Updated 10 September 2026
Grants and funding for manufacturers
Schemes open today that name manufacturers in their published criteria, or fund the kind of work manufacturers do. Read from the funders' own pages and re-checked daily.
33 open today. Whether your business qualifies for any of them depends on your legal form, your size, your age and where you are, which is what the check does.
Which of these can you actually get?
Enter your company number. We read each funder’s own page against your business and tell you which fit, which do not, and why.
Check my businessWhat kind of funding these are
- Grants
- 21
- In-kind and free support
- 4
- Mixed
- 3
- Tax reliefs
- 3
- Loans
- 2
A grant is money you keep. A tax relief lowers a bill rather than arriving as cash. In-kind support is training, credits or expert time instead of money. Loans and equity have to be paid back or bought back, and are worth treating as a different decision entirely.
Who can apply
Every one of these has published criteria. Across the 33, the conditions that come up most are that you must:
- work in a named sector22 of 33
- be a particular kind of organisation10 of 33
- be under a headcount limit10 of 33
- be spending within a range7 of 33
- put in money of your own4 of 33
Which of them you meet depends on your legal form, size, age and where you are registered. That is what the check reads for you, scheme by scheme, and it quotes the funder’s own sentence beside each answer.
What the money is for
- Equipment 14
- Research and development 12
- Manufacturing 10
- Digital and software 8
- Net zero and decarbonisation 7
- Innovation and new products 7
- Business growth 6
- Productivity 5
How to apply
You apply to the funder, never to us. Every scheme above links straight to its own page, and that page is the only thing that decides whether you get it.
Before you spend an afternoon on a form, three things are worth checking: that you are inside the deadline — 6 of these close within the month; that you have not already started or paid for the work, which a great many grants refuse; and that you can fund the share they expect you to.
Most refusals are not close calls. They are a rule the applicant never saw, in a sentence on the funder’s own page.
Where else to look
The government publishes its own list, free, and you should use it. What is above is wider than that list, because it also holds council schemes, tax reliefs and in-kind support that Find a Grant does not carry — but if you only want a list, start there.
Find a grant, on GOV.UKThe 33 open today
Grant
DRIVE35 Innovation Fund: Collaborate 3
Innovate UK
Up to£20,000,000
Innovate UK, working with the Department for Business and Trade and the Advanced Propulsion Centre, is offering a share of up to £20 million for late stage collaborative research and development in the automotive sector. Projects must help the UK move towards zero emission vehicles and a net zero automotive industry, and must be led by a UK registered business working with other UK registered organisations. Grant requests run from £2.5 million to £20 million and must be matched by at least 50% of total eligible project costs.
Closes 16 September 2026The funder’s page
Grant
DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund Drawdown 5
Innovate UK
Up to£20,000,000
A competition offering grants to UK registered organisations that want to build or convert pilot-scale or demonstration-scale manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies and their supply chain. Grant requests must sit between £2.5 million and £20 million, with total eligible project costs above £5 million, and applicants must show they can unlock private co-investment worth at least twice the grant. Projects are expected to start from 1 June 2027 and finish by 31 March 2030.
Closes 4 November 2026The funder’s page
Grant
Critical Minerals Accelerator
UK Critical Minerals Programme
Up to£3,000,000
A £25 million competitive grant scheme supporting UK-based companies at TRL 6-8 to scale up innovative solutions across critical minerals extraction, processing and recycling, close to commercialisation. Individual grants are expected to sit between £150,000 and £3 million, with projects due to complete by March 2030.
Closes 30 September 2026The funder’s page
Grant
Critical Minerals Programme: Critical Minerals Accelerator
Department for Business and Trade (BIST)
Up to£3,000,000
A £25 million grant scheme to help UK businesses scale up commercialisation of critical-minerals extraction, processing and recycling technologies at TRL 6-8. Grants of £150,000-£3 million are available, but applicants must contribute substantial match funding themselves.
Closes 30 September 2026The funder’s page
Loan
Midlands Engine Investment Fund II – Debt Fund
Department for Business and Trade
Up to£2,000,000
A flexible debt fund providing loans between £100,000 and £2 million to established SMEs trading business to business across the East and West Midlands, to support growth plans such as working capital, asset purchase, product development, new staff and marketing. It cannot be used to refinance existing debt.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
National Space Innovation Programme - Call 3
UK Space Agency
Up to£2,000,000
A co-funded grant programme from the UK Space Agency supporting UK-based space R&D projects, split into two strands: Kick Starter for early-stage disruptive innovation (TRL 1-4) and Major Projects for near-commercial work (TRL 5-9). Up to £20 million is available across roughly 15-30 grants, awarded through a two-stage outline-then-full-proposal process.
