Everything you need to know about how to apply for a government grant
Looking for information about how to apply for a government grant? We understand the process of applying for government funding can be stressful. Especially if you don’t know where to start or what you need. We’ve put together this handy guide about everything you need to know on how to apply for a government grant.
What is a government grant?
If you need to apply for a government grant, it’s worth knowing some background information about them.
Government grants are small bursaries provided by the government to companies that meet the eligibility criteria. The money awarded to your business does not have to be paid back. It is awarded to your business to assist in its development, usually for a specific purpose.
Government business grants are becoming more popular with more funding available for a range of industries and projects. Small businesses no longer feel limited.
What are the different types of government grants?
Before you apply for a government grant it’s worth knowing about the different types out there. This will help you assess which grant is best for you:
- Scheme and awards
- A general grant
- General grant-competed
- General grant: un-competed
- Grant: criteria-based
- Formula grant
- Grant-in-aid.
What do you need to apply for a government grant?
Every grant will be different, but you will always need:
A business plan
This is crucial for the body granting your money. They want to assess your business and see how the money will help you achieve your aims. You should tailor your business plan to each grant application. Your business plan should include:
- Mission statement
- Product/Service
- Information about your company
- Employees
- Financial information
- Growth plans
- Unique selling point
- Target audience
- Realistic milestones.
An idea of how the money will be spent
Before the body grants you the money, they need a clear indication of how it’s going to be spent. You could make a list of how much money is needed and how that money will assist the business. For example, split the money up into different sections it will be spent on, i.e. research, marketing, social media etc. Try and be as detailed as possible.
Is a government grant right for my business?
Before you apply for a government grant, there are a number of factors to consider:
- The process of applying can be very time-consuming and complicated. Do you have the time to fill in the application and submit it?
- Grants and awards are very competitive. Don’t build all your hopes upon winning the grant as you may not. It’s wise to have a backup plan.
- The criteria for grants can be very specific. This can make it difficult to find one you’re eligible for.
- A grant may not cover all your costs. You might be expected to match the grant with your own funding.
Check your eligibility
Before you apply for a government grant, you need to find out if you’re eligible for the funding. Eligibility comes down to a number of things including:
- Business size and classification. The grant may only be available to limited companies or a business with a certain number of employees.
- Grant purpose. Do you have a clear idea of how you will use the funding?
- There will be regional grant available. Larger areas such as London will be more competitive than the North East.
- Industry type. Most government grants are industry-specific such as R&D or innovation.
A funding writer can increase your chances of winning the grant.
What to do if you’re rejected
If you apply for a government grant and are rejected, try not to be too disheartened. Securing a government grant is difficult due to the restrictive eligibility criteria and stiff competition. If your grant application is rejected, it’s important you ask for feedback. Find out where you went wrong to avoid making the same mistake in the future. Some common reasons your application may have been turned down include:
- You didn’t match the eligibility criteria. For example, you may live outside the area the grant is for or are in the wrong industry.
- You haven’t efficiently demonstrated how your project will benefit the community.
- Your business plan or costing breakdown isn’t very clear or is unrealistic.
Best areas for winning grants
There are some industries where grants are more readily available than others. The following industries are:
Energy and environment
As the world around us is saving energy, there are schemes available for businesses to create a product that helps save energy. There are grants available to businesses that aim to be more environmentally friendly such as the renewable energy scheme.
Exports
Improving trade links for the UK’s businesses is a key element to driving the economic recovery following Covid-19. That’s why there are a lot of grants available in this sector.
Innovation
There are a lot of exciting opportunities available for technology businesses. To keep the UK competitive in an evolving global tech marketing businesses are encouraged to keep inventing. Innovate UK is a government initiative that funds innovative projects and businesses.
Where can I find government grants?
If you’re ready to apply for a government grant but don’t know where to find them, listen up.
All available government grants can be found in the finance and support for your business section of gov.uk.
Details of the grant and how to apply will be listed.
Additionally, you can sign up to our Grant Tracker Service to have access to all government grants and more. We currently have over 1,770 live business grant and funding opportunities on our site. All you have to do to gain access is sign up for free.
How to secure a grant
Now you know how to apply for a government grant, you’re probably wondering how to secure one. As previously discussed, it is an extremely completive market. You need to make sure your application is produced to the highest standard possible. Here are our tips for when you apply for a government grant:
Understand the requirements
Before you begin to write your grant application make sure you have understood what is required from you. There are many grant programmes available of which your business may only qualify for a handful. Be sure you have all the requirements before you begin applying. If you submit your application only to find out you don’t meet the requirements it’s a waste of your time.
Make a plan
If you don’t know where you want to go, you won’t be able to track the steps to get there. Having a clear project plan will save you so much time when it comes to writing the grant application.
Know your funder’s goals
Funders make their resources available for a reason. Just like you, they’re trying to achieve a specific goal. Ask yourself if your projects help to meet a goal or solve a problem. Your project should align with the funder’s goals and needs.
Create a detailed budget
Good writing skills will only get your application so far. You need to have a solid budget that shows exactly how you plan to spend the money. Creating a detailed budget can also help you identify gaps in your thinking. Then you can adjust them before submitting your application.
Understand the deliverables
When you apply for a government grant it can be easy to get caught up in the application process. But you must not forget what you need to do to deliver what you promised. Before you apply, make sure you are able to provide all of the deliverables the funder requires.
Be clear
When writing your grant application, you must be clear and get straight to the point. The funders want a response that is easy to read and tells them exactly what they need to know. The word count is vital so don’t waste words waffling about points that are irrelevant. Get straight to the point as soon as possible. Avoid using complicated jargon and keep your language simple. You should aim to keep paragraphs and sentences short. This makes it easier for the funder to digest your response.
Before submitting your application, be sure you have checked it over at least twice. The last thing you want to do is submit it full of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. It will give the impression that you are lazy and unprofessional.
Overall, the funder is looking for you to tell your story, explain your problem and provide a solution. Usually, the winning applicants are those who promise to provide the best solutions to problems.
Our services
Grant Writing
Our Grant Writing Service is for businesses who want to start applying for grants, but don’t know where to begin. They can also help businesses who have been applying for grants but aren’t seeing success.
Our Grant Writing Consultants have over 60 years of experience in bidding for funding and grants. From start-up business grants to self-employed business grants. They can take care of the whole thing for you – they’ll even submit it on your behalf.
Get in touch to find out how we can help your business grow!
Grant Tracker
You can find this grant and others like it on our Business Grant Tracker. Currently, we have over 1,700 live business grant and funding opportunities. Our team have manually tracked 1,500+ data streams searching for business grant opportunities. Each one is then uploaded to one central system which streamlines the process.
All you need to do to gain access is sign up for free.
Find more helpful tips and advice in our blogs. We cover topics including:
