PopUp Britain to launch first shop outside London

Gloucester-based pop-up store marks first move in enterprise campaign’s national expansion plans

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Published on 31 January 2013

PopUp Britain is set to launch its first pop-up shop outside of London tomorrow.

The pop-up store based in Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire will offer 12 small businesses the chance to trial their company in a physical retail space.

Following the launch of PopUp Britain’s flagship store in Richmond in July, the campaign has since opened stores in Somerset House and Victoria.

The launch of the Gloucestershire store marks the first in a series of national launches planned by PopUp Britain, which was formed by national enterprise campaign StartUp Britain.

PopUp Moreton will be open for eight weeks from February 1 to March 29, in which time 12 companies will have the opportunity to run their business from the retail space for a fee of £100, which will include rent, insurance and WiFi access. StartUp Britain co-founder Emma Jones claims that this is the beginning of PopUp Britain’s national roll-out. She said: “We are delighted to be able to take our first steps outside London. Watch out for many more coming soon. “Because [the small business owners] share the cost and the space we offer on a short-term basis, they can take advantage of an affordable and manageable opportunity to make sales, test the market and meet customers face to face.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Aimee is Startups' resident expert in business tech, products, and services. She loves a great story and enjoys chatting to the startups and small business community. Starting her own egg delivery business from the age of 12, she has a healthy respect for self-starters and local services.

Direct selling on the rise in the UK

Direct Selling Association records 20,000 new distributors

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Published on 31 January 2013

The UK has experienced a rise in direct selling, with 20,000 more people involved in the industry now than in 2009, according to the Direct Selling Association (DSA).

Recognised as the trade association for the direct selling channel of distribution since 1965, the DSA’s member companies account for 51% of total UK direct sales and include firms such as Avon, The Pampered Chef and Kleeneze.

The rise follows a recent surge in the number of people over the age of 50 who are choosing to direct sell, such as Clare Ingram and Toby Hickman, who began selling for children’s book firm Barefoot Books in 2012 to supplement their pension.

The report also reveals that the number of men choosing to direct sell is on the increase, with male distributers rising by 26% from 2010. Consequently, almost a quarter of the sellers for DSA member companies are now male.

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

RBS and NatWest launch free online business-supplier networking community

BizCrowd uses matching tool to link businesses with their required service

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Published on 31 January 2013

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and NatWest today launched a free online platform, designed to link suppliers to the companies that require their services.

Named BizCrowd, the free to-use tool invites business owners to publish requests for services and products, which can then be matched to the correct supplier on the network.

Once the service or product request is completed, business owners are then offered the opportunity to rate the supplier and provide feedback for the use of other service-seeking business owners.

Chris Sullivan, CEO of corporate banking at RBS and NatWest hopes that both service-users and suppliers will benefit from the new tool.

He said: “It has always been the role of the bank manager to connect British businesses to one another, now we’re extending that support online.

“We hope BizCrowd helps as many SMEs as possible raise their profile and win new business.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Papa John’s partners with Welcome Break to open 11 stores across UK motorways

Pizza chain hopes to boost brand awareness for existing franchisees

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Published on 31 January 2013

World’s third largest pizza chain Papa John’s has teamed with motorway service operator Welcome Break to open 11 new stores across the UK motorway network.

With 4,000 Papa John’s stores in place across 33 countries, the pizza franchise plans to open 100 new outlets over the next few years in the UK alone.

It is hoped that the new partnership with Welcome Break, which attracts an annual footfall of around 80 million and includes Starbucks, KFC and Waitrose outlets, will help existing franchisees by boosting awareness of the Papa John’s brand.

The Papa John’s franchises, purchased by Welcome break, are opening in Abington Scotland, Gretna Green, Keele, Hopwood Park, Gordano, Leicester Forest East, South Mimms, Cobham, Oxford and Fleet, where they will offer a limited menu to cater to the motorway service’s customers.

UK franchise manager for Papa John’s, David Galvin, commented: “We are keen to grow the number of Papa John’s stores throughout the UK and our deal with Welcome Break is part of this strategy.

“For our existing franchisees, the increased brand awareness Papa John’s will gain will also further support their businesses throughout the country.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Start-up Loans scheme for young entrepreneurs receives £30m boost

Upper age limit of government initiative increased from 24 to 30

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Published on 31 January 2013

The government’s Start-Up Loans scheme, designed to fund young entrepreneurs has expanded to support potential business owners up to the age of 30.

Announced in May 2012, the £82m scheme originally offered loans of up to £2,500 to entrepreneurial individuals aged between 18 and 24.

To meet the needs of the wider range of eligible individuals, funding for the scheme is set to increase to £112m.

Since the launch of the year-long £10m pilot scheme in September 2012, more than 3,000 people have applied for the loans, which must be repaid within five years at an interest rate set at the Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 3%.

With £1.5m worth of loans approved for over 460 new businesses to date, the scheme intends to distribute the £112m loan total across the next three years, with £42.5m set to be allocated in 2013-14 and £60m in 2014-15.

The scheme, which is run by the Start-Up Loans Company chaired by former BBC Dragon James Caan, also provides successful applicants with mentoring and advice.

Caan said: “Start-Up Loans enable young people to harness their skills, and gives each budding entrepreneur not just a low interest loan, but also the help and support from an experienced mentor to guide them to success.”

Prime minister David Cameron, who is set to announce the expansion at an event in Preston later today commented: “Start-Up loans are an important part of my mission to back aspiration, and all those young people who want to work hard and get on in life, so this country competes and thrives in the global race.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

4 golden rules for naming your new start-up business

Naming a business is not as simple as you might think, says Richard Edwards. Here’s what he learned…

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Published on 31 January 2013

What’s in a name? When it comes to your business, everything. Once it just went on a letterhead, business card and on a name plaque outside your business – end of story.

Now the name you choose when you start up is your shop window to customers around the world which will determine the extent to which you can be found online and build your name online.

Nearly one year ago I started thinking about the name for my start up PR and marketing business.

What I thought would be a straightforward process turned out to be a something much more complicated than I imagined.

As anyone else who has done it will tell you, what you originally want to call your business and the name you end up with will likely be two completely different things.

So how did I go about it? And what should you be thinking about when you go about choosing a name? Here are the four steps I went through which I think every entrepreneur should think about.

1. Think hard about the type of name you want

When it comes down to it there are only a few categories of company name. First comes the “surname and surname” or place name approach, second are the made up names (Accenture for one) and then you have the more evocative names from everyday objects (Orange or Apple).