Closes 12 November 2026The funder’s page
Mixed
Equity and Loan fund in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Up to£1,000,000
A £10 million investment fund offering equity and loan finance to advanced manufacturing and materials businesses in Greater Manchester. Equity investments range from £20,000 to £50,000, and loans are available from £250,000 up to £1 million.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Ultra long duration energy storage project development studies
Innovate UK
Up to£700,000
Innovate UK is offering grant funding for project development studies that help bring forward ultra long duration battery energy storage demonstrators in the UK. Up to £3 million in total is available, shared across funded projects. Single businesses and collaborations led by a UK registered business can apply, with the full rules held on the Innovation Funding Service.
Closes 30 September 2026The funder’s page
Loan
Regional Growth Loan Scheme - East of England
The FSE Group
Up to£500,000
A loan scheme run by The FSE Group offering growth finance to established SMEs across the East of England. Loans range from £50,000 to £500,000 for businesses with turnover of at least £100,000 and a clear plan for significant growth.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) Manufacturing Grants
Flintshire County Council
Up to£300,000
Capital grants of £5,000 to £100,000 per award, up to £300,000 in total across three project types, to help small and medium manufacturing businesses in Flintshire buy equipment, gain accreditation or adapt premises for decarbonisation. Delivered through the Business Support strand of the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone, with a minimum 30% match contribution required from the business.
RollingThe funder’s page
In-kind support
Wind Innovation Hub: Accelerating Innovations
Wind Innovation Hub (ORE Catapult, NMIS and NCC, funded by Innovate UK)
Up to£100,000
The Wind Innovation Hub is offering tailored in-kind support worth up to £100,000 per organisation to up to 20 UK companies developing technologies for the offshore wind sector, across five named technology missions. This is expert and delivery support rather than a cash grant.
Closes 5 October 2026The funder’s page
Grant
Advanced Manufacturing: Measurement and Sensing Pilot
Innovate UK
Up to£80,420
A 9-month Innovate UK pilot for UK SMEs developing measurement, sensing or instrumentation technology that solves a problem for UK advanced manufacturing supply chains (automotive, aerospace, battery, space, or advanced materials). Successful businesses get a fixed grant plus tailored growth support, but must apply for exactly one set total funding amount.
Closes 7 October 2026The funder’s page
Grant
Innovation Boost
InterTradeIreland
Up to£56,000
Innovation Boost is a grant from InterTradeIreland that pays for academic expertise and a project manager to help manufacturing and tradable services SMEs on the island of Ireland run new product/service or process-improvement projects. It covers 100% of academic partner costs and 50% of a dedicated project manager's cost, up to £56,000 over 18 months or £39,000 over 12 months.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Made Smarter Adoption - East of England
Made Smarter Adoption Programme (East of England)
Up to£20,000
Made Smarter Adoption in the East of England helps small and medium manufacturing businesses in Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire develop a digital transformation roadmap, then access grant funding of up to £20,000 (50% match funded), alongside fully funded leadership, workforce development and internship support.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Made Smarter Adoption - North West
Made Smarter Adoption Programme (North West)
Up to£20,000
Made Smarter Adoption gives North West manufacturers a free Business Assessment and a digital transformation roadmap, backed by grant funding of up to 50% (maximum £20,000) towards equipment or specialist advice to implement new technology.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Made Smarter Adoption Programme
Made Smarter
Up to£20,000
Made Smarter is a national digital-adoption programme for small and medium-sized manufacturers, delivered regionally across most of England. It offers impartial digital technology advice, workshops and, in most regions, match-funded grants of up to £20,000 towards hardware and software.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Made Smarter Adoption Programme - London
London & Partners
Up to£20,000
A regional digital transformation support programme for London manufacturing SMEs, delivered by London & Partners on behalf of the Greater London Authority. It offers diagnostic support, workshops, training and a matched-funding grant of up to £20,000 towards new digital tools, systems or equipment.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Made Smarter West Midlands - Digital Technology Adoption Grant
West Midlands Growth Company
Up to£20,000
Made Smarter West Midlands offers advanced manufacturing and engineering SMEs a match-funded grant of up to £20,000 towards digital technology equipment or specialist advice, alongside digital road-mapping, 1:1 technical support and leadership training. It is delivered by the West Midlands Growth Company with Warwick Manufacturing Group and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.
RollingThe funder’s page
Mixed
Made Smarter West of England
West of England Combined Authority
Up to£20,000
Made Smarter West of England helps small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses in the West of England adopt digital technology. It offers a fully funded 1:1 digital transformation assessment, match-funded grants of up to £20,000 towards digital hardware or software, and skills support such as internships and leadership training.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
AD:VENTURE Growth Grant
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Up to£5,000
AD:VENTURE's Growth Grant offers West Yorkshire SMEs £1,500 to £5,000, covering up to 50% of eligible capital project costs, for growth investment such as equipment and IT. It is paid in arrears after the applicant has joined the AD:VENTURE programme and worked with a Business Manager on a diagnostic and action plan.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Plug-in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Grant
Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV)
Up to£2,500
A government grant that reduces the purchase price of new electric wheelchair accessible vehicles, applied as a discount by the seller. Claims are made by vehicle dealerships and manufacturers through an online portal, not by the end customer. The discount is 35% of the price up to a maximum of £2,500 per eligible vehicle, and the base vehicle must cost under £50,000.
