Funding

Funded by UK Government, this competitive fund offers revenue grants ranging from £1,000 to £5,000 to enable employers to create, develop and implement innovative skills projects and solutions which will aim to create and retain jobs, enable staff upskilling and employee career progression while meeting the UKSPF objectives:

• Business growth and sustainability.
• Increased local employment opportunities.
• Adoption of innovation.
• The transition towards net-zero / tackling the climate and ecological emergency.

You are eligible if your business:

• Is in the East Lothian Council Local Authority Area.
• Has been trading for at least six months.
• Meets at least one of the UKSPF outcomes.
• Employs less than 250 staff.
• Meets all legal requirements and regulations which relate to the operation of the business.
• Is not in debt to East Lothian Council, e.g. for outstanding business rates or other charges.
• Clearly demonstrates commitments to Fair Work Practices and achieving Net Zero.
• Clearly demonstrates the need for the funding, the benefit to the business, the benefit to the employee(s) and the local economy and the fit with the programme objectives and outcomes.

Applications for this fund close at midday Friday 16th January 2026. If you are interested in this funding, please follow the link below to read the full guidance. Once you have read the guidance in full and agree that your business matches the criteria, you can follow the steps within the guidance to request an application form.

Read the Guidance Notes

East Lothian Investments Ltd is a not-for-profit company, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, providing interest free loans to East Lothian based businesses.

• Borrow up to £25,000
• Repayment period up to 5 years
• 0% interest with small up-front arrangement fee
• Open to businesses across all sectors and at all stages
• Capital repayment holidays available

Grants are available linked to specific funding streams such as UKSPF. To ensure you are aware of current opportunities sign up to our newsletter.

Find Business Support is a website which provides information on funding and services offered by public services in Scotland.  Businesses can search by location, all available support or area of interest.

Start-up & SME Finance

Scottish EDGE | Scotland's biggest business funding competition - for startups, social enterprises and charities.

• Competition runs twice per year. Funding split of loan/grant up to £100,000.

Start-up Business Loans - Start-up Loans

• Government backed loans, borrow up to £25,000 over 5 years.

Larger scale investment providers

Scottish National Investment Bank

• Typically for businesses and projects seeking more than £1m in investment support (debt or equity).

Scottish Enterprise - Funding opportunities for business

• Access to range of Equity funding, co-investment funding opportunities.

Technology & Innovation Funding

Scotland | techstart | Supporting tech start-ups across the UK

• Seed funding for early stage technology businesses looking to scale.

Funding | Interface Online

• Funding programmes to link businesses with University Research Teams and Academia.

Social Enterprise & Third Sector

Firstport - Funding for starting & growing

• Grant funding for Social Entrepreneurs ranging from £5,000-£50,000.

Social Investment Scotland - Investment opportunities

• Tailored funding solutions up to £1million.

Energy & Sustainability Funding

Business Energy Scotland - SME Loan Scheme

• Loans of up to £100,000 with cashback grants up to £30,000 to support energy efficiency projects.

Zero Waste Scotland - Business funding

• Range of funding options to support the circular economy.