The type of name you will choose will reflect the type of business you are. Safe traditional brands or those wanting to convey that impression like to lean on the heritage of surnames or place names while challenger brands such as Virgin go for bolder names which draw on the meaning of the word chosen.

Think about the names of businesses typically you will be competing with and think about how your customers would feel about using your potential name to decide which type of brand you want and from there you can build your shortlist of names.

2. The Companies House check

The next stop for the naming process should be the Companies House web service where you check whether the names you have chosen for your company are already taken or not.

This step of the process will likely whittle quite a few potential names away. Companies House also has a useful list of restricted name types which you should check.

3. Check the domain name is available

Once you have this short list of names you need to check that you can get a website which is more or less in line with the company name.

This step of the process can be pretty tricky. For UK companies trading largely in the UK it is still the case that a www.companyname.co.uk URL is what your customers will expect to see. Prioritise this.

You will also want to defensively register variants of the name. Type in ‘domain name availability’ into your search engine and you will find a range of sites which where you can do this.

4. Search online for your shortlist of names

The last check you need to carry out is to make sure that when you type search terms for your business like “Charlie Custard” “Greeting Cards” that none of your competitors appear (in the UK and internationally), no dodgy brands or links come up – you’d be surprised what does – and there are no products or services belonging to other people which have the name you have chosen.

Once you have gone through these four steps, you’re pretty much ready to go ahead and choose your final name.

Sense check this with potential customers and friends to get a feeling as to whether the name is too off-the-wall to use but remember not everyone will love it.

As soon as you have decided, remember the domain name is as important as the company name so get these registered as quickly as possible.

Richard Edwards is managing director of Native Consultancy, a PR and marketing agency for growth businesses, www.nativeconsultancy.co.uk.

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Entrepreneurs admit to putting off decision making for fear of failure

Barclays launches nationwide seminars to boost business confidence

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Published on 31 January 2013

Business owners admit that fear of failure may be inhibiting the growth of their business, according to new research from Barclays Bank.

Despite 48% of respondents acknowledging that fear of failure could hamper company growth, 57% admitted to putting off making an important decision for a day or more for fear of making the wrong call.

The study, which looked at the habits of over 1,000 business owners uncovered that damaging profits or loss was the most feared potential consequence of making the wrong decision, with 46% of participants citing it as their biggest fear.

The research revealed that turning down a customer or client was deemed the most frightening among decision makers, closely followed by taking on external finance in order to grow.

Barclays Bank is aiming to inspire confidence among business owners with their free UK seminars, taking place across 10 UK locations on November 20 and 22.

Run in partnership with Startups, the seminars are set to provide comprehensive cashflow management and sales tips from Innocent Drinks co-founder Adam Balon and successful local entrepreneurs.

Sue Hayes, managing director of Barclays Business Banking commented: “At the time of making important business decisions it’s only natural to be scared of getting it wrong.

“It can feel like you are taking a big risk – whether that is decisions about staff, products, finance or even your marketing strategy.

“Despite the tough external environment, there are many opportunities to be seized upon and the ability to make important decisions is vital to the growth of all businesses and the overall UK economy.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Funding for Lending Scheme explained

So what is the Funding for Lending Scheme? We look at the initiative launched by HM Treasury and the Bank of England to get banks lending

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Published on 31 January 2013

Announced in July 2012 and officially launched in August by the Bank of England and HM Treasury, the Funding for Lending Scheme is a large-scale attempt to boost lending from banks and building societies if you’re ready to fund your business without a loan.

The scheme provides cheap loans to banks, which they in turn can use to increase the number of loans and mortgages that they offer to businesses and individuals.

The purpose of the Funding for Lending Scheme

In the current economic climate, banks have been accused of becoming increasingly risk averse and the stock of lending to non-financial companies has decreased by 17% in the past four years as a result.

Inter-bank lending – the money loaned from one bank to another – is also down, not least because of continued turbulence in the Eurozone.

To counteract the trend HM Treasury and The Bank of England have attempted to provide banks and building societies with a lending incentive through the FLS.

It is hoped that by providing banks and building societies with ready cash, they will be able to increase the volume of loans and mortgages to businesses and individuals, while cutting the costs.

With more loans available at cheaper rates, the scheme hopes to attract businesses that would otherwise be put off by high-rate loans, while encouraging banks to lend to companies that they otherwise wouldn’t have dealt with.

The Funding for Lending offer to banks and building societies

For 18 months following the official opening of the scheme on August 1 2012, banks and building societies can apply to borrow from the Bank of England at discount rates.

The loans to the banks and building societies last for up to four years and are offered in return for assets such as business or mortgage loans, in a transaction known as a collateral swap.

There is no upper limit to how much the financial institutions can borrow from the Bank of England, but it is dependent on how much they have loaned out to the UK non-financial sector in the past and how much they continue to offer.

For every £1 of borrowed money lent out, banks are able to access an extra £1 reduced-rate loan from the scheme.

Banks can initially borrow up to 5% of their current lending total, followed by the additional £1 for every £1 lent thereafter.

5% of existing loans to non-financial institutions has been valued at £80bn, thus making this the estimated sum of lending that the Bank of England can offer.

What this means for small businesses is that the doors to institutions are very much open – and bank managers are likely to be more receptive to plans to start-up or invest in the growth of an early stage company.

The incentive to lend to businesses via Funding for Lending

To prevent financial institutions from simply holding on to the discounted cash, the FLS aims to incentivise banks and building societies to provide loans to individuals and companies.

Financial institutions that increase or maintain their lending between June 30 2012 and the end of 2013 will be charged 2.5% per year on the amount borrowed.

However, banks that decrease their lending in this period will be charged an extra 0.25% for every 1% fall in lending, up to a maximum fee of 1.5% of the original loan.

Which banks and other lenders are signed up to the Funding for Lending Scheme?

To date 30 financial institutions have signed up to FLS, of which banks include Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group, Santander, Virgin Money, Metro Bank and Tesco Bank.

After participating in the scheme from the earliest possible date of August 1, RBS launched a £2.5bn fund specifically aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises.

The scheme, which is claimed to be among the most affordable funding offered to small and medium enterprises from RBS for “some time”, offers 1% interest rate discounts for loans under five years.

By abolishing arrangement fees, RBS is also able to offer small and medium-sized businesses an average saving of £4,500 on the standard loan. Similarly, Lloyds is committed to supporting small and medium businesses by cutting interest rates by 1%.

