Made Smarter Adoption North East

Made Smarter Adoption North East can help your manufacturing business become more efficient, more productive and more competitive by investing in digital tools.

The support available includes:

• Hands on help to develop a digital roadmap for your business – wherever you’re at on your digital journey.

• Innovation Vouchers worth up to £500 are available to help you access expert advice from an industrial digital technology specialist.
• Grants to help you purchase and implement new software and/ or equipment.

Made Smarter Adoption North East is backed by world-renowned businesses and the UK government. It aims to drive growth amongst the region’s manufacturing businesses and advance the UK economy by improving the development and adoption of emerging technologies. The North East Growth Hub and Tees Valley Business are working with Made Smarter to deliver Made Smarter Adoption in the North East LEP and Tees Valley Combined Authority areas. 

This support is only available for small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses.

For more information and to sign-up, please visit the Tees Valley Combined Authority webpage here. 

Key information

Available? Now

Can I apply if my business is not trading yet? No

Eligible location: Tees Valley

Award available: up to £10,000

Funding match: 50/50 – total funding towards your project must not be greater than £10,000 or 50% of the total project costs.

Tees Valley Digital Transformation

Tees Valley Digital Transformation is a fully-funded programme designed to support the adoption of digital technology into your business. 

The support is tailored to your business’s needs and includes:

• One-to-one support from a dedicated consultant.

• Access to a suite of online tools and resources to increase digital knowledge within your business and understand how to make digital work for you.

• The potential to apply for grant funding of up to £3,000 to support the exploration and adoption of new technologies within your business.

• Access opportunities to share learning and best practice with peer-to-peer business networks using convenient digital platforms.

• Opportunities to join workshops online and in-person to support your digital transformation journey with a wide range of topics.

This support is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is is delivered by Like Us (NE) Ltd on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board.

For more information and to register your interest, please visit the Tees Valley Combined Authority website here.

Key Information

Available: Now

Can I apply if my business is not trading yet? Yes

Eligible location: Based within the Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees)

Award available: up to £3,000 to support the exploration and adoption of new technologies within your business.

Tees Valley Entrepreneurs

Tees Valley Entrepreneurs helps residents facing barriers to self-employment to develop business and entrepreneurial skills through one-to-one advice and support.

There can be many barriers to self-employment. Whether it’s a poor credit rating, lack of expertise or maybe even a language barrier. These things shouldn’t come in the way of a great idea, so regardless of your age, your qualifications, or your current employment status, Tees Valley Entrepreneurs could help you start or scale up your business.

Tailored one-to-one support will guide you through the fundamentals of business, and includes:

• Introduction to entrepreneurship
• Idea validation
• Business planning
• Legal and financial basics
• Marketing and branding
• Networking and pitching
• Entrepreneurial skills

You may also be eligible to apply for a business grant of up to £1,000 to help you start or scale up your business.

Support is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Tees Valley Entrepreneurship is delivered by Triage on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board.

For more information and to register your interest, please visit the Tees Valley Combined Authority website here.

Key Information

Available: Now

Can I apply if my business is not trading yet? Yes

Eligible location: Based within the Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees)

Award available: up to £1,000 to help you start or scale up your business.

Tees Valley Innovation Challenge

Tees Valley Innovation Challenge provides the platform, guidance and resources to help you capitalise on investment opportunities within the region’s vibrant innovation ecosystem, forge valuable connections, and accelerate your growth in new markets.

Take part in sector-based innovation challenges to connect with large organisations and co-create new products or services in response to their challenges.

You could also be eligible to apply for grant funding between £1,000 and £10,000 to develop innovative solutions.

Innovation challenges will be published on Tees Valley Combined Authority’s website with details of how you can get involved.

Additional support includes:

• Innovation support
• Design thinking
• Networking & events

This support is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is delivered by Edge Innovation Ltd and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board.

For more information and to register, please visit the Tees Valley Combined Authority website here. 

Key Information

Available: Now

Eligible location: Based within the Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees)

Award available: between £1,000 and £10,000 to develop innovative solutions.

Tees Valley Labs

Tees Valley Labs is an extensive business support programme designed to enhance business growth and innovation in Tees Valley. Two initiatives support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and scale-ups, equipping them with essential resources, mentorship, and grant access.

The Stable

The Stable is a six-month incubator focused for start-up businesses that will support you from developing your business idea through to achieving market traction and securing funding. Programme participants will be able access up to £28,000 in funding. 

The Forge

A 12-week accelerator designed to take businesses from market traction and revenue through to significant investment funding. As part of this programme, businesses will have the opportunity to access significant levels of grant funding to de-risk any investment activity within and following the programme.

If you believe you have an innovative product that offers solutions, Tees Valley Labs may be a programme for you. 

Those unsuccessful in applying for the programme, may be able to access Tees Valley Labs wider activity of support. This includes access to tailored one-to-one business support. 

Support is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The Tees Valley Labs is delivered by Alt Labs on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board.

For more information and to register, please visit the Tees Valley Labs website here. 

Key Information

Available: Now

Can I apply if my business is not trading yet? Yes (The Stable programme only)

Eligible location: Based within the Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees)

Award available: 

The Stable: up to £28,000

The Forge: funding from a pot of £1.5million

Tees Valley Net Zero

Tees Valley Net Zero is a fully funded programme of support delivered by Decerna behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Tees Valley Combined Authority. 

Supported by UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), this initiative aims to help businesses develop a Net Zero strategy.

Get fully funded consultancy support and up to £2,000 grant funding for your business, alongside easy access to online tools and regular webinars and workshops.

For more information and to register, please visit the Tees Valley Combined Authority website here. 

Key information

Available: Now

Eligible location: Based within the Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-On-Tees)

Award available: up to £2,000 towards implementing carbon-saving activities. 

Redcar Fund Seekers

Redcar Fund Seekers is a grant portal funded and provided in partnership by Tees Valley Rural Action and Redcar and Cleveland Voluntary Development Agency.

Powered by IDOX GrantFinder, this grant portal gives you access to the widest possible range of national, regional, and local funds from national and local government to private trusts and charitable foundations and corporate sponsors.

By signing up for a free account you’ll be able to create easy, customised funding reports that makes sure that you receive opportunities that are tailored to your needs.

This grant portal is only available to Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations, and will only display funding opportunities available to them.

Access to the Redcar Fund Seekers grant portal is available here.