News, opportunities and helpful tools
Stay up to date with the latest news affecting rural business owners including, funding opportunities and helpful tips from the GrowBiz team.
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Join the GrowBiz Mentoring Programme
Could you join the GrowBiz mentoring programme on National Mentoring Day today? The programme has just been reaccredited to receive the highly-regarded Scottish Mentoring Network Project Quality Award after an assessment process.
Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund
This Perth & Kinross Fund is now open for expressions of interest until Thursday 9th October 2025 at 5pm. A range of not-for-profit organisations may apply. Find out more here.
Visual Artist and Craft Maker Awards (VACMA)
VACMA offers fixed bursaries of £500 and £1000, depending on your experience level. The autumn deadline 5pm, 21 October 2025 (note that not all partners offer a scheme with this deadline). Find out more and apply here.
Solar PV Assessment
Small and medium-sized businesses and social enterprises in Scotland can get free, impartial solar PV assessments from Business Energy Scotland. Find out more here.
Youth Led Creative Fund
Young people aged 8-30 in Scotland who have experienced isolation or marginalisation can apply for up to £500 for an individual or up to £2,000 for a group in order to fund a creative project or activity. Applications are open until 18th November. Find out more here.
Cairngorms Visitor Survey
Be amongst the first to hear the findings of this survey by signing up for the ‘Understanding our Visitors’ event on 10th September, 11am-12noon here.
Creative Communities Scotland
Community-led organisations in Scotland can apply for up to £35,000 to develop and deliver hands-on creative projects. The deadline for applications is Thursday 18th September 2025. Find out more here.
Electric Car Grant Scheme
Individual buyers, business fleets and leasing companies can benefit. Find out more here.
THRIVE Fundamentals 2025
This training programme is aimed at current and future food and drink entrepreneurs in Scotland. Register here for September.
New Charity Regulations
There are new regulations impacting charities and social enterprises in 2025. Get a summary of each change and what you can do to prepare here.
Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund
Third sector organisations and community groups can apply for up to £50,000 for eco-friendly projects in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen and Moray. Apply by noon on 29 September. Find out more here.
Future Works Employer Recruitment Incentives
Perth & Kinross employers can receive a a financial contribution of up to £8,000 for the creation of new, sustainable job opportunities for those facing barriers to work. Email skillsandemployment@pkc.gov.uk for more information.
Fife SME Development Grant
Financial support via small non-repayable grants to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Fife to develop and grow. The deadline to apply to this fund is 31 January 2026. Find out more here.
Perth & Kinross Beyond Scotland Market Development Grant
Grants of up to £3,000 are available to fund projects that will enable businesses to expand their market overseas and into other parts of the UK. Find out more and apply here.
Carbon Literacy for Rural Industries
This one day course is offered on a quarterly basis for £200 per person. Find out more here.
Creative Scotland National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations
The grant is to support creative activity that runs for up to 18 months. Apply at any time here.
Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for Individuals
The funding is designed to support periods of research, development and/or delivery of creative activity for up to 24 months. Find out more and apply here.
Outer Hebrides Business Development Scheme
Grants of £3,000 for full-time businesses and £1,500 for part-time businesses in the Outer Hebrides, for up to 50% of eligible costs. Find out more here.
Highlights from Regional EDGE for Perth & Kinross
Five businesses took away awards of between £10k and £50k at the first Perth & Kinross Regional Edge finals on Monday 24 February
New Perth Academy to Develop the Next Generation of Leaders
Perth Leadership Academy will work with a group of emerging leaders from the private, public and third sectors to help equip them with the skills they need to boost the leadership capability in their own organisations and help them work more effectively with other partners.