RBS and Lloyds have each indicated that they have generated around £1bn of extra lending to businesses, offering interest rate reductions of up to 1.7%.

Barclays promises to pass on the whole benefit derived from FLS to customers. The bank has launched Cashback for Business as part of its FLS deal, offering 2% cashback on loans for small businesses that access finance via the scheme.

Despite these efforts, the scheme is yet to produce an overall positive impact on the cost of small business loans, with rates on new bank loans under £1m rising from an average 3.76% between April and June 2012 (Q2) to 3.85% between July and September (Q3).

Nonetheless, with the 30 banks and building societies currently involved representing around 80% of lending in the UK economy, FLS has the potential to unlock £66bn worth of loans so far, while other financial institutions still have time to sign up.

The response to the Funding for Lending Scheme

As with most government schemes, FLS has met with a varied response from critics. While some are confident that the scheme will give banks the boost they need to increase lending, others point out that there is no legislation to insist that banks use their borrowed cash to lend to higher risk customers.

This has led to fears that the same people and businesses will be left struggling. The scheme has ultimately left the lending decision to banks; four years after receiving the loan from the Bank of England, the collateral originally passed over (in the form of loans and other assets) will be given back to the original banks and building societies.

This ensures that the risk of the investment remains the responsibility of the bank, in an effort to prevent financial institutions from slipping back into the nonchalant lending habits of the years prior to the recession.

Nonetheless, it is hoped that with more cash available to them, banks will be able to lend to small and medium-sized companies with genuine potential.

The overall effect of the scheme is yet to be seen, but if the sign-up rate is anything to go by, the scheme has the potential to make a big difference to small business lending levels.

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Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

5 steps to trademark your logo

The essential five-step guide to protecting your logo design with a trademark.

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Published on 31 January 2013

Trademarking your logo will ensure the ultimate security for your brand’s individuality. Protect against third-party imitation by following this step-by-step guide.

Want to apply for a trademark? Read our full guide on how to register a trademark in the UK to learn more.

1. Decide what you want to trademark

Firstly, think about what it is you want to protect. You can trademark your logo, a combination of words, images, phrases, shapes or corporate colours under protection law.

In fact, any unique symbol or design that distinguishes your business is eligible for trademarking with the UK Intellectual Property Office.

You cannot simply register a word featuring in the dictionary word, or words, that are generally used to describe the service you are offering. You must make sure your trademark is distinctive, and not merely descriptive of the product or service that you offer.

2. Avoid infringing someone else’s trademark.

Trademark infringement may require legal action, even if accidental. To avoid this, before you decide to trademark your logo, you need to make sure the mark has not been recorded by another company.

There are three types of valid trademark in the UK, and all need to be searched.

3. Use an attorney, or trademark your logo yourself online

If your mark is distinctive and you have checked the trademark registers to ensure there is no chance of infringement, then you are ready to proceed with trademarking your logo.

It is possible to trademark your logo yourself online, however, the legalities of trademarking can be intricate. If you begin to trademark your logo and later encounter an issue, it may cost you more time and money in the long run, than if you had received advice along the way.

If you choose to use a trademark attorney in the UK, make sure they are listed by the trade body at the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys

4. File your application to trademark your logo

Once you’re ready to fill out your application, the next step is to decide how wide geographically you want to protect your logo. There are two options: a UK trademark or a community trademark (which will protect you in all 27 companies of the EU). The two differ greatly in terms of cost and the length of the process.

5. Finalise

After your application has been processed – an estimated four to five months for a UK mark or nine to twelve months for a community mark – your logo will be fully protected as your intellectual property. You can then use your logo design secure in the knowledge that you are protected should a third party decide to imitate it.

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

StartUp Loans scheme receives 2,000 applications from young entrepreneurs

Business minded 18-24 year olds are urged to sign up to the £82.5m scheme

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Published on 31 January 2013

Start-Up Loans Company’s £10m pilot scheme is underway, with applications from 2,000 young business minds already received.

Launched at MADE festival, the pilot scheme pre-empts the £82.5m government-backed initiative, which promises loans over the next three years to support people aged 18-24 to start a business.

Celebrating the first recipients of the funding at Church House, Westminster on October 3, former BBC Dragon and Chairman James Caan announced a further £50m worth of support from corporates including eBay, PayPal and Metro Bank.

In support of the scheme, which offers individual loans of up to £2,500, national enterprise campaign, StartUp Britain is launching a month-long bus tour, designed to inspire young people to sign up.

Carrying a team of business experts, mentors, authors and entrepreneurs, the bus will travel to 40 colleges and universities across the UK, offering students the chance to apply to the scheme from the vehicle.

Caan urges all young entrepreneurs to sign up to the start-up boosting initiative: “Start-Up Loans Company aims to stimulate entrepreneurship across England and highlight starting a business as a viable career option for young people.

“I know from personal experience both how exciting and challenging it is to start a business but with the mentoring advice we provide and the corporate support we have from Regus and PayPal we can make a huge difference to these new businesses. “I encourage everyone aged 18-24 to apply and see where their business idea can take them.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

One in three small firms not prepared for imminent PAYE changes

Study finds 36% of small businesses unaware of upcoming Real Time Information changes

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Published on 31 January 2013

Many small firms are unprepared for imminent changes to the PAYE system, with only 64% aware of the changes that the introduction of the Real Time Information (RTI) system will bring, according to new research published today. The study of 1,100 small businesses across the UK, conducted by business software firm Sage UK, also reported uneasiness about the changes from many small firms, with nearly half feeling that the changes will increase rather than lessen their administrative burden and only one in ten recognising any potential positive impact RTI might have. RTI, due to be introduced in April 2013, will require employers to start providing information about employee PAYE, National Insurance and student loan information to HMRC at the point of payment each month rather than at the end of the year. The changes represent one of the most fundamental shifts in small business reporting and payroll requirements since 1944. Neilson Watts, Associate Product Manager at Sage, commented: “Although we have seen increased awareness for RTI over the last year, it is still concerning that so many businesses are unaware of the changes and the implementation this will have to their firm. RTI will impact all businesses, regardless of their size, and with its introduction firms will benefit by streamlining processes, relieving the much dreaded nightmare of Payroll Year End and relieving the increased administrative burden for payroll at this time of year. We urge that firms act now to not only understand exactly how it will impact their businesses but to adequately prepare for the changes coming into play.” For more information on RTI visit http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/rti/index.htm

