Skip to main content
Scotland Business Grant Finder

Business grants in Scotland

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.

How business funding works in Scotland

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.

Common types of funding

  • Capital grants for equipment, machinery, vehicles and premises
  • Startup support for pre-trading and newly trading businesses
  • Interest-free or low-interest loans, particularly for energy projects
  • Vouchers and subsidised advice for digital, export and specialist support
  • Training subsidies and recruitment incentives
  • Competitive innovation and research and development funding

Funding records in the directory

No funding records match at the moment. Try widening your filters or browse all grants.

Business grants by Scottish council area

Choose your council area to see local programmes alongside Scotland-wide funding.

Business grants by funding purpose

See also small business grants in Scotland.

Frequently asked questions

What business grants are available 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.

Who provides business funding in Scotland?

National economic development agencies, local councils and business gateway teams, sector bodies, energy programmes and UK-wide competitions all fund Scottish businesses.

Do I need to repay a business grant?

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.

How long does a grant application take?

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.