How to write a successful grant application
Last updated 2026-09-01
Assessors read many applications quickly. The strongest ones are specific, costed and obviously aligned with what the fund says it wants to achieve.
Answer the criteria directly
Use the fund's own language. If the programme exists to increase productivity, say how much output will rise and how you measured it. Vague ambition scores badly.
Make the numbers add up
Costs in the budget must match the quotes you attach. Explain the basis for any estimate, and make sure the total, the match funding and the amount requested are consistent throughout.
Show impact you can evidence
- Jobs created or safeguarded
- Turnover or export growth
- Energy or carbon reduction
- New products, services or customers reached
Be realistic about risk
Naming the main risks and your mitigation builds credibility. Claiming there are none rarely does.