# Sourced North East

> Verified directory of grants, loans and funding open to businesses in North East England (Tyne & Wear, Northumberland, County Durham, Tees Valley). Every listing links to its official source and carries a last-checked date. Unclear details are marked 'check with funder'. Suppliers directory (free basic and paid featured listings for North East B2B suppliers) and tenders feed coming soon.

Last updated: 2026-10-19

## Key pages
- [All grants](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/)
- [FAQ](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/faq/): 25 answers grouped by topic: finding grants, eligibility & applying, how we check, newsletter, sponsors & suppliers, tenders
- [How we verify](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/about/)
- [Sponsors](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/sponsors/)
- [Tenders guide](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/tenders/)
- [Newsletter "What's open this week": free, every Monday morning; new schemes, closing soon, featured grant, area roundups. Sponsor slots will open once we reach 100 subscribers.](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/newsletter/)
- [Suppliers directory (coming soon): free basic listings (live on day one if you list before launch), featured listings coming soon, supplier resources](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/suppliers/)
- [Sponsor media kit (PDF)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/sourced-north-east-media-kit.pdf)

## About
- Independent and free. Funded by clearly labelled sponsors, who never affect which schemes are listed or what is said about them. No commission from funders or applicants.
- Method: schemes are found on official sources (GOV.UK, North East and Tees Valley combined authorities, councils, North East Growth Hub, Innovate UK, British Business Bank, fund managers). Every amount, eligibility rule and deadline is taken from the official page, linked, and date-stamped. Open schemes re-checked weekly; unclear details marked 'check with funder'.
- Coverage: Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, County Durham, Tees Valley, plus UK-wide schemes open to North East firms.
- Roadmap: weekly North East tenders feed, suppliers directory, grant-match alerts. Newsletter "What's open this week" is sent every Monday.

## Tenders (guide, feed coming soon)
- North East councils advertise most contracts on the Open e-tendering portal run by NEPO (https://www.nepo.org/); registration is free. Higher-value contracts also appear on Find a Tender (https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/) and Contracts Finder (https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search).

## Sponsorship
- Placements (monthly, rolling, 30 days' notice to cancel): Directory Profile (£19/month), Section Sponsor (£39/month, one area or one category, exclusive), Headline Partner (£79/month, 1 only). Launch prices: the first 5 sponsors keep their price fixed for 12 months. Newsletter sponsorship is paused until we reach 100 subscribers. We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added. Sourced North East is a trading name of Dove Design Ltd, registered in England and Wales, company no. 14814259. Registered office: 6 Atkinson Grove, Shotton Colliery, Durham DH6 2YA. Paid placements are labelled "Sponsored". Contact hello@northeastsourced.co.uk.

