Tips and Advice on How to Apply for a Grant

Securing funding for your new, or small, business is very important and getting the application right will play a big part in whether you are accepted. When you apply for a grant or a loan, you tend to do it through an organisation such as a bank or institution, but the information you are required to supply will be pretty much the same regardless.

The first thing you will need to ensure is that you meet the criteria outlined by the organisation for the grant or loan in question.

Many organisations require you to provide an explanation of what the grant money will be used for. This is often referred to as a project proposal, and will outline everything, including the project's aims and a time scale as to when you will achieve them.

The one thing that these organisations are looking for is a well planned business model, which will be shown through a good business plan. It is important that this is readily available to them during the application process as a way of proving that your business is one worthy of their funding.

Dotting and Crossing

As well as the above, you will also have to fill in an application form supplied by the organisation you want to receive funding from. You may also be required give a personal presentation, although this usually only applies to larger loans or grants.

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This would require you attending a personal interview where you will talk through your business plan, your targets and overall business objectives.

If you have chosen to apply to the Growth Guarantee Scheme then the process is slightly different, even though the application is made to a lender. With this process you don't need to supply a project proposal, although you will need a business plan.

Grants provided by the Growth Guarantee Scheme offer security on 75 per cent of the loan. However, you must bear in mind that the decision as to whether to lend to you, or not, comes from the lender as it is them who are providing the remaining 25 per cent.

There is a wide range of qualifying criteria that you will need to be aware of when applying for funding through the scheme. Eligibility is generally available to businesses with a turnover of less than £45 million per year.

If you have adverse credit you can still apply for a Growth Guarantee Scheme, however, lenders will check that any outstanding issues have been satisfied and that your business is financially healthy and provides suitable means of repayment.

When the time comes to actually apply to the scheme for funding it is important that you check what is being offered. Most of the major high-street business banks, such as Barclays, Lloyds TSB, the Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC, offer access to the scheme.

There are around 23 high street business banks and commercial lenders that will lend money as part of this scheme and the best way to get the best deal is to shop around.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Grant Eligibility Finder lets you tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application. Try it now →