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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Research and Development Grants
Businesses in areas of Scotland covered by Scottish Enterprise may be eligible for funding towards researching and developing a new product, process or service, or significantly improving an existing one. Find out more here.
Workplace Transformation Support Fund
Grants of between £15,000 to £100,000 are available to companies in the Scottish Enterprise area that have more than 10 employees, to support capital investment projects. Find out more here.
Tay Cities SME Skills Fund
Small to medium sized businesses throughout the Tay Cities region can access a £5,000 grant to up-skill or re-skill their workforces. Find out more here.
Futures for All
Futures for All is designed to support employers in Perth & Kinross to create new, sustainable job opportunities for individuals who are currently unemployed. Download the details here.
Shetland Islands Council Loan Funding
Small to medium sized new and growing businesses and organisations can apply for commercial loans. Find out more here.
Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund
Scottish micro businesses and sole traders that operate within 20 kilometres of the Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Dundee low emission zones (LEZs) could receive funding... Find out more here
Outer Hebrides Business Development Scheme (OHBDS)
Full time businesses in the Outer Hebrides could get up to £3000, and part time businesses up to £1,500. Find out more here.
Cairngorms Community Led Vision (CLV) Fund
Businesses and groups with projects that will deliver inclusive community-based activity in the Cairngorms National Park can now apply for this funding. Find out more here.
Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) Fund
Now open for new applications, there’s two funds available for activities happening within rural Ayrshire.
East Dunbartonshire Business Growth Grant
This discretionary grant of up to £1,500 is to help businesses in the area cover the costs incurred in meeting their growth plan targets. Read more here.
Scottish Government funding to help you pay for your energy efficiency projects
Loans up to £100k are available to help you pay for energy and carbon-saving upgrades in your business. You could also receive a cashback grant of up to £30k. Read more.
Argyll and Bute Council Business Start-up Grant
New businesses in Argyll and Bute can apply for funding of up to £1000 to help with start-up costs. Find out more here.
Argyll and Bute Small Business Development Grant
Up to £5000—for up to 50% of your approved costs—to help you develop your business.
Find out more here.
The Catalyst Fund
Loans of £50,000 or more to social enterprises through a flexible, revenue-based repayment model.
Find out more here.
SMART: SCOTLAND Grant
Grant from Scottish Enterprise to enable small or medium-sized businesses to conduct feasibility studies for technological projects.
Find out more here.
Shetland Islands Council Coastal Communities Fund
A grant of between £5,000 and £100,000 is available to organisations with projects that support the community and economic development of Shetland.
Find out more here.
Workforce Innovation Voucher Scheme
This voucher scheme, the value of which is between £1,000 and £7,500, is for small or medium-sized business or social enterprise in Scotland.
Renfrewshire Digital Development Grant
This grant is for between £1000 - £10,000, to support up to 50% of eligible expenditure. Find out more here.
Highland Start Up Grant
If you're a start up based in the Highland Council area you may be eligible for this grant of £1000. Find out more here.
Geovation Accelerator Programme
This programme has been designed to help founders of start ups grow their business and solve real world challenges using geospatial and property data. The current open call ends Friday 29 August 2025.