GrantRadar

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (in partnership with SWEF)

SWEF - Grants to Small Business Start-ups

Grants for young people aged 18-30 living in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth or the Isle of Wight who run a new business and face financial barriers to growing it. There are two tiers: a Start-up Grant of up to £500 for pre-revenue businesses or those turning over under £500 a month, and a Business Grant of up to £2,000 for those turning over £500+ a month. It is not a loan; it is a grant to the individual business owner, not to organisations, and the current round closes on 31 October 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £2,000
Closes in
13 days left
31 October
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Individuals aged 18 to 30 who currently live in Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth or the Isle of Wight and face financial challenges preventing them from developing their business
  • The UK business must have been trading for less than 2.5 years (the Start-up Grant criteria document says less than 2 years), and the applicant must be its majority shareholder, trading as a sole trader, limited company or CIC limited by shares; a business partner over 30 may not hold more than 20%
  • A business bank account is required (Start-up applicants may be in the process of setting one up); grants are only paid into business bank accounts
  • There must be a clear intention for the business to become the applicant's sole or main work focus
  • Start-up Grant: pre-revenue or under £500 a month, with evidence of real steps taken (e.g. market research, social media following, early spending) and public visibility
  • Business Grant: generating £500+ a month in revenue (can be averaged over 3 months)
  • Not for charities or community organisations

What it funds

  • Business costs that will transform a young person's new business and take it to the next stage
  • Start-up Grant (up to £500): equipment that will help increase profit, materials or stock, prototypes and product development, building a website or booking system, training, and other business costs that will make a significant impact; ideally spent within one month of receipt
  • Business Grant (up to £2,000): the same except materials or stock, to be fully spent within 12 months; applications involving second-hand items are particularly welcome, and the grant must not be a contribution to an item of equipment worth more than £10,000
  • Grantees can join SWEF's online community (Facebook group and newsletters)
  • A Start-up grantee whose revenue later exceeds £500 a month may ask HIWCF about a follow-up Business Grant

What it will not fund

  • Salaries
  • Debt repayment
  • Retrospective purchases (Business Grant)
  • Rent or utilities
  • Ongoing costs such as software subscriptions (Business Grant)
  • Stock, materials or ongoing costs for existing product lines, including stock for re-sellers (Business Grant only)
  • New computers, phones or tablets (second-hand or refurbished items may be considered)
  • App or software development costs (apps/software must be ready to launch or already launched)
  • Invasive beauty treatments such as Botox, aesthetics, semi-permanent make-up, facial tattoos, dermal fillers
  • Property development
  • Drugs, including any idea linked to vaping or tobacco
  • Political or religious agendas
  • Gambling
  • Illegal or unregulated activity (such as cryptocurrencies)
  • Finance or trading ideas needing FCA approval
  • Applications solely for business ideas, without steps already taken

How to apply

  1. Read the criteria document for the Start-up Grant or the Business Grant, depending on your turnover
  2. Complete the online application form for the relevant grant (you can save and return to it), attaching the required documents
  3. HIWCF reviews the application against the criteria and tells you whether it can progress; it may ask for further information
  4. If it meets all criteria, HIWCF has a short chat with you (online or by phone) to add final details before submitting it to SWEF
  5. If SWEF is interested, you are invited to a 15-30 minute online meeting with SWEF staff, who decide whether to offer a grant
  6. If awarded, spend the grant within one year and give light-touch feedback to SWEF and HIWCF 12 months after receiving it

Questions and application support from the grants team at grantsadmin@hiwcf.com or 01962 798700.

Have ready

  • Completed online application form
  • Business bank statement (for the Business Grant, an image showing sort code and account number)
  • Figures showing your revenue, e.g. details of your costs and sales (Business Grant only)

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