The official tools for finding, applying for and checking small business grants

The most useful grant tool depends on the job. This list covers five official public services for discovery, application or transparency. It does not rank commercial grant software, and none of the services proves that a business is eligible or will receive an award.

What to take away

• The best grant tool depends on the job, so pick the service that matches your task.
• Find a grant is the broad starting point for government grant searches and notifications.
• The finance and support finder suits searches where region and business stage matter most.
• Innovation Funding Service is required for Innovate UK competitions, and applications elsewhere are not accepted.
• Search for UK subsidies and Companies House support due diligence, not applications or eligibility decisions.

How the tools were selected and checked

Services had to be operated for a UK public body, publicly accessible on 4 September 2026 and relevant to an England-based business researching grants or subsidies. Public search pages and current guidance were reviewed. No authenticated application was submitted, so account-only usability and end-to-end reliability were not scored.

"Best" here means best fit for the stated official task, not a universal winner. There were no affiliate links, payments or provider contributions.

1. Find a grant for broad government-grant searches

Find a grant allows users to search and filter government grants, browse listings, review published eligibility information and find application routes. Its public page also offers notifications and a sign-in route for applications supported by the service.

Use it to build a research list. Open each grant record, check the funder's documents and save the access date. The service says more grants will be added as it develops, so do not treat it as a complete record of all possible support.

2. Finance and support for your business for regional filtering

The Department for Business and Trade finance and support finder includes filters for support type, business stage, industry, employees and region. It covers grants as well as finance, expertise and other support.

Use it when location and business stage are central to the search. The summary result is a discovery record. The individual scheme page controls current geography, closing date and eligibility.

3. Innovation Funding Service for Innovate UK competitions

The Innovation Funding Service competition search lists relevant competitions and provides the application environment for Innovate UK opportunities. UKRI's current applicant guidance states that applications outside the service will not be accepted for those competitions.

Use it only with the guidance for the specific competition. The public review did not test account creation, collaboration or submission. UKRI assigns the lead applicant responsibility for inviting partners, reviewing answers and submitting on time.

4. Search for UK subsidies for award and scheme transparency

Search for UK subsidies provides public records of subsidy schemes and awards uploaded by UK public authorities under transparency obligations. Users can search schemes and awards and export results from relevant result pages.

Use it for due diligence, prior-support research and scheme context. It is not an application service. A database result does not decide whether another award is available or whether funding can be combined.

5. Companies House search for applicant and supplier checks

The Companies House search service provides public company information and filings. Use it to confirm a company's registered identity, status, officers and filed record when relevant to an application or supplier check.

Companies House information is not a credit score, quality mark or proof of grant eligibility. Review the filing date and distinguish the registered record from operational claims made by the business.

Limits of this comparison

Search coverage, interfaces, records and guidance can change. Recheck each service on publication day. A business may also need a local-authority, sector or funder-specific service that falls outside these national tools.

This draft contains no live internal links. It remains on hold for a repeat public test, named reviewer, accessibility check and confirmation that no commercial relationship affects inclusion.

Before you act

• Check the funder's documents and save the access date.
• Confirm current geography, closing date and eligibility on the scheme page.
• Read the guidance for the specific competition before applying.
• Use subsidy records for due diligence and prior-support research.
• Confirm registered identity, status and officers before an application.
• Recheck each service on publication day for changes.

Common questions

Can any of these tools confirm that my business is eligible for a grant?

No. The article states that none of the services proves that a business is eligible or will receive an award. They support discovery, application or transparency. Eligibility is controlled by the individual scheme page, the funder's documents and the guidance for the specific competition.

Which tool should I use if location and business stage are central to my search?

The Department for Business and Trade finance and support finder. It includes filters for support type, business stage, industry, employees and region, and covers grants as well as finance, expertise and other support. Treat the summary result as a discovery record and check the scheme page.

Can I use the Innovation Funding Service to apply for any Innovate UK competition?

It lists relevant competitions and provides the application environment for Innovate UK opportunities. UKRI guidance states that applications outside the service will not be accepted for those competitions. Use it only alongside the guidance for the specific competition, as account creation and submission were not tested.