Business grants and funding in County Durham

There are 14 schemes listed for County Durham businesses (13 not closed), last checked 19 Oct 2026.

Schemes for County Durham businesses

Open

North East Accelerate Fund

North East Fund, managed by Mercia Ventures · Equity / convertible loan

Initial £50,000–£350,000, up to £1m in total

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham · Checked

Open

North East Elevate Fund

North East Fund, managed by FW Capital · Loan / mixed loan-equity

Loans from £50,000, up to £1m for established businesses

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham · Checked

Open

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: NEL Smaller Loans

NEL Fund Managers (British Business Bank NPIF II) · Loan

£25,000–£100,000 (per Review North)

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Open

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: NEL Debt Finance

NEL Fund Managers (British Business Bank NPIF II) · Loan

£100,000–£2m (per Review North)

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Open

Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: Maven Equity Finance

Maven Capital Partners (British Business Bank NPIF II) · Equity

Up to £5m (per Review North). Check with funder.

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Open

Finance Durham

Durham County Council, managed by Maven · Debt and equity

Investment range: check with funder (from £150,000 per Review North)

County Durham · Checked

Open

North East Rural Growth Programme

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (lead delivery partner: Northumberland County Council) · Fully funded advice

Fully funded specialist advice, training and peer-to-peer learning, backed by £8.5m from the Mayor. Check with funder.

Northumberland, County Durham, Gateshead · Checked

Check with funder

Made Smarter Adoption North East

Made Smarter with North East Growth Hub and Tees Valley CA · Grant plus support

Up to £3,500 for technical advice. Up to £20,000 (max 50% of cost) for software or equipment

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley · Checked

Open

Durham Business Growth (productivity support)

Business Durham / Durham County Council · Fully funded advice

One-to-one engagement, action plans and productivity interventions (no cash amount)

County Durham · Checked

Closed

Durham Business Growth Grant

UMi · Grant

Previously £10,000–£200,000 (per Invest North East England)

County Durham · Checked

Check with funder

North East Early Stage Equity Fund

North East Fund, managed by Mercia Regional Ventures · Equity

£35m fund. Deal sizes: check with funder

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham · Checked

Check with funder

The Mayor's Small Venues Fund

North East Mayoral Strategic Authority · Grant (revenue and capital)

Grants from £3,000 to £100,000 (£2.2m fund over three years)

Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham · Checked