GrantRadar

East Renfrewshire Council

Business development grants 2026 to 2027

East Renfrewshire Council's grants to develop and strengthen businesses based and trading in East Renfrewshire, available until February 2027 as part of the council's Business Support package. There are four grants: a New Business Start Up Grant of £1,000, Micro Business Grants of up to £2,000, Small Business Growth Grants of £2,001 to £5,000 (50% of eligible costs), and Get to Zero Grants of up to £5,000 for energy-efficiency improvements at commercial premises. One online form covers all four.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000 – £5,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Sole traders, partnerships and LLPs, social enterprises and limited companies classed as SMEs, located and trading in East Renfrewshire, working with a Business Gateway adviser and with an active business bank account
  • Start Up Grant: new or pre-start businesses trading under 12 months, able to turn over at least £10,000 a year and trading 16+ hours a week
  • Micro Business Grants: trading 12 months or more; the grants page gives turnover of £10,000 to £100,000 and 16+ hours a week, while the guidance page says at least £25,000, 35+ hours a week and home-based businesses only
  • Small Business Growth Grants: trading 12 months or more, turnover of £100,000 or more, 35+ hours a week
  • Get to Zero Grants: trading over 12 months, turnover of at least £50,000, trading from commercial premises in East Renfrewshire listed for non-domestic rates, with the landlord's permission if not owned and an energy audit showing savings
  • Businesses should not be in debt to the council (unless on an active repayment plan), must hold relevant insurances, licences and qualifications, and are asked to adopt Fair Work practices and pay the Real Living Wage
  • Community groups and charities cannot apply unless they are social enterprises

What it funds

Grants to help businesses meet growth objectives, increase turnover and increase or safeguard employment through productivity, competitiveness or innovation:

  • New Business Start Up Grant (£1,000): purchase of equipment to start the business, paid on approval and spent within 3 months
  • Micro Business Grants (up to £2,000), paid on evidence of payments made
  • Small Business Growth Grants (£2,001 to £5,000, 50% of eligible costs) where the grant will increase turnover in the following 12 months or sustain or grow the workforce
  • Get to Zero Grants (up to £5,000): low energy heating and lighting, improved insulation of roof and building, solar, ground or air source heat or solar thermal technology, and waste management or recycling equipment that shows a significant energy saving
  • Capital expenditure on equipment: tools for a new service or product, equipment to develop new processes or products, IT equipment for new services, bespoke IT software
  • Commercial property improvements, which must include energy-efficient measures where appropriate
  • Costs of creating new manufacturing lines or service provision, such as a new food production line
  • Energy-efficient equipment or processes
  • Exhibiting at a national trade show
  • Costs of developing innovative products or processes
  • Marketing and e-commerce activities

What it will not fund

  • Any purchase or order already made (no retrospective grants)
  • Furniture and consumables
  • General replacement of tools or equipment because of wear and tear
  • Laptops, tablets or mobile phones
  • Off-the-shelf software packages such as Microsoft Office or Sage
  • Second-hand equipment
  • Vehicles, vehicle wraps or graphics
  • Routine property maintenance, and improvements to residential properties
  • Transport, subsistence or accommodation costs for trade shows
  • Website or brochure marketing without a clear e-commerce focus, and social media advertising such as Google, Facebook or LinkedIn ads
  • Purchases made via hire purchase, lease or other finance agreements
  • Businesses in the sex industry, politics, religion, nude or semi-nude modelling or photography, gambling, or multi-level marketing/pyramid selling
  • Community groups, not-for-profit, voluntary or charitable organisations (except social enterprises)
  • Further funding within 12 months of any offer being made

How to apply

  1. Read the eligibility criteria and the Grant Fund Application Guidance
  2. Complete the online application form, uploading supporting documents within it
  3. Send any further evidence not requested in the form to business@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk, quoting your application reference in the email header
  4. The council acknowledges the application by email, assesses eligibility, and may ask for more details, visit or meet you
  5. If successful you receive a formal written offer; do not start the project or buy anything before approval

the form has no save facility and times out after 45 minutes

Business Gateway East Renfrewshire can help with supporting documents before you apply

Have ready

  • Evidence of trading and location in East Renfrewshire (e.g. e-commerce website, orders, contracts, Facebook page, leaflets)
  • Copies of all relevant business insurance certificates, qualifications and licences
  • One written quote for each item requested, identifying the supplier and showing all costs
  • The last 2 months of business bank statements (new businesses may give a bank letter if the account is newer)
  • Annual accounts (income and expenditure, P&L and balance sheet) for businesses trading over 12 months
  • Management accounts for the current year if annual accounts were filed over 6 months ago
  • Income and expenditure or cashflow projection for the coming year
  • For Get to Zero: an energy audit, and proof of premises ownership or landlord permission

larger grants need extra information, requested during assessment

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.