GrantRadar

Firstport

Build It

Grants of up to £40,000 from Firstport (Scottish Government Social Entrepreneurs Fund) towards salaries for new, permanent roles in early-stage social enterprises in Scotland that have traded for three years or less and can show a track record of income and social impact. Jobs must pay at least the Real Living Wage, and the award runs for 12 months. There are four deadlines a year; the next is 12pm on Thursday 21 January 2027, and shortlisted applicants pitch to an independent panel.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £40,000
Deadline
94 days left
21 January
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Incorporated social enterprises with a registered office in Scotland, operating primarily for the benefit of people or communities in Scotland, that have been trading for three years or less
  • They must have an asset-locked constitution registered with Companies House, OSCR or the Mutual Public Register (model articles without an asset lock do not qualify), a business bank account in the enterprise's name, and a board of which no more than half are related to one another or employed by the enterprise
  • They must be independent (not a project or subsidiary of another body), show evidence of successful trading (usually at least a year) and of direct, measurable social impact already delivered, follow the Scottish Government Fair Work policy, and have closed any Start It award
  • No political campaigning or advancement of religion

What it funds

Salaries for new, permanent roles that grow income and social impact:

  • Up to £27,000 for a single salary (at Real Living Wage)
  • Up to £40,000 split between two or more salaries at Real Living Wage

What it will not fund

  • Continuing existing salaries (new roles only)
  • A founder's existing role (unless moving to a different role, explained in the application)
  • Sessional or casual staff
  • Struggling projects that need financial support to maintain existing operations

How to apply

  1. Read the guidance; optionally attend a Build It Office Hours session or book a 15-minute chat, and use Just Enterprise business support
  2. Register or log in to Firstport's application portal and choose Build It Application
  3. Submit the application form with business plan, pitch document and cashflow by 12pm on Thursday 21 January 2027
  4. Firstport shortlists within 2-3 weeks of the deadline
  5. Shortlisted applicants attend compulsory Practise Your Pitch and Cashflow Challenge sessions
  6. Pitch to the independent panel (16 and 17 March 2027); decisions follow within a few days

documents in the wrong template or format make an application ineligible, and Firstport will not warn you before shortlisting.

Have ready

  • Completed application form with budget breakdown (no more than £40,000)
  • Business plan (Word or PDF, no more than 12 sides of A4, focused on the next 12 months)
  • Pitch document (Word or PDF, no more than 2 pages)
  • Cashflow projections for two years on Firstport's Excel template (other templates are not accepted)

if funded, wage slips are needed as evidence of spend.

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