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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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.
Scottish EDGE
Round 26 is now open for applications until 2pm on 10 September 2025. Early-stage Scottish businesses from across all sectors can apply. Find out more here.
Inches Carr Craft Bursaries 2025
There are two types of Bursary depending how long you’ve been practicing professionally: Emerging Maker and Established Maker. Apply by Thursday 25 September at 17:00.
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.
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.
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.
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.
HIE Young Business Capital Grant Fund
For young businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands area, who have been trading for less than five years. Find out more here.
Outer Hebrides Digital Support Scheme (OHDSS)
This scheme aims to help small businesses in the Outer Hebrides develop and implement new digital systems by means of funding, mentoring and other support. Find out more here.
Cycling Tourism Facilities Fund
Tourism businesses, communities, and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise region can apply for funding of up to £25,000 to develop and enhance the cycling tourism facilities in the area. Find out more here.
Renfrewshire Council Business Training Support Grant
Up to £2,000 is available to businesses in Renfrewshire involved in manufacturing or business-to-business services, to help cover employer and employee training that's required as part of a specific business development project. Find out more here.
HIE Green Grant Fund
The Green Grant Fund from HIE is for businesses and social enterprises in the Highland Council area. The funding is a non-repayable grant of up to £250,000, which will cover between 10% and 40% of the total cost of a project that reduces the applicant’s carbon emissions. Find out more here.
Advanced Innovation Vouchers
Advanced Innovation Vouchers are open to small and medium sized Scottish enterprises for research and development collaborations.The deadlines for applications are: 30th September; 31st October; and 28th November, 2025. Find out more here.
Shetland Islands Council Economic Development Grant Scheme
Businesses and third sector organisations based in Shetland can get help with costs related to supporting local communities and promoting innovation, sustainability, diversity and growth. Find out more here.