Grants · Funding routes we work with
Funding for your project, in the UK and beyond.
We map the right grant for your project and prepare the application: Innovate UK loans and grants, the National Lottery Community Fund, Horizon Europe for UK organisations, UK Export Finance and UK support for Ukraine’s recovery. This page lists the routes we work with and what they ask for.
Innovate UK · open now
Short windows, large tickets.
Innovate UK competitions are open for weeks, not months. Organisations that prepare before a call opens have a clear advantage.
| Route | Size | Who can apply | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innovation Loans (expression of interest) | £100k–5m | UK-registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in one of six Industrial Strategy sectors; not charities or academic bodies | Closes 9 Oct 2026, then paused until Jan 2027 |
| UK–Germany bilateral collaborative R&D, round 5 | £2.4m in total | UK SMEs working with German SMEs | Closes 1 Dec 2026 |
| Commercialising Knowledge Assets Fund (winter) | £50k–250k per grant | See competition page | Closes 1 Dec 2026 |
| Smart Grants | — | — | Closed to new applications |
Figures from the Innovate UK Innovation Funding Service as of 30 September 2026. More competitions are listed at apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk. Always check the current competition page before applying.
What funders ask for
Four conditions that decide most applications.
- The right applicant type. Many UK programmes are open only to one kind of organisation, for example SMEs, charities or local authorities. Check this before you write a line.
- A fit with the funder’s priorities. Innovate UK, for instance, now funds in line with its new strategic direction and the Industrial Strategy sectors.
- Match funding and a credible budget. Loans go to a credit committee; grants are scored on value for money and deliverability.
- Governance you can evidence. Charity Commission registration, accounts and policies, and compliance with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code where relevant.
How we help
From eligibility to final report.
Our team works from London and Kyiv, so both sides of a UK–Ukraine project are covered by people who know them.
- 01
Eligibility checkfixed price
Does your organisation and project fit the programme criteria? A written go or no-go with the gaps to close.
- 02
Partners and set-upbefore the call
Consortium and partner search, including Ukrainian and European partners, and the documents funders expect.
- 03
Financing structurematch-funding plan
A budget and match-funding plan that meets the call rules, including other public and private sources.
- 04
Applicationwriting, review, submission
Writing, review and submission of the proposal, in English and Ukrainian.
- 05
Delivery and reportingafter the award
Monitoring, milestone reports and compliance support for the life of the grant.
More routes
Other doors worth checking.
Innovate UK is not the only route. These are the other programmes we look at for UK organisations and UK–Ukraine partnerships.
| Programme | Runs via | What it funds | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Europe | European Commission, with UKRI support | Research and innovation of every kind; the UK has been associated since 1 January 2024 and UK applicants can receive direct EU funding | Open for Work Programme calls 2024–2027 |
| National Lottery Community Fund | The National Lottery Community Fund | Awards for All England (£300–20,000), Reaching Communities England (£20,001–20m) and The UK Fund (£500k–5m) for established organisations scaling proven work | Open; decisions take about 16 to 40 weeks |
| UK Export Finance | UKEF | Finance and insurance for UK exporters, including contracts in Ukraine; the government has kept a £3.5bn cover limit for Ukraine | Ongoing; support, not a grant |
| Ukraine reconstruction support for UK business | Department for Business and Trade | Pilot project development support for British businesses scoping Ukraine reconstruction work; businesses register interest with the department | Register interest; open call not confirmed |
| Erasmus+ | UK–EU association agreement | Study, training and placements abroad; the UK rejoins from 2027, with placements from the 2027/28 academic year | From 2027 |
- Local authorities. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund has ended: no funding will be provided for activity after 30 September 2026. Its successor, the Local Growth Fund, goes to Mayoral Strategic Authorities in the North and Midlands through Local Growth Plans and is not open to direct applications. We help councils map what is available to them.
Programme names and figures from official gov.uk, UKRI, Innovate UK and National Lottery Community Fund publications as of 30 September 2026. Always confirm the current call before applying.
Official sources