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Anytime Fitness offers franchise model to UK entrepreneurs

‘Fastest-growing’ US fitness chain announces nationwide search for franchisees

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Published on 31 January 2013

US fitness chain Anytime Fitness has announced its intention to capitalise on Olympic fever by offering its business model to potential franchisees across the UK. Founded in 2002, Anytime Fitness now claims to have almost 1.5 million members in 2000 clubs spanning countries including the US, Canada and New Zealand. It was recently named the ‘Fastest Growing Fitness Chain in the World’ by health club trade association IHRSA and was also ranked number 1 in the fitness club category of the Entrepreneurs 500. Anytime Fitness claims that the steady revenue provided by annual membership fees is a more reliable source of income compared to other franchised businesses, and they also claim that the flat rate model of monthly franchise royalties is cheaper compared to a percentage of income model. The company estimates that startup costs for potential franchisees are around £150,000 – £250,000, with a full return on investment expected within 3 years. Karl Dietrich, Sales and Marketing Director at Anytime Fitness UK, said: “At this time of austerity and limited investment opportunities, Anytime Fitness offers a high level return in a recession resilient industry, with great potential for growth and expansion. Additionally, with only 12% of the population currently using a health and fitness facility there is still a huge market to access. Our community based culture means you will not only own a high yielding business, but you will be helping people in the community to get active and lead healthier lives.” To contact Anytime Fitness about becoming a franchisee call 0800 033 7773 or visit www.anytimefitness.co.uk

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Entrepreneurs invited to pitch to buyers for John Lewis

StartUp Britain’s PitchUp! Scheme offers unprecedented access to national retailer

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Published on 31 January 2013

StartUp Britain has launched a new scheme to help fledgling UK start-ups get their products in front of one of Britain’s largest retailers. PitchUp! was unveiled last month as a sister scheme to StartUp High Street – an initiative offering empty retail space to UK start-ups at low cost – and has now opened for applications. Shortlisted applicants will be given individual feedback on their online application, including advice on their product, as well as their pitching technique. Those successfully selected by John Lewis will be offered unique access to a panel of their key buyers at a private event on 23 October. Unveiling the scheme last month, StartUp Britain co-founder Emma Jones said: “We’re seeing record numbers of people setting up businesses, and this new wave of entrepreneurs are starting out small and online. “This initiative offers them a chance to test out new markets, as well as get their products in front of big names like John Lewis.” To apply for the scheme, visit the PitchUp! page on StartUp Britain’s website

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Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Grants for small businesses – and how to apply

We list the best small business grants and loans that every entrepreneur should have on their radar this year.

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Published on 31 January 2013

Whether you’re a small business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur, a cash injection is never a bad thing.

Raising finance is a crucial stage in starting a business, so a grant could be the very thing that kickstarts or revives your venture – helping you purchase the tools, equipment or services you need for operations, or simply as the crucial backing to achieve your business goals.

While starting your own business might be a tough gig right now, especially given inflation, the cost-of-living crisis and economic uncertainty, the number of new businesses has increased significantly over the years, with approximately 5.5 million UK businesses recorded as of January 2024.

Plus, nowadays there are many types of business finance and funding to consider. One of the most popular routes is business grants, and there are plenty of schemes out there to apply for. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of grants that could work for your business and what you can do to get your hands on them.

In this guide:

What is a small business grant?
Business grants for women
Business grants for young people
Business grants for social entrepreneurs
Business grants for People of Colour
Business grants for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
What do you need to get a business grant?

What is a small business grant?

Small business grants are a sum of money given to entrepreneurs and business owners, either by the government or private organisations. Unlike a business loan, you won’t have to pay interest, give away equity of your company, or even pay back the money at all. However, most business grants are still subject to tax.

With this, you can invest in all the essentials you need for your business operations, including education, materials, employees, training or equipment.

Types of business grants

There are several types of business grants available, including:

Direct grants: these provide the cash sum directly to the business, though it may have to be allocated to a specific project or initiative.
Resource and training grants: offers resources such as training and mentorship, to help support a business’s growth and development.
Green grants: a sum of money given to a business to support the implementation of environmentally friendly practices and reducing carbon footprint.
Soft loans: not technically a grant as it needs to be paid back, but are known to offer more generous repayment terms compared to traditional banks.

Alternatives to business grants

Not sure whether a grant is the best option for you? Luckily, there are many other options you can explore to get funding for your business. Check out our article on sources of business finance for everything you need to know.

Business grants for women

For years, the gender funding gap has created barriers for women seeking to access finance for their business ventures. In 2024, it was reported that women-led companies received just 5.8% of all investments, while a significant proportion of investment went to male-founded companies, including angel investors, private equity and venture capital.

In light of this disparity, several organisations have started offering grants, especially for female founders, to help them gain a leg up in the venture capital landscape. We’ve highlighted four of them below.

Female Founders Fund

Female Founders Fund is a seed-stage venture fund that invests exclusively in women founders and accepts applications all year round. To apply, simply fill out the application form and submit your business pitch.

Astia

Running for twenty-five years, Astia is a venture capital firm that invests in women-led businesses – accepting applications all year round for companies that operate in high-growth industries. You can easily apply for consideration through Astia’s online portal.

Innovate UK (Women TechEU Award)

Innovate UK offers several funding opportunities through several different programmes. For women-led businesses in the tech industry, applications are now open for the Women TechEU Award, in which 160 winners will receive €75,000 (around £62,000), as well as a personalised development programme. Applications are open until March 17th, 2025.

Anita Borg Institute

While it isn’t technically a grant organisation, the Anita Borg Institute celebrates female founders in the tech industry. There are three main programmes businesses can apply for – the Abie Awards, Pass It On Awards and PitcHER. Winners of these awards can win up to $50,000 (around £40,000) in funding.

Applications for 2025 are yet to be announced, but you can find out more about the awards programmes here.

Cartier Women’s Initiative

The Cartier Women’s Initiative supports female-founded organisations through several business grants. Its main award programmes include the Impact Awards, Regional Awards and the Science & Technology Pioneer Award. Applications will be open from April 18 to June 24, but you can find out more about the awards here.

HATCH support programmes

HATCH supports underrepresented entrepreneurs, including female founders, in developing the essential knowledge and skills needed to start a business. It offers three programmes – Launchpad, Incubator and Accelerator. Once you graduate from a Hatch programme, you may be entitled to apply for funding through its grant fund.