Closes 5 April 2027The funder’s page
Grant
2445: DRIVE35: Scale Up Fund
Innovate UK
Innovate UK, with the Department for Business and Trade and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, is offering grants from a £150 million pot to help build scale up manufacturing capacity for zero emission vehicle technologies in the UK. Single businesses and collaborations can apply, but the lead must be a UK registered business. The opportunity opened in June 2026 and has no stated closing date; full details sit on the Innovation Funding Service.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Strategic Programme
Department for Business and Trade, Innovate UK (UKRI) and the Aerospace Technology Institute
A grant programme funding industrial research and technology development to maintain and grow the UK's competitive position in civil aerospace. It is a two-stage competition open to UK-registered businesses of any size, run in partnership between government, Innovate UK and the ATI.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
DRIVE35 Scale-up Fund drawdown five
Innovate UK
Innovate UK, with BIST and the Advanced Propulsion Centre, is offering grants from a fund of up to £150 million to help build scale-up manufacturing capacity for zero emission vehicle technologies. UK registered organisations can apply, either alone or in collaboration, and the lead of any collaboration must be a UK registered business. Applications close on 4 November 2026 and full details sit on the Innovation Funding Service.
Closes 4 November 2026The funder’s page
In-kind support
Fit To Bid
Department for Business and Trade
A fully-funded programme of workshops and 1:1 advice delivered by Brandiun Business Support Ltd to help small and medium-sized London businesses win contracts with Tier 1 suppliers, including a bid capability assessment and tendering guidance.
RollingThe funder’s page
Tax relief
Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone - tax site incentives
Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone
A package of tax reliefs for eligible advanced manufacturing businesses occupying one of the three designated Investment Zone tax sites in Flintshire and Wrexham (Wrexham, Deeside and Warren Hall). The package includes business rates relief, enhanced capital allowances, a structures and buildings allowance, employer National Insurance relief and Land Transaction Tax relief.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
Great British Energy (GBE) Supply Chain Fund: Offshore Wind and Networks
Great British Energy
A capital grant fund of up to £300 million to expand UK manufacturing capacity for components that are in short supply in the offshore wind and electricity networks sectors. Grants must pay for building new manufacturing facilities or extending existing ones in the UK, and the finished project must mainly produce one or more of the listed 'Critical Components'. Applications are assessed in rounds, with the window closing on 10 December 2026 unless the budget runs out sooner.
Closes 10 December 2026The funder’s page
In-kind support
Leading Digital Transformation Programme - North West
Made Smarter
A free, funded 14-week leadership development programme for senior leaders of North West England manufacturing SMEs, combining workshops, webinars, peer forums and site visits to build digital transformation skills. Delivered by Made Smarter with the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University.
RollingThe funder’s page
Mixed
Made Smarter Adoption - North East
Made Smarter
Made Smarter in the North East helps manufacturing SMEs invest in digital technology, people and processes. Businesses get a one-to-one digital health check, workshops, one-to-one specialist support, grant funding towards new technology and software, and a fully-funded digital intern placement.
RollingThe funder’s page
In-kind support
Made Smarter Yorkshire Cyber Security Programme
Made Smarter
A fully funded £400,000 pilot giving Yorkshire SME manufacturers free cyber security support, from a short awareness session through to preparation for ISO 27001 accreditation, delivered with Sheffield Hallam University.
RollingThe funder’s page
Tax relief
Small Producer Relief on Alcohol Duty
HM Revenue & Customs
Small Producer Relief lets small alcohol producers pay a reduced rate of Alcohol Duty on qualifying beer, cider, spirits, wine and other fermented products under 8.5% ABV. It applies where a producer's own annual pure alcohol production (the previous year and a reasonable estimate for the current year) is 4,500 hectolitres or less, and less than half of total production is made under licence, with separate individual product-type thresholds applying to relief claimed on goods for Northern Ireland.
RollingThe funder’s page
Grant
The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF)
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) / Office for Life Sciences
A UK-wide capital grants fund of up to £520 million to support manufacturing investment in human medicines and medical technology, aimed at boosting UK health resilience. It funds part of large capital projects (at least £8 million total cost), typically covering 10-20% of costs up to a maximum intervention rate of 25%.
Closes 31 March 2030The funder’s page
Tax relief
UK Investment Zones Tax Site Incentives
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Businesses investing in one of 13 UK Investment Zones get access to a 10-year package of tax reliefs on designated sites plus support for skills, infrastructure and innovation. On designated tax sites this includes full Stamp Duty Land Tax relief, zero-rate employer National Insurance on new employees' earnings up to £25,000 a year for 36 months, a 100% first-year capital allowance on plant and machinery, an enhanced structures and buildings allowance, and full business rates relief for eligible new or expanding businesses.
RollingThe funder’s page