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Whether you’re trying to grow an established small business or hoping to get a start up off the ground, founders and entrepreneurs know that capital is king.
For many small business owners, small business grants and start-up business grants are the ideal funding option.
You may already know that there are a range of small business grants and start-up business grants available throughout the UK – and its regions. But on top of these geographical grants, there are also small business grants specifically and exclusively for women.
Read on for our guide to small business and start-up business grants for women.
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What is a small business grant?
Small business grants are sums of money that can be claimed for specific purposes, such as investing in new equipment, refurbishing commercial premises, hiring new employees or just helping a small business to grow.
Start-up business grants work in much the same way, although they tend to be explicitly designed to help new firms get off the ground.
Often, grants do not need to be paid back (unlike small business loans, which must always be paid back with interest). This is part of the reason why small business grants can be so competitive.
Another key advantage of small business grants is that they don’t require you to give up equity in your company.
However, grants can sometimes be partially or conditionally repayable, so it is important to understand the terms of the grant before applying.
Small business grants and start-up business grants for women
The following small business grants and start-up business grants are exclusively for women:
Anita Borg Institute For Women and Technology
Eligible regions: Worldwide
Sectors: Technology and computing
Amount: Varies depending on award
Details: The Abie Awards celebrate women working in the technology and computing sectors. There are currently award categories for Tech In Government and Technical Leadership. The cash prizes on offer vary by award and year.
Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards
Eligible regions: Worldwide, including Europe
Sectors: Enterprises focused on strong and sustainable social or environmental impact
Amount: Varies depending on awards
Details: The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards, founded in 2006, are for women-run and women-owned businesses targeting social and environmental causes. The awards are global and are broken down into regional awards, as well as thematic awards for science and technology, diversity, equity and inclusion, and impact. The size of the grant awarded, which is determined by finishing in first, second or third place, is delivered in US dollars. Applications open on 18 April 2025.
Diamond Education Grant
Eligible regions: Asia, Europe, Caribbean
Sectors: Women returning to work following an employment break
Amount: Varies
Details: The Diamond Education Grant is awarded to women looking to update their skills after an employment break, or wanting to acquire new skills to improve their opportunities for promotion and employment. The grants are intended for helping towards the cost of course fees, books and equipment.
Global Fund for Women
Eligible regions: Global
Sectors: Movements focusing on advancing gender justice
Amount: Flexible cash grants
Details: The Global Fund for Women aims to provide support grants to cover the costs of social justice work. The fund is interested in supporting gender-justice movements, including through funding for artists and cultural practitioners whose work focuses on gender justice.
Women in Innovation Awards
Eligible regions: UK
Sectors: All
Amount: £75,000
Details: The Women in Innovation Awards is an annual programme of funding and business support. The awards were launched in 2016 to encourage more women in business to apply for Innovate UK funding. Winners are likely to be business owners who are solving a range of pressing societal, environmental and economic challenges across a range of innovation areas.
Small business grants and start-up business grants throughout the UK
While the schemes mentioned above are specifically aimed at helping women in business, don’t overlook other small business and start-up grants that may be more widely available across the UK.
It may also be worth checking out small business grants and start-up business grants specifically for businesses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Other forms of small business and start-up business funding
If you’re unsuccessful in applying for a small business grant or start-up business grant – or if you decide you’d rather pursue other funding options – then there are still plenty of possibilities to choose from.
If you’re looking for growth capital to fund the expansion of your small business, then a traditional small business loan could offer you the up-front capital injection you need.
And if you have an idea for a new business but don’t yet have the capital to cover the initial costs, then a start-up business loan could be an option for you.
Just bear in mind that a small business loan or a start-up loan – unlike the vast majority of small business grants – will need to be repaid with interest, so make sure you know exactly what you’re signing up for and how much it will cost.
Meanwhile, if you run a small business and your aim is to ease the pressure on your cash flow, then you could always consider using a business credit card.
With rewards business credit cards offering cashback or perks for regular spending, and with foreign use business credit cards making it cheaper and easier to spend abroad, there are plenty of cards to choose from, whatever your requirements.
Again, though, bear in mind that you’ll need to pay off your card in full each month if you want to avoid potentially expensive interest payments – your business credit score could suffer if you fail to do so.
Away from business credit cards and business loans, you can always consider running a crowdfunding campaign or turning to angel investors to help realise your business goals.
And if you’re already trading (and assuming your business fits the criteria), then don’t overlook invoice finance or asset finance.
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