Business grants for young people

The UK is home to some extraordinary young entrepreneurial talent, and their appetite for starting a business is catching. According to research by Enterprise Nation, 54% of young adults aged between 18 and 24 were considering becoming entrepreneurs in 2024, equalling two million individuals with similar ambitions. These are the top small business grants available for entrepreneurs aged 30 or under.

The King’s Trust Enterprise Programme

The King’s Trust Enterprise Programme has helped over 91,000 young people to start their own businesses. Its programme includes one-to-one support, creating a business plan, interactive workshops and the opportunity to apply for a Test My Business Idea grant of up to £500. From there, you can apply for additional funding of up to £30,000 to cover startup costs. You can get started right away on The King’s Trust website.

The YOUNG EDGE competition

If you’re a young entrepreneur based in Scotland, the YOUNG EDGE competition may be worth looking out for. With a mission to discover and fund new entrepreneurial talent, YOUNG EDGE offers aspiring entrepreneurs under 30 the chance to win an award of up to £15,000. Applications for Round 25 are now open until February 27th.

The SWEF Enterprise Fund

In partnership with Community Foundation NI, The SWEF Enterprise Fund aims to support 500 young entrepreneurs a year in developing their businesses. The fund offers entrepreneurs aged 18-30 grants of up to £2,000 to launch their business and also offers support and advice to build essential skills. You can apply for SWEF funding through its online portal.

Neath Port Talbot Innov8 Programme

For young entrepreneurs based in Port Talbot, Wales, the Innov8 Programme provides support in starting, developing or growing a business. As well as a grant of up to £10,000 for costs like marketing and equipment, it also offers business planning, tailored support and ongoing mentorship for existing businesses. Find out how to apply here.

Business grants for social entrepreneurs

Grant programmes are often targeted towards socially impactful businesses that aim to tackle society’s biggest challenges. Here are a few grants that are open to social impact startups:

Big Issue Invest Impact Loans

The investment arm of The Big Issue offers soft loans between £20,000 and £200,000 (or up to £400,000 in some cases) to help social enterprises and charities grow. To apply, simply register your interest online. From there, a member of Big Issue’s investment team will contact you to determine your eligibility and provide you with an application form.

Invest Impact Fund

Big Issue and UnLtd have teamed up to form the Invest Impact Fund, in which entrepreneurs can obtain soft loans up to £1,500,000. It also offers businesses the choice between three funding types – equity, revenue share and patient debt. Funding from Invest Impact can be requested through its online application form.

Big Issue Invest Social Impact Debt Fund IV

Launched in September 2023, this fund is aimed at companies tackling the UK’s housing and social care crisis. Eligible businesses can apply online for loans worth between £1 million and £4 million.

UnLtd Starting Up Award

Supporting socially-conscious businesses, UnLtd’s Starting Up Award offers up to £8,000 for social enterprises that are in their early stages and haven’t started trading yet. You can apply by creating an UnLtd account and completing an application form from there.

UnLtd Scaling Up Award

On the flip side, UnLtd’s Scaling Up Award offers social ventures up to £18,000 in funding if the business has been trading for over a year (selling goods and services). As with the Starting Up application process, you’ll need to create an UnLtd account and complete an application form from there.

Pounds for Purpose

Pounds for Purpose is a social enterprise fund under the property management company Firstport. Designed for socially conscious young entrepreneurs, Pounds for Purpose offers up to £500 for Scottish-based individuals who are looking to explore a business idea to address social issues. You can apply for a grant through its online portal.

Key Fund

This social investment fund is designed to support social enterprises, charities and community businesses that aim to create a positive social impact. It provides investments between £5,000 and £30,000 and works to support organisations that may struggle to access traditional finance, particularly those working in disadvantaged communities. Entrepreneurs can apply online at any time of the year.

Support for unemployed entrepreneurs

With job losses and workplace redundancies on the rise in 2025 – driven by economic pressures like increasing National Insurance Contributions (NICs) – many are turning to entrepreneurship as a way to regain financial stability. In fact, 24% of startups cite job loss as their primary motivator, according to the Startups 100 for 2025 survey.

The Startups Loans UK fund is a viable option for funding, offering low-interest loans up to £25,000 with 12 months of free mentoring. Many local councils also provide startup grants to help kickstart your business. Depending on your area, local councils can offer a good amount of funding, as well as workshops, networking opportunities and advisory services to support new entrepreneurs.

You can find a comprehensive list of grants available using the government’s business finance support finder tool.

Business grants for people of colour

In the UK, only 0.24% of venture capital was allocated to non-white founders in the last decade. Despite the growing recognition of the need for diversity in business, many minority-led startups struggle to secure the investment needed to grow. Fortunately, there are grants and funding initiatives that have been established to support entrepreneurs of colour. Here are some key options available.

Black Seed Ventures

With a mission to address the funding gap for black founders in the UK, Black Seed Ventures offers seed funding of up to £400,000 exclusively for black-owned businesses. As the winner of the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DEI) Award for the Startups 100 for 2025 Index, Black Seed specialises in supporting early-stage Black entrepreneurs with the funding they need to launch their businesses. You can submit your pitch through the Black Seed website.

The Black Artists Grant

Funded by Creative Debuts, The Black Artists Grant (BAG) provides small, unrestricted awards of £500 per month to help Black artists with living expenses, art supplies, project development or anything else they need to sustain their creative practice. Entries are accepted throughout the year on its online application form.

The Black Funding Network

The Black Funding Network (BFN) is an initiative dedicated to supporting Black-founded and Black-led non-profit organisations. Operating as a community of individuals and institutions, BFN organises live crowdfunding events throughout the year, where selected entrants present their projects to potential donors. You can submit your application through BFN’s online portal.

Business grants for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

If you’re running a business in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you might want to narrow down your search to grants specifically for businesses in those countries. Below is a list of available grants in each nation.

Scotland

Culture & Business Fund Scotland: provides match funding to cultural projects. C&BS is currently developing a new application system, but you can find out more about it here. Applications are open until March 31.
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA): a discretionary grant aiming to encourage capital investment and job creation in Tier 2 and 3 areas. Businesses can enquire about applications here.
SMART: SCOTLAND: a research and development (R&D) fund specifically for innovative, high-risk startups. The maximum grant is £100,000. Businesses can enquire about applications here.
Scottish EDGE: a competition in which entrants can win up to £100,000 on a split grant/loan basis. Round 25 of applications are open until February 27. You will need to create a Scottish EDGE account before you can apply.
Creative Scotland: a national public body that supports and funds the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland, distributing funding from the Scottish government and the National Lottery. There are several funding programmes available you can apply for.
Better Business Finance (BBF): helps businesses find suitable financing by offering guidance on loans, grants and alternative funding solutions. Businesses can also apply for business finance here.

