Foundations
Part of Grant funding for women founders in England: where it sits
Grant funding for women founders in England: where it sits
Where grant funding for women founders in England sits, from Innovate UK's Women in Innovation to local growth funds, and the checks to run before applying.
| Route | Decision maker | Scale shown in the scheme information | Potential fit | Check before proceeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women in Innovation Awards | Innovate UK | £50,000 per winner, typical | A woman founder developing an innovation | Round dates, sector priorities and what the package covers |
| Innovate UK Smart Grants | Innovate UK | Project costs of £100,000 to £2 million; grant covers 60 to 70 per cent for SMEs | Research-heavy work with a written plan | Project size bands and cash to fund work before payment |
| Local growth funds | Combined authorities and councils | Typically £1,000 to £50,000, often capped at £10,000 or £25,000 | A firm trading in the area that needs equipment or expansion capital | Postcode rules and whether the scheme is open |
| Small business rate relief | Billing authority | Hundreds to a few thousand pounds a year on one property | One property below the rateable value threshold | Rateable value and whether relief is already claimed |
Four women's funding routes compared
Women in Innovation
- Who runs it
- Innovate UK
- Best fit
- Innovation founders
- Check first
- Round dates
Smart Grants
- Who runs it
- Innovate UK
- Best fit
- Research projects
- Check first
- Size bands
Local growth funds
- Who runs it
- Councils
- Best fit
- Local expansion
- Check first
- Postcode rules
Rate relief
- Who runs it
- Billing authority
- Best fit
- One small property
- Check first
- Rateable value
Women in Innovation: national reach, round-based access
The Women in Innovation Awards are the clearest England-wide route in this comparison, but they are competitive awards rather than an entitlement. They target women founders developing an innovation, and the table amount is a typical award per winner, not a guaranteed payment to every eligible applicant.
The programme opens in rounds, so its priorities can change with each brief. Applicants based in England compete with entries from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Recent rounds have opened in spring and closed in summer, so check the Women in Innovation page for the next opening date before planning around a deadline.
Smart Grants: larger projects and a funding gap to plan for
Innovate UK Smart Grants support projects with total costs from £100,000 to £2 million, with the grant covering 60 to 70 per cent for SMEs. This route suits research-heavy proposals with a written plan, but the applicant must consider how to fund project work before reimbursement arrives.
The written case is central to an Innovate UK application. The Smart Grants application guide explains the sections assessors score. Check the current Innovate UK funding competitions for project size bands, eligibility rules and payment terms before committing to this route.
Local growth funds: postcode and delivery conditions
Combined authorities and county councils run area-based growth funds for local firms, often with postcode or local delivery conditions. Some programmes reserve places or give assessment weight to women-led applicants, but published criteria need to confirm that provision. For further regional context, see rural grant routes.
The West Midlands Combined Authority Business Growth Programme uses B, CV, DY, WS and WV postcodes. The Cumbria Business Growth Fund uses CA and LA postcodes. These examples do not establish current availability, so check the postcode list and opening status on the relevant fund page before preparing an application.
Rate relief: a separate route from a grant
Small business rate relief is set by the billing authority and may cut or remove the rates bill on one property in England.
Its value can be hundreds to a few thousand pounds a year, and it does not depend on a competitive funding round. Check the rateable value and the criteria for whether to apply for business rate relief.
The GOV.UK rates relief information is a starting point for the England scheme. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operate separate schemes with different thresholds, so do not assume English criteria apply elsewhere.
Founder status is one part of eligibility
Women-focused programmes usually require a woman to hold a founder or leadership role; the other checks generally resemble those for other applicants. Read the scheme definition of founder rather than relying on the programme name. Trading history can also affect whether a national or local route is realistic.
Legal form matters as well. Some schemes accept sole traders and partnerships, while others require a registered company. The eligibility section should state which forms are accepted. Local funds can provide options outside London and the South East, but usually attach a postcode test to the application.
Screen the scheme before preparing a bid
Use official grant search tools and check the GOV.UK finance and support finder before paying an adviser. A fee charged to guarantee an award is a warning sign. Confirm the scheme with its funder because a directory entry alone does not establish that a round is open.
Five checks before applying
- Use official grant search tools
- Read eligibility and assessment criteria
- Work out project cost and your share
- Check when money is paid
- Keep a dated file of guidance
- Start with the official search, then confirm details on the GOV.UK finance and support announcement.
- Read eligibility rules and assessment criteria before relying on case studies, which are marketing rather than scheme rules.
- Calculate total project cost and the share you must fund, including VAT you cannot recover.
- Check when payments are made. Many grants reimburse costs after spending, making cash flow as important as the award amount.
- Keep dated copies of the guidance and any written answers from the funder.
As a typical guide, a local growth fund may pay within three to six months of a successful application. National innovation competitions may take six to twelve months from application to first payment because costs are reimbursed after spending. Treat these periods as planning estimates, not promises from a particular fund.
Account for reliefs and tax treatment separately
Research and development tax relief is a company relief, not a grant, and sits outside a grant application timetable. It relates to work that resolves technical uncertainty. Business rates relief also changes the cash position, so include these routes when judging whether a grant-funded project is affordable.
Tax treatment of a grant depends on what the payment funds. Revenue grants are normally treated as trading income, while capital grants usually reduce the asset cost for tax purposes. Your accountant can confirm the treatment for your circumstances. For project costs and cash planning, use the grant budget template and the cost and budget guide.