## Schemes
- [North of Tyne Business Support Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/north-of-tyne-business-support-fund/): NBSL (North East CA, UKSPF); Up to 50% of eligible spend on projects costing £3,000–£8,000 (up to £4,000); status: closed (fully allocated per NBSL, last checked 2026-10-19); official source: https://growwithnbsl.org.uk/notbsf-overview/
- [Sunderland Business Support Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/sunderland-business-support-fund/): NBSL (North East Mayoral Strategic Authority); Up to 40% of eligible spend on projects costing £3,000–£6,000 excluding VAT (a maximum grant of £2,400); status: open; official source: https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support/sunderland-business-support-fund
- [BIPC Citylife Business Support](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/bipc-citylife-business-support/): Business & IP Centre North East; Up to 12 hours of expert support, fully funded; status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.hithrive.co/citylife
- [Business Growth Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/business-growth-fund-neca/): North East CA, delivered by UMi (UKSPF); £20,000–£300,000 discretionary grants (per Invest North East England); status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/get-involved/funding-opportunities
- [Grants and loans for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in County Durham](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/county-durham-retail-hospitality-leisure-grants/): Durham County Council; Targeted Business Improvement Grant, Property Reuse interest-free loan, Meanwhile Uses Grant. Amounts: check with funder; status: open; official source: https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support/grants-and-loans-for-retail-hospitality-and-leisure-businesses-in-county-durham
- [SWEF Enterprise Fund: Start-up Grant](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/swef-enterprise-fund-start-up-grant/): Community Foundation North East; Up to £500; status: rolling; official source: https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply/
- [SWEF Enterprise Fund: Business Development Grant](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/swef-enterprise-fund-business-development-grant/): Community Foundation North East; Up to £2,000; status: rolling; official source: https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/apply/
- [SWEF Business Grant (County Durham & Tees Valley)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/swef-business-grant-point-north/): Point North; £500 start-up grant or £2,000 business grant; status: rolling; official source: https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/swef-business-grant/
- [North East Accelerate Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/north-east-accelerate-fund/): North East Fund, managed by Mercia Ventures; Initial £50,000–£350,000, up to £1m in total; status: open; official source: https://www.northeastfund.org/funds/accelerate-fund/
- [North East Elevate Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/north-east-elevate-fund/): North East Fund, managed by FW Capital; Loans from £50,000, up to £1m for established businesses; status: open; official source: https://www.northeastfund.org/news/new-business-finance-funds-launched/
- [Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: NEL Smaller Loans](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/npif-ii-nel-smaller-loans/): NEL Fund Managers (British Business Bank NPIF II); £25,000–£100,000 (per Review North); status: open; official source: https://growthhub.northeast-ca.gov.uk/finance-and-funding
- [Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: NEL Debt Finance](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/npif-ii-nel-debt-finance/): NEL Fund Managers (British Business Bank NPIF II); £100,000–£2m (per Review North); status: open; official source: https://www.reviewnorth.co.uk/p/the-major-investment-funds-backing-north-east-companies
- [Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II: Maven Equity Finance](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/npif-ii-maven-equity-finance/): Maven Capital Partners (British Business Bank NPIF II); Up to £5m (per Review North). Check with funder.; status: open; official source: https://www.reviewnorth.co.uk/p/the-major-investment-funds-backing-north-east-companies
- [Finance Durham](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/finance-durham/): Durham County Council, managed by Maven; Investment range: check with funder (from £150,000 per Review North); status: open; official source: https://growthhub.northeast-ca.gov.uk/finance-and-funding
- [Northumberland Small Business Service (North East Rural Growth Programme)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/northumberland-small-business-service/): Advance Northumberland; Fully funded adviser support. Start-up grants up to £2,000 and test-the-market grants up to £500 (per tender specification). Check with funder.; status: open; official source: https://northumberlandsmallbusiness.co.uk/
- [North East Rural Growth Programme](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/north-east-rural-growth-programme/): North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (lead delivery partner: Northumberland County Council); Fully funded specialist advice, training and peer-to-peer learning, backed by £8.5m from the Mayor. Check with funder.; status: open; official source: https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/news/farmers-and-food-producers-offered-specialist-support-through-mayor-kim-s-rural-growth-fund
- [Culture and Creative Investment Programme](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/culture-creative-investment-programme/): North East CA with Creative UK; Combined finance and support package. Amounts: check with funder; status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/get-involved/funding-opportunities