Also, depending on where you’re based, you may be able to apply for grants offered by the Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and your local council. You can find business support on the Scottish government website, or check out our list of business grants available in Scotland.

Wales

ReAct+: offers up to £4,000, paid out in quarterly instalments, to businesses that recruit a new employee who is disabled and has been made redundant in the last 6 months. You can submit an application form here.
Special Regeneration Fund: businesses based in Bridgend can apply for grants that cover 40% of eligible capital project costs. Businesses can receive up to £25,000, excluding value-added tax (VAT). Find out how to apply here.
Blaenau Gwent – Kickstart Plus: a joint initiative funded by UK Steel Enterprise and administered by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. The funds support businesses up to three years old and offer a maximum of £2,500 in funding. You can register your interest here.
Caerphilly Business Startup Grant: a flexible grant scheme that supports residents of Caerphilly County Borough to start a business, but can’t access other sources of funding. It provides up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500. Find out how to apply here.
Caerphilly Enterprise Fund: supports Caerphilly-based sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, limited liability partnerships and community groups. Offers a maximum grant of £2,000 at an intervention rate of 50%. Find out how to apply here.
Newport Business Grants: offers grants of up to £2,500 towards 50% of net costs for businesses outside the city centre Business Improvement District (BID) area and up to £5,000 for those based in the city centre. Find out how to apply here.

The Welsh government offers a guide to financial aid and grants on its website, with Business Wales being the main support service for entrepreneurs looking to raise funding. You can use the Business Wales finance locator to find grant options that are right for you or get an overview of the options available in our guide to business grants in Wales.

Northern Ireland

Whiterock Growth Finance Fund: fund management company Whiterock offers small businesses and SMEs commercial loans between £500,000 and £2 million to fund growth. You can apply by contacting the company here.
Skills Advancement Grant: small businesses that are customers of Invest NI can apply for a 50% discount on employee training costs up to £15,000. The grant is available for 18 months only. You can apply by contacting NI Invest here.
Investment Fund For Northern Ireland (IFNI): an investment fund that provides up to £5 million in equity loans for early-stage and growth businesses. You can apply by contacting the IFNI here.
NI Small Business Loan Fund: offers up to £100,000 for existing businesses, and up to £15,000 for startups. To apply, simply complete the online application form.
From Student to First Sale (FS2FS): if you’re a university graduate with a viable business idea, FS2FS offers a £15,000 grant to help you set up for self-employment. Only available to individuals who have graduated in the last six months and are working with the students’ union enterprise support service. You can apply by contacting NI Invest here.
Business Innovation Grant (BIG): offers financial support up to £20,000, with the aim to help small businesses and SMEs develop and launch new products, services or processes to the market. You can apply by contacting NI Invest here.

Enterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for supporting Irish businesses including Northern Ireland. A range of grant support can be found here, where you can search for grants by your stage of business development. You can also visit NI Direct’s business support page for further business assistance services.

What do you need to get a business grant?

Each grant will have a different application process, with different entry criteria and requirements to fulfil. But, as with most potential business opportunities, the reward is worth the effort.

It’s important that you take the time to research to find the grant that best suits your business. You don’t want to apply for a scheme you’re simply not suited to or eligible for, as it’ll only waste the time you need to find the right one.

But once you’ve found a suitable grant, you can start the process of trying to obtain it. For your best shot during the application process, you should have:

A detailed and up-to-date business plan
A clear spending plan
Previous company accounts, which you can download from your accounting software
An outline of why your business qualifies for the grant

Tips for applying for a business grant

To maximise your chances of securing a grant and beating the competition, you’ll need to be prepared, stay organised and keep on top of deadlines. Here are some top tips to help you nail your application:

Apply ASAP: make sure you’re continually keeping an eye on deadlines and application windows, as many grants operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Stay organised with project management tools: applying for grants involves juggling deadlines, documents and stakeholder communications. That’s why using good project management software can help you track key dates, set reminders and ensure you don’t miss any critical steps.
Contact someone from the awarding body: this way, you can get personalised advice in case anything goes wrong with your application.
Consider hiring a grant consultant: this is someone who can help you find the grants best suited for you. However, some bodies won’t let a third party apply for you, so make sure to check the grant’s rules before looking for external help.
Pay attention to the grant’s objectives: this will help you be clear on how you will use the money to fulfil these specific objectives.
Be honest: if you need to bend the facts about your business to fit with the grant’s criteria, it’s not the right grant for you.

The information in this article is correct as of February 2025.

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

First PopUp Britain shop opens in London

Shared pop-up space for start-ups part of new scheme to revitalise Britain’s high streets

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Published on 31 January 2013

The first ‘PopUp Britain’ store opened for business this week, as part of a new scheme enabling promising start-ups to inhabit empty high street shops.

The store, part of StartUp Britain’s

This pilot store will stay open for three months, during which time six start-ups will inhabit the premises for two weeks at a time.

Emma Jones, co-founder of StartUp Britain, said the initiative is “win-win-win”, giving start-ups an unprecedented, cost-effective platform for their business, helping landlords make some money from empty properties, and helping to attract more people to Britain’s high streets. Prior to this week’s launch, the Richmond property had been empty for over a year.

Jones told Startups: “The plan is to spend these three months really getting the model right here in Richmond. We want to get it right for the tenants now, making sure they generate sales and pick up retail skills, and create a successful template that we can potentially roll out nationwide.”

The rent is being “crowdfunded” between the six different businesses, with each paying £135 for two weeks’ occupancy. “For one business, that would not be affordable,” said Jones.

The scheme has already received “invaluable” support from local retailers and StartUp Britain sponsors. This has included: a tailor-made, two-week shop insurance policy from AXA; six laptops from Dell; accounting software from Intuit; furniture and fittings from Dwell; online payments support from PayPal; and two weeks’ free billboard space from JC Decaux.

Retail experience

The initial six start-ups trading in the pilot store are: Bertie & Jack, which sells original artwork; Vulpine, a cycling apparel retailer; jewellery company Maria Allen Jewellery; Elephant Branded, a social enterprise selling bags and accessories; sock retailer Morrow’s Outfitters; and clothing company Tier One.

