Small Business Guides / small business funding UK

How to Write a Grant Application for a UK Business

A strong grant application explains a specific project, why it fits the scheme and what the funding will achieve. Start with eligibility before writing the persuasive bit.

Make a go-or-stop check

Read the live criteria and confirm location, business type, project activity, eligible costs, match funding, deadline and delivery dates. Check whether spending before approval is allowed. If an essential rule does not fit, find a different route rather than trying to write around it.

Build the application in six parts

1. Problem: what is currently preventing the improvement?
2. Project: what will you buy or do?
3. Fit: which published scheme objective does it support?
4. Budget: what will each item cost and how will the total be funded?
5. Delivery: who will do the work and by when?
6. Evidence: how will the result be measured and reported?

Replace general claims with evidence

“We want to grow” is difficult to assess. “The new booking process will reduce the time spent arranging each visit; we will measure average admin time before and after launch” gives an assessor something to test. Keep any numerical target realistic and show how you estimated it.

Check the cash timing

Some schemes reimburse spending after evidence is submitted. If so, confirm how the business will pay suppliers while it waits. Match funding, VAT treatment and payment milestones can all change the cash requirement.

Before submission

Make the budget agree with supplier quotations. Answer each question directly, stay within word limits, include the required attachments and allow time for portal problems. Keep a copy of the submitted application and receipt. Do not commit expenditure on the assumption that approval is certain.

Use the grant search guide, grant scam checks and cash-flow template.

Explore Polar’s business tools or the connected business software for the next practical step.