Share
Secure the funding you need to innovate and grow your business with our round-up of the best grant opportunities coming up in the next couple of months. Our curated selection of the latest funding schemes includes grant opportunities for health & care, social impact, sustainability, and digital innovation.
Emerging Technology:
Scaling Supply Chains for Quantum Enabled Sensing and PNT
Funding for collaborative projects accelerating the commercialisation of quantum sensing and positioning technologies.
What is it? Innovate UK competition offering a share of up to £32.8 million to support collaborative projects developing the UK supply chain for quantum-enabled sensing and position, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies. The programme aims to accelerate commercialisation by bringing together supply chain partners to solve key innovation challenges, deliver deployable demonstrations, and strengthen the UK’s role in the global quantum technology supply chain.
Who is it for? UK-registered organisations collaborating to develop quantum-enabled sensing or PNT technologies. Projects should involve supply chain partners supporting system integrators or manufacturers and demonstrate a clear route to commercialisation.
Deadline: 8th July 2026
Future Data Services Sandpit: Transforming Discovery and Access
Funding for collaborative projects transforming how researchers discover, access and use social science data.
What is it? Delivered by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), this funding opportunity supports ambitious projects that improve the discovery, access and use of social science data through technology-enabled data pipelines. Applicants must first submit an expression of interest to attend a sandpit, where successful participants will develop collaborative projects with ESRC’s social science data service infrastructures. Around five to 10 projects will share up to £21.6 million in funding.
Who is it for? UK research organisations, as well as eligible UK businesses, third sector organisations and government bodies participating in collaborative projects. Non-UK organisations are not eligible to apply.
Deadline: 16th July 2026
AIRR Compute Opportunity: AI Open Access
Compute access for AI-driven research and scientific discovery.
What is it? UKRI opportunity providing access to the Isambard-AI supercomputer for projects using AI to accelerate scientific research and innovation. Rather than grant funding, successful applicants receive between 50,000 and 1,400,000 GPU hours to support six or 12-month projects. Priority areas include AI for scientific discovery, materials science, medical research, engineering biology, fusion energy, and quantum technologies.
Who is it for? UK-based researchers and AI developers from academia, industry, charities, not-for-profits, research organisations, and UK-registered businesses. Collaborative projects are encouraged.
Deadline: 17th July 2026
AI and Social Mobility Challenge Prize
Funding for early-stage ventures using AI and emerging technologies to improve opportunities for young people
What is it? A venture support programme delivered by EY Foundation and Social Tech Trust, in partnership with the Social Mobility Commission and supported by Microsoft, HSF Kramer, EY, Fieldfisher, and LinkedIn. The Challenge Prize combines grant funding, expert-led learning, mentoring, and investor readiness support for startups using AI or emerging technologies to help young people access education, skills, employment, and long-term opportunity in the UK. A total of £40,000 in non-dilutive funding is available, alongside additional platform and partner support.
Who is it for? Early-stage ventures using AI or emerging technologies to improve social mobility outcomes for young people in the UK, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Solutions may focus on areas such as EdTech, employability, inclusive recruitment, skills development, career navigation, mentoring, wellbeing, and financial capability. Applicants should demonstrate responsible use of technology, a clear understanding of users, measurable impact, and a credible path to sustainable growth.
Deadline: 20th July 2026
Next Wave: Breakthrough Wave 1
Funding for early-stage Createch innovations driving growth across the UK’s creative industries.
What is it? An Innovate UK competition offering a share of up to £10 million for industrial research projects developing innovative commercial digital platforms and services. The programme supports early-stage Createch innovation beyond proof of concept, helping businesses de-risk future investment, create new products, services or intellectual property, and accelerate growth in the UK’s frontier creative industries. Projects must be market-ready within 12 months of completion.
Who is it for? UK-registered businesses developing innovative digital platforms or services within the video games, advertising and marketing, film and TV, or music, performing and visual arