Business Growth and Innovation Grant Scheme

The aim of the ‘Business Growth and Innovation Grant Scheme’ is to offer Aberdeen City-based businesses match funded support to meet their growth objectives. Discretionary funding will be awarded to meet capital expenses related to long-term strategy; sustainability; adoption of innovative technologies and processes; sustain or growth of workforce; and physical expansion. 

The grant award is match funded up to 50%, with a maximum award of £2,500 being available. Further examples below.

For guidance and the application form visit the Business Growth and Innovation Grant Scheme webpage.

Business Start-Up Grant Scheme

A Grant Scheme has launched to support Aberdeen based SME’s who have been trading for at least one-year and seeking to make capital investments in their business.

The grant award is match funded up to 50%, with a maximum award of £2,500 being available. Further examples below. 

Proposed Investment CostBusiness ContributionGrant Award
£1,000£500£500
£2,500£1,250£1,250
£5,000£2,500£2,500
£10,000£7,500£2,500

This scheme has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

How to apply

Before applying, please read the Application Guidance in full. If you have any questions, please contact the project team by emailing BusinessSupport@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

The link to download an application form is available below. Once complete, please email the form and all supporting documents (see checklist in the Guidance and FAQs below) to BusinessSupport@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Applications will be accepted until 28 February 2026 or until such time as funding has been fully allocated.

Assessment of applications

All complete applications received will be assessed and verified against the eligibility criteria by Aberdeen City Council. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed.

Successful applicants will be informed by way of an offer letter. All decisions will be made at the discretion of Aberdeen City Council and are subject to the availability of funds.

The applicant may appeal an unsuccessful application up to 4 weeks following notification that they have been unsuccessful, by submitting a written request to appeal to BusinessSupport@aberdeencity.gov.uk. The application will then be reviewed by a second member of staff at Aberdeen City Council.

Contact

If you have any questions about the application form, guidance or eligibility, please contact BusinessSupport@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Data Privacy Notice

More information on our data privacy notice can be found online.

  • Sole Trader, Partnerships or Limited Companies
  • All business sectors excluding illegal businesses
  • The business must be based within the Aberdeen City Council boundary area (see Guidance for further information)
  • The business must be trading as a micro, small or medium enterprise (up to 250 employees)
  • Businesses which are part of a group or franchise are unable to apply unless they have an autonomous cost and profit centre and reasonability in their own day-to-day management and accounts

Planned purchases must not have been made prior to application. This must be able to be evidenced with invoices and receipts.

Ineligible businesses:

  • We are unable to award any grant payment to any organisation where the business owner/director within the business has been disqualified as a director or business owner
  • We are unable to award any grant payment where the business owner/director within the business that has been on the AIB Register of Insolvencies
  • We are unable to award any grant payment to any organisation where the business owner/director has debts outstanding to Aberdeen City Council
  • A fully complete application
  • Evidence of registration
  • Evidence of trading
  • Proof of business address
  • Evidence of best value
  • Proof of purchase (after grant award)

For more detailed information, please see guidance document.

There are a number of fund available to business owners across Aberdeen. Please visit our Business Toolkit to see what might be suitable for you.

Aberdeen City Council Business Toolkit

Any Grants awarded through the Business Growth and Innovations Grant Scheme will be awarded as Minimal Financial Assistance under Article 36 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022.

The Application Form Declaration, and for successful applicants, Grant Award Letter, outline conditions and terms of the grant award in detail.

The grant must be used for intended outlined business purposes otherwise the Council has the right to reclaim the grant. Any decision to award a grant will be at the discretion of Aberdeen City Council.

Did you find what you were looking for?

Status message

Please note, this form is anonymous, we can't reply directly to your feedback. If you would like to report an issue, make a complaint or suggestion, please Contact Us.