- [Made Smarter Adoption North East](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/made-smarter-adoption-north-east/): Made Smarter with North East Growth Hub and Tees Valley CA; Up to £3,500 for technical advice. Up to £20,000 (max 50% of cost) for software or equipment; status: check-with-funder; official source: https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/business/business-growth-support/made-smarter-adoption-north-east/
- [Shop Front Improvement Scheme: North Shields](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/north-shields-shop-front-improvement-scheme/): North Tyneside Council; 100% grants up to £2,500; status: closing-soon; official source: https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/business-support
- [Durham Business Growth (productivity support)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/durham-business-growth/): Business Durham / Durham County Council; One-to-one engagement, action plans and productivity interventions (no cash amount); status: open; official source: https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support/durham-business-growth
- [Durham Business Growth Grant](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/durham-business-growth-grant-umi/): UMi; Previously £10,000–£200,000 (per Invest North East England); status: closed; official source: https://durhamgrowthgrant.weareumi.co.uk/
- [Efficient, Structured and Controllable AI Systems](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/innovate-uk-efficient-structured-controllable-ai/): Innovate UK; Share of up to £1.66m. Projects £50,000–£150,000, up to 70% of costs covered; status: open; official source: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/efficient-structured-and-controllable-ai-systems/
- [BridgeAI Deployment Catalyst (operational, decision-critical, assurance and compliance strands)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/innovate-uk-bridgeai-deployment-catalyst/): Innovate UK; Up to £5m per strand (Phase 1). Each project's grant request must be between £100,000 and £200,000.; status: upcoming; official source: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/opportunities/bridgeai-deployment-catalyst-ai-for-assurance-and-compliance/
- [Growth Cohorts: Next-gen low carbon concrete, Round 2](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/innovate-uk-growth-cohorts-low-carbon-concrete/): Innovate UK; Funding and support. Amounts: check with funder; status: upcoming; official source: https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search
- [Innovate UK Innovation Loans](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/innovate-uk-innovation-loans/): Innovate UK; Check with funder; status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/guidance-for-specific-funds/
- [Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/knowledge-transfer-partnerships/): Innovate UK; Check with funder; status: rolling; official source: https://www.ukri.org/councils/innovate-uk/guidance-for-applicants/guidance-for-specific-funds/
- [Start Up Loans](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/start-up-loans/): Start Up Loans Company (British Business Bank); £500–£25,000 per owner (up to £100,000 per business), fixed 7.5% a year, 1–5 year term, 12 months' free mentoring; status: open; official source: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/business-guidance/guidance-articles/finance/start-up-loan
- [Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/life-sciences-innovative-manufacturing-fund/): Office for Life Sciences; Up to £520m fund. Intervention rate up to 25%; status: open; official source: https://find-lb.find-a-grant-support.service.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/grants/life-sciences-innovative-manufacturing-fund-lsimf-1
- [Tees Valley Export Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/tees-valley-export-fund/): Tees Valley Combined Authority (UKSPF); £3,000–£10,000, 25% match funding; status: closed; official source: https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/news/final-call-for-latest-round-of-transformational-export-funding-to-take-your-company-global/
- [Tees Valley Investment Zone Innovation Vouchers](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/tees-valley-investment-zone-innovation-vouchers/): Teesside University / Tees Valley CA; Exploration up to £50,000. Acceleration up to £300,000; status: closed; official source: https://www.tees.ac.uk/docs/docrepo/business/iz%20innovation%20vouchers%20application%20guidance.pdf
- [North East Early Stage Equity Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/north-east-early-stage-equity-fund/): North East Fund, managed by Mercia Regional Ventures; £35m fund. Deal sizes: check with funder; status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025740-2026
- [The Mayor's Small Venues Fund](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/mayors-small-venues-fund/): North East Mayoral Strategic Authority; Grants from £3,000 to £100,000 (£2.2m fund over three years); status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/projects/small-venues-fund
- [Northumberland Economic Infrastructure Programme (Commercial Property Incentive)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/northumberland-economic-infrastructure-programme/): Northumberland County Council / Business Northumberland (Northumberland Growth Fund); £3 million programme. Award sizes: check with funder; status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.businessnorthumberland.co.uk/northumberland-growth-fund/
- [Business Northumberland Investment Fund (BNIF)](https://www.northeastsourced.co.uk/grants/business-northumberland-investment-fund/): Northumberland County Council / Business Northumberland (Northumberland Growth Fund); £20 million fund. Investment up to £2m: equity, mezzanine finance, business loans and hybrid investments; status: check-with-funder; official source: https://www.businessnorthumberland.co.uk/investment-fund/