Finance and funding
Getting the right type of finance for your business is essential. There are many different types available including loans, grants and investment - each of them designed to meet different needs.
Grants to help businesses
Climate Action Fund
We have just launched a new capital grant scheme offering grants of £10,000 to £20,000 to help small and medium-sized businesses in West Oxfordshire reduce their carbon footprint and enhance climate resilience. Supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Rural England Prosperity Fund, the scheme funds capital projects that promote sustainability, such as improving energy efficiency, installing renewable energy systems, and adopting electric vehicles. The fund aims to help businesses cut energy costs, increase resilience, and contribute to the district's net-zero goals.
Applications for this fund have now closed.
CAF Guidance Notes - pdf - 178 Kb
Innovation funding
Innovate UK is the Government's innovation agency and it distributes grants to help businesses cover the cost of R&D activity. The grants tend to be competitions focussed on specific technologies which are announced at very regular intervals. Innovate UK also runs "open" competitions which are not sector specific. It is worth checking Innovate UK's website regularly for recent funding announcements.
For more information please visit the:
Other grants
We subscribe to Grants Online Local, a free, user-friendly service to help organisations identify funding sources available for specific projects. You will need to register the first time you use the site.
To search for grants, please visit the:
Investment
Oxford Innovation Finance
Oxford Innovation Finance is the home of OION, one of the oldest and largest angel investment networks in the UK, and the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund.
As a part of the SQW Group, Oxford Innovation Finance is well connected to the early-stage/start-up ecosystem and, through its sister companies, is able to offer connections to a wide range of support, beyond that of just access to finance.
For more information please visit the:
The FSE Group
Finance South East help growth businesses achieve their potential through direct investment from its £33.6m funds under management, together with a range of professional support and advice. It provides an integrated, independent and specialist offering which prepares companies for investment and high growth.
For more information please visit the:
Loans for businesses
Start-up Loan Scheme
The Start-up Loan Scheme is a Government funded initiative that provides a business loan together with a mentor for people starting up a new business.
For more information please visit the:
Funding Circle
Funding Circle is an online peer-to-business lending platform connecting businesses and investors, where businesses get fast business loans and investors earn returns on their investments. Funding Circle has helped over 130,000 businesses to borrow £14.5 billion so far.
For more information please visit the:
Dealing with business debt
Problems paying tax bills
HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) Business Payment Support Service is there to help businesses that are aware they may not be able to make a payment due in full before the payment deadline.
For more information please visit the:
Organisations offering free advice on debt problems
For free, confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems, please visit the:
For free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities and is experienced in helping with personal debt problems, please visit the:
Further information on business finance
Better Business Finance provides impartial information and support to businesses and entrepreneurs looking to develop and grow. It was set up by Barclays, HSBC, RBS, Lloyds and Santander in 2011 and is managed by UK Finance in collaboration with its business and finance partners.
For further info:
If you are not sure where to start, then email our Business Development Team or call 01993 861485 and we will point you in the right direction.