weeks. Larger competitive programmes often take two to four months from application to offer, and pay in arrears after the project is delivered.
Last updated: 14 September 2026