While the start-ups believe the unusually hot weather this week has had a negative effect on footfall, (after a bumper day’s trading on Monday, following the press launch) all six have already covered their initial outlay on rent for the two-week period.

Speaking today, on the fifth day of trading, Maria Allen, founder of Maria Allen Jewellery, said: “It’s been quite quiet but I’ve had sales each day so I’m happy with how it’s going. It’s really good to be able to meet all the customers and I’ve got lots of useful feedback that I may not have gotten if they were just browsing my website. Normally I just sell online so it’s really good to be able to talk to customers. I can also see which items are the most popular.”

Gemma Saggers, of Elephant Branded, agreed that it has been a positive experience so far. “We’d recommend it to other start-ups to gauge a feel of whether your product is right for the high street, because a product might be great online but that doesn’t mean it needs its own shop.”

Philip Morrow, MD of Morrow’s outfitters, who started his business from home 10 months ago, added: “Usually I’d be processing emails, working from home or planning for the future, which I can do here. At the same time we’ve got the opportunities of people walking in and browsing. I broke even within the first two hours, so everything I sell from now until the end is clear profit.”

To apply to be part of StartUp High Street, visit: http://www.startupbritain.org/highstreet/

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

HSBC Merchant Services transforms smartphones into card payment terminals

New eMerit device helps sole traders process card payments anywhere

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Published on 31 January 2013

HSBC Merchant Services has launched a new product to allow sole traders, freelancers and mobile merchants to take card payments anywhere.

The firm, which is one of the largest independent payment processors in the UK, has teamed up with eMerit Solutions Limited to produce the device, which allows entrepreneurs to complete card transactions using the internet connection on their smartphone.

The chip and pin device is expected to particularly appeal to merchants and retailers with a flexible working location, such as mobile hairdressers, taxi drivers, market stall traders and small businesses, such as cafes.

SagePay Mobile launched a similar product earlier this year and the latest offering from HSBC – which is fully secure and compliant with all major card schemes – will become universally available by the end of 2012.

Chris Davies, managing director of HSBC Merchant Services said: “The current economic climate has resulted in increased pressure on sole traders to retain loyal customers.

“By accepting credit, debit and gift card payments through smartphones and mobile devices, the eMerit device gives merchants the ability to process payments that will ultimately drive forward repeat business – quickly and easily.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

5 advantages of working for a start-up

Startups reports from Silicon Milkroundabout on what start-ups have to offer new recruits

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Published on 31 January 2013

Thousands of young web developers, software engineers and product managers traded the sunshine for start-ups last weekend at the third bi-annual Silicon Milkroundabout.

The event, which is the brainchild of Songkick founders Pete Smith, Michelle You and Ian Hogarth, brought together 100 of the UK’s best tech start-ups, to connect them to talent which may otherwise be snatched up by industry giants such as Amazon or Goldman Sachs.

The initiative aims to highlight the advantages of working for a start-up, following a dearth of applications for advertised vacancies for software developers. There were more than 800 vacancies up for grabs at this weekend’s event and, although start-ups may be unable to seduce new recruits with the same perks as large corporates, they have plenty else to offer.

Getting this message out to jobseekers was also the mission at NACUE’s Startup Career Launchpad, which took place earlier this month. The event brought together 150 students and graduates, and a host of speakers from the start-up scene, to highlight the benefits of working for a start-up.

At both events, the message was clear: this is not just a viable career path; there are distinct advantages to joining a fledgling, entrepreneurial firm. Here are five of them:

1. Development opportunities

Start-ups offer new recruits greater opportunities to get stuck in and innovate than more established businesses. As Joe Cohen, founder of Seatwave says: “I want people who take the ball, run with it, and get sh*t done.”

The start-up mentality encourages risk-taking, giving employees the freedom to prove themselves and grow – often much faster than in an environment structured by annual reviews.

“Start-ups are often smaller teams so you can have a lot more impact and there’s more responsibility you can grab, which isn’t the case in a large company,” Songkick’s Smith says.

2. A chance to shine

Not only does working intimately with a small team allow graduates to observe and learn from their colleagues, it also ensures that their own contribution is noticed and rewarded.

“Hiring is very hard so one of the things a start-up will do, almost automatically, is to look around the team and make a call as to whether anyone might want to take on a bit more responsibility or shift to a different role,” Smith adds. “You get to take on duties as and when they come, to expand your horizons professionally.”

3. Dynamic environment

There’s nothing like a new venture to create a dynamic, soulful working environment. By entering a young company at the early stages, new recruits get to help bring an idea to life, share the success of early triumphs and help the company achieve real, tangible growth. There is also likely to be minimal – if any – bureaucracy, leaving employees free to innovate.

“The best thing about working in a start-up is having the ability to make things happen,” says Raj Dey, founder of Enternships.

“There is a great sense of adventure working in a start-up,” explains Nico Perez, founder of Mixcloud. “Start-up life is a constant sense of excitement. You never know what’s going to happen in six months’ time.”

4. Choosing your team

Since we spend more time at work than anywhere else, it is crucial to have a great professional – and ideally personal – chemistry with your colleagues. This is integral to a successful working life, yet often not given the weight it should be.

In a large organisation, new recruits are unlikely to even meet most of the people they’ll spend their days with before they start, let alone go on to influence future hiring decisions. However, this is a key unique selling point start-ups can offer.

“If you’re part of a six or 10 person team, you’re going to get a say on who’s hired. You’re probably going to have power, at least to veto, if not to make a hire. That’s huge – that you get to choose who you sit next to, who you work with. You just don’t get that in any other job,” Smith says.

5. Entrepreneurial training

Not only do start-up personnel get to help bring their boss’s entrepreneurial idea to life, they get unrivalled business training to stand them in good stead if they want to start a venture of their own.

The founders of fast growth start-up Peppersmith, for example, previously worked at Innocent Drinks and, as some of the company’s earliest employees, held a variety of roles in their 13 years developing the business. Similarly, Ricardo Parro was the second developer through the door at Wonga, where he had “unparalleled” opportunities to build systems from the ground up. He has since co-founded a start-up of his own, Top Deals London.

“If you want to set up your own company one day it’s a great insight into the business side of running a start-up,” Smith says. “The whole thing just works really well for your career.”

Of course working in a start-up won’t be for everyone. Some people thrive working intensively with a small team, while others prefer the security of a large business and knowing what they’re going to be doing every day. That’s fine – the latter probably aren’t suited to the start-up environment anyway – but prospective employees shouldn’t be put off by assuming that start-up employment is unstable or risky.

