If you run a micro or small SME (say, under £1 million turnover), you probably feel like funding schemes are always just out of reach.
But they aren’t — many doors are open right now, locally and nationally. In this post, I’ll walk you through real funding routes you can apply for in 2025, a quick self-audit to see what you qualify for, and also share some exciting news: NorthStar is proud to sponsor the Callander Jazz & Blues Festival (2–5 October 2025) and we’ve been nominated for the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2025.
Why do those events matter to you? Because we back what we believe in — local business, growth, visibility — and we want to bring those opportunities back to our community of SMEs through The Pulse.
What funding is genuinely available in 2025 (for small/micro firms)
Here’s a curated shortlist of funding and support routes you should be checking right now:
| Scheme / Support | What it offers | Who qualifies | Notes / links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start Up Loans | Up to £25,000 + mentorship | Businesses trading under 36 months | A solid low-cost loan + support route. |
| UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) | Local grants for digital, skills, low-carbon, community projects | Micro and small firms | Delivered via local authorities — check your council’s portal. |
| Growth Hubs & Local Enterprise Support | Local grant calls, application help, referrals | All small firms | Your first stop: contact your regional Growth Hub. |
| Help to Grow (Management / Productivity) | Subsidised training & development | SMEs | Not cash, but helps you scale and qualify for more funding. |
| R&D Tax Relief (Merged Scheme) | Tax credit or deduction for R&D expenditure | Firms doing product/process innovation | Rules tightened, so documentation is essential. |
| Innovate UK / innovation grants | Project funding, competitions | Innovation-driven firms | Keep an eye on open calls in your sector. Or give us a shout, and we will do that for you! |
| Scottish Enterprise (for Scottish firms) | Grants, loans, match funding | Businesses in Scotland | See Scottish Enterprise funding & grants page. (scottish-enterprise.com) |
These are not all the schemes (you’ll see more via The Pulse over time), but they are some of the most usable ones for small firms right now.
Quick self-audit: 10 minutes could tell you what your next move is
Here’s a 3-question check you can run right now to see which funding doors you should push on:
- Where is your business based (which local authority/region)?
→ Search “[Your Council] small business grants” + contact your Growth Hub. - How long have you been trading?
→ ≤36 months? You might be eligible for Start Up Loans. Yes, it is not full funding; it is a loan, but the interest rates are low and very advantageous.
→ >36 months? Focus more on grants, innovation funds, or referrals through Growth Hub. It is competitive, but we can help you write a compelling proposal. - Do you do any R&D, product development, process improvement, or tech investment?
→ If yes: start compiling invoices, time logs, project notes—R&D tax relief may apply.
Our big news: we believe in growth too
🎷 Sponsoring the Callander Jazz & Blues Festival
We’re thrilled to announce that NorthStar is a principal sponsor of the Callander Jazz & Blues Festival, happening 2–5 October 2025 in Scotland.
This is Scotland’s largest rural jazz + blues event, with dozens of gigs over multiple venues—an amazing community showcase.
By sponsoring, we’re investing in both culture and visibility for small business. We’ll be there too, talking to local folks, hearing stories, and helping connect business owners to funding opportunities.
If you’re in Scotland or planning a trip to the festival, come say hi. We’d love to meet you and explore how we can help your growth journey.
Follow them on Facebook and Instagram!
🏆 Nominated for the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2025
We’re humbled and excited to share that NorthStar has been nominated for the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2025.
Being nominated places us among Scotland’s ambitious organisations recognised for excellence, innovation, and impact. It validates our work supporting SMEs and motivates us to make The Pulse and our newsletter ever more valuable to you.
Why this matters for you (and why you should read The Pulse monthly)
Between the funding routes above and our own growth journey, here’s why you should keep a close eye on The Pulse:
- We’ll spot local grant drops before many people hear about them and distil them into quick application steps.
- We’ll share case studies of micro firms like yours that win funding (so you can copy what works).
- You’ll see event connections like our festival sponsorship — real people, real networks, real opportunities.
- Bonus: we’ll occasionally run free mini funding scans for newsletter subscribers (tell us your region & trading age, we’ll map you 2–3 routes).
Read more, sign up, get ahead
If this post helped you already, imagine what monthly doses of funding insight, local leads, tips & alerts could do. Click below to subscribe to The Pulse and never miss your next chance.
👉 Subscribe to The Pulse / Get funding alerts
Also, if you’re already a subscriber, share this blog with a peer or friend who runs a small business — we grow by helping others.
Finally: want me to run a free 10-minute funding scan for your business right now?
Write to us with your council/region + how long you’ve been trading, and I’ll send back 2–3 routes you might qualify for this week.
Let’s make your business’s growth real, not just possible.
