Finding grants and funding for your business

Whether you’re a start-up business, looking to scale, or support recent growth – whatever stage you’re at, navigating the world of funding can seem a little daunting.

Recently, I’ve had a few members ask where they can go to find support, advice and help with finance, grants and funding – so I’ve put together some of key resources and signposting, for helpful places to start in the Chamber network.

Finding funding for your business isn’t just about the numbers, it also means thinking about where you want your business to go, and what your plans are for the future. With that in mind, all of the places signposted below can offer extra business support, from figuring out where your funding or grant will help your business, to where this fits in your business plan moving forwards.

Coast to Capital Growth Hub: free and impartial government funded business support

As well as help with funding and grants, the Coast to Capital Growth Hub has plenty of business support on offer. It’s fully-funded, impartial business support – including access to growth advisors, peer networks, finance for apprenticeships and investment.

If you’re looking for funding, a good place to start is through their website’s grants and funding page. Filter by your business sector, what you’re looking for, and where your business is located, to see an extensive list of the support, finance and funding available.

Plus they can help with access to Invest4, or finding funding from the British Business Bank and its Finance Hub. It’s all there to help your business grow, whatever stage you’re at.

Have a look at what funding you might be eligible for here, and get in touch with one of their advisors here to see how they can support you.

Business & IP Centre Sussex: helpful databases and access to support for your business

Based out of the Jubilee Library in Brighton, the Business & IP Centre Sussex (previously the Business & IP Centre Brighton), has an enormous amount of support available.

Their (free to use!) databases, which you can help with anything from market research to customer mapping and finance.

The GRANTfinder database pulls together all the finance, grants and funding available. You can search and filter results by funding type, location, sector and stage of business to find the right funding for you.

They’ve also got a whole load of resources available within the GRANTfinder database, with how-to guides and tips for writing your application, and articles on topical funding issues and discussions. And, you can save your search and be alerted as soon as something new becomes available.

Find out more about GRANTfinder here, and get in touch with the BIPC team at BIPC@brighton-hove.gov.uk.

Business Hothouse: access to the Invest4 grant and help finding funding

Run by the University of Chichester, the Business Hothouse is free support with the Invest4 match-fund grant, which can give you up to £170,000 for your business.

Designed to help with finance to help your business or idea to grow, you can apply for an Invest4 grant for anything from a new website, marketing support, to new machinery. It’s for any stage business - whether the funding will help you kick-start growth, or help with ideas in your established business.

Advisors at the Business Hothouse can take you through your application line by line and, because it’s a match-fund, they can also help you to find the finance for the remaining 60% not covered by the grant.

They’ve written a blog about Invest4, and how it works, for the Chamber here. To find out more, and to get in touch with the Business Hothouse team, pop them an email hothouse@chi.ac.uk.

Let's Do Business: help starting up

Helping businesses to launch or start-up, Let's Do Business are a delivery partner of the government backed Start Up Loan. Businesses can receive up to £100,000 to help their business start or grow. And, you'll also get 12 months of free mentoring and business offers to help you succeed. Find out more and check your eligibility here. 

Have a look through articles on the Chamber website

If you’re looking for grants or funding opportunities for your business, hopefully this has been a handy guide to getting started. If you need a little extra help, you can always get in touch with the Chamber team, and we’ll try and point you in the right direction.

You can also find more local business support available from the Chamber, and our members, on our Business Support page: 

And stay up-to-date with the latest support, events, and city updates by signing up to our mailing list: 

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk