External Grant Funding

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 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 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. 

Northern Gas Networks Community Partnering Fund

The Northern Gas Networks Community Partnering Fund aims to support organisations to tackle fuel poverty, advise on fuel efficiency measures, raise awareness of the Priority Services Register, and highlight the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty or un-serviced appliances.

Apply by 19 January 2025.

What type of projects can you support?

The Fund can support a broad range of projects and activities, including projects which:

• Reduce hardship for people living in or at risk of fuel poverty.
• Promote energy efficiency through sharing of advice and information.
• Promote the Priority Services Register (PSR) - a free service provided by network operators and suppliers to customers in vulnerable circumstances.
• Provide information for communities and raise awareness of the dangers, signs and symptoms of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning and how to protect against it.
• Energy affordability

What type of funding can you apply for? 

Here are some examples of the type of funding you can apply for, but this list doesn’t include everything.

• Equipment/materials
• Office overheads
• Marketing/publicity
• Room hire
• Salaries
• Transport (not the purchase of)
• Tutor costs
• Volunteer costs

The Northern Gas Networks Community Partnering Fund is administered by Point North. For more information and to apply, click here.

Key Information

Available: Now

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

Eligibility:

Business is based in County Durham or Tees Valley.

Your organisation does not have to be a registered charity to apply but must have charitable aims.

The company has been registered for a minimum of 12 months.

Award: Between £1,000 and £10,000.

SWEF Enterprise & Business Start Up Fund

The SWEF Enterprise and Business Start Up Fund provides grants to young people who are in the early stages of setting up their business and need funds to take their business to the next level.

Young people not in education, employment or training are encouraged to apply. This Fund is not a loan scheme. If you are awarded the grant, you do not need to pay the grant back.

The SWEF Enterprise & Business Start Up Fund is administered by Point North. For more information and to apply, click here.

Key Information

Available: Now

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

Eligibility:

Aged 18 to 30.

Currently live in County Durham or Tees Valley.

From a low-income household or facing other challenges stopping them from developing their business.

Individuals or teams working on a newly established business.

Able to demonstrate what time and resources have already been directed towards the business.

Award: up to £500

SWEF Enterprise & Business Fund

The SWEF Enterprise & Business Fund provides grants to young people in County Durham and Tees Valley to help them with a business investment they can't afford, but that will transform their business.

Young people not in education, employment or training are encouraged to apply. This Fund is not a loan scheme. If you are awarded the grant, you do not need to pay the grant back.

The SWEF Enterprise & Business Fund is administered by Point North. For more information and to apply, click here.

Key Information

Available: Now

Eligibility:

Aged 18 to 30.

Currently live in County Durham or Tees Valley.

From a low-income household or facing other challenges stopping them from developing their business.

Running a business that has been trading for under two years (including those about to start a new business).

Individuals or teams working on a newly established business i.e. has been trading for less than 2 years.

Able to demonstrate what time and resources have already been directed towards the business.

Award: up to £2,000.

Change Lives Today, Tees Valley Fund

The Change Lives Today, Tees Valley Fund provides grants to groups meeting immediate community needs and to rebuild the communities in Tees Valley.

What type of projects can this project support?

The Fund can support a broad range of existing or new projects and activities, including projects which:

• Help bring different communities together
• Reduce isolation and provide positive experiences for young people
• Tackle the direct effects of poverty to help strengthen communities
• Create more resilient communities
• Increase a sense of belonging
• Increase civic participation at a local level

What type of funding can you apply for? 

Here are some examples of the type of funding you can apply for, but this list doesn’t include everything.

• Room hire/ premises costs
• Items for distribution
• Staff time allocated to the project
• Capital items and equipment (except vehicles or minibuses)
• Transport costs

The Change Lives Today, Tees Valley Fund is being administered by Point North. For more information and to apply, click here.

Key Information

Available: Now

Eligibility:

Based within the Tees Valley.

Be one of the following organisational structures: registered charities and CIOs, community/voluntary groups that have a constitution, social enterprises (CICs, companies limited by guarantee) that are registered with the appropriate body.

The company is registered for a minimum of 12 months.

A reasonable percentage of your income is earned through trading.

Award: up to £3,000

Enovert Community Trust

Enovert Community Trust (formerly Cory Environmental Trust in Britain) is an environmental body which supports community and environmental projects within 10 miles of Enovert's site on Teesworks (TS6 6UG). The Trust is committed to supporting community and environmental projects across the UK. 

Example of what type of projects can this fund support?

• Improving community halls
• the creation of new play areas and skate parks
• restoring green spaces.

Five project criteria

In line with the Landfill Tax Regulations, Enovert Community Trust is able to support projects under the following categories, so please make sure that your project complies with one of the following objects:

• Opening up access for the public to an area of land that has been closed or partially closed up to now.
• Cleaning up land that has been polluted because of now ceased activity.
• Helping to improve, protect, provide and/or maintain land or a building as a public amenity.
• Protecting the environment, and conserving or promoting biological diversity.
• Helping to preserve, maintain, restore and/or repair a religious building or one of historical or architectural interest.

For more information about the Enovert Community Trust and it's grants, please visit their website here.

Key Information

Available: Now

Eligibility:

Based within 10 miles of Enovert's site on Teesworks (TS6 6UG)

Non-profit distributing: You don’t need to be a charity, but any surplus you make must be used to further your organisation’s objects. Surplus must not be used to pay dividends or other rewards. If you are a sporting organisation you must be CASC registered or a limited company or registered charity. If you are a sporting organisation you must be CASC registered or a limited company or registered charity.

Available to the general public: Your facility must be available to the general public as much as possible, and no less than four evenings or two days a week, or for more than 104 days in any one year.

Award: up to £50k*
*the Trust requires 10%
independent 3rd party funding

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.