Diana Proca, founder of Work in Startups, argues that start-ups are no longer a risky bet as, even if they fail, their networks will see you through to your next job.

“If you pick the right start-up it’s usually got a good runway – a couple of years, maybe three (that’s actually a really long time to work for one company),” Smith adds. “If you’re worried about the stability side of things, just think of it as a two or three year block in your career. That’s not going to hurt you at all.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Government launches start-up loans for young entrepreneurs

£82.5m scheme will offer finance and mentoring to 18-24-year-olds

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Published on 31 January 2013

The government has launched a new scheme offering loans to young entrepreneurs, to help them start-up successful businesses.

The £82.5m StartUp Loans scheme, which was proposed by Sir Richard Branson last year and confirmed in this year’s Budget, will offer finance and support to entrepreneurs aged 18-24, in a bid to kickstart more businesses and tackle youth unemployment in the UK.

Applicants will receive advice and guidance, with the most promising going on to receive formal mentoring and training, including help with developing a business plan. Those with “robust and approved” plans will be eligible for loans of around £2,500.

Unlike student loans, the maximum repayment terms on offer will be five years, while the interest rate will be set at the Retail Price Index (RPI) plus 3%, with all repayments and interest channelled back into a central pot to support other young entrepreneurs.

Commenting on the scheme, which forms part of the government’s ongoing ‘Business in You’ campaign, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “I want this to be the year where people can think yes, I can do it, that we can get as many viable businesses as possible off the ground, that people can have a go, and that we see a whole new wave of entrepreneurs who start small but think big.”

StartUp Loans will kick off with a £10m pilot this financial year; if successful, the scheme will be bolstered by a further £32.5m in 2013/14, and £40m in 2014/15.

Partners

The loans will be administered by a handful of ‘delivery partners’ – organisations with experience in helping young people start businesses – such as the Prince’s Trust. These partners will provide support and mentoring, assess the viability of young people’s business plans, and manage repayments.

James Caan, entrepreneur and former ‘Dragon’, will chair a new body set up by the government to oversee the scheme, with other board members including Duncan Cheatle, founder of The Supper Club, and Julie Meyer, founder of Ariadne Capital.

Caan said: “The StartUp Loans initiative provides guidance, access to expertise, and finance. These are the three vital ingredients for starting your own business.”

Young entrepreneurs

One young entrepreneur hoping to benefit from the scheme is Kaylie Hill, a 23-year-old graduate from Swindon, who has struggled to access the funding she needs to get her business – a women’s footwear fashion brand – off the ground.

She said: “I approached the bank for funding but they said I needed to improve my credit rating. As I had been a student up until that point, I hadn’t had the opportunity.

“I approached the Princes Trust, but they said I had to be unemployed to qualify – I couldn’t afford to lose my job or I wouldn’t be able to live.

“I even looked into angel investment, but I found [this was more suitable] for bigger investments and they would want a portion of my business – which is not for me.”

If successful, Kaylie plans to use the loan to buy material to make her first collection, to take to potential stockists.

Lord Young report

Today’s launch also coincides with a new report by Lord Young, the government’s enterprise adviser and the ‘Godfather of StartUp Loans’, which found that if the UK were to match the rate of entrepreneurship in the US, we would have 900,000 more businesses.

The report also argues that the internet, along with the amount of support available for those looking to start a business today, has significantly lowered the barriers to entry for entrepreneurship, meaning that now is “a great time to start a business”.

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

Touch screen pioneer leads $1.4m investment in Blis Media

Inventor Hal Philipp to take seat on board as part of deal

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Published on 31 January 2013

Media and technology company Blis Media has received a fresh tranche of funding worth $1.4m, led by two new investors.

Meridian Growth Capital, the investment vehicle of touch screen pioneer Hal Philipp, has invested in Blis for the first time, as has Ballpark Ventures. Meanwhile, existing investor Beringea LLP has increased its stake.

Philipp, inventor of the touch screen technology which is currently used in over 60 models of mobile phone around the world, has taken a seat on Blis’ board as part of the deal. The investee’s existing CEO, Gregor Isbister, will keep his current role.

Founded in 2004, Blis now boasts bases in London and Sydney, and provides targeted advertising solutions for the likes of Epson, Google, adidas and Unilever.

Discussing the investment, Philipp said: “The technology Blis is building is incredibly interesting. It has the potential to add a lot of value to advertisers, scale very quickly and as such can be a very disruptive force in the ecosystem.”

Gregor Isbister, CEO at Blis, commented: “Having Hal on board is an amazing asset to the team. The technology he developed has changed the face of our industry and reaches hundreds of millions of people every day – it’s mind-blowing!

“The experience Hal brings in building and expanding businesses, and the expertise in technology and IP protection, is immense.”

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer

£1m funding on offer for innovative green start-ups

Just over one day left to apply for the Berti Green Accelerator, backed by James Caan

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Published on 31 January 2013

Eco-entrepreneurs have just over one day left to apply for an accelerator programme backed by former Dragon James Caan.

The Berti Green Accelerator is offering three green entrepreneurs “the full toolkit needed to succeed in growing a successful and meaningful business” – including funding of up to £1m each and business support and expertise from James Caan’s Hamilton Bradshaw Impact Partners (HBIP).

Seth Tabatznik, director of Berti Investments, said that while socially or environmentally conscious entrepreneurs frequently have the vision and passion to make a difference, they often lack the business know-how to make their idea really appealing to investors.

He told Startups: “With global concerns around climate change and social inequality increasingly emerging on the mainstream agenda, great innovative start-ups are appearing all round the world…creating enterprises that aim to make a difference.

“But two significant barriers stop social entrepreneurs in their tracks: funding and support. Here in the UK, while investor confidence in the green industry remains low, businesses need to prove their skills to be a head above the rest in order to attract funding in this increasingly competitive landscape.”

The accelerator offers what Caan refers to as “intelligent capital”. As well as funding, the three winners will receive six months’ worth of business support from HBIP, covering every aspect of running a business, helping them to create the right management processes and structure, forge strong business relationships and build a strong brand.

The judges will be looking for green businesses that can demonstrate both a sustainable approach to carbon reduction, and a scalable and profitable business model.

Applications for the Berti Green Accelerator close at 8pm on Tuesday 17 April 2012. For more information and to apply, visit the Berti Investments website

Written by:

Aimee Bradshaw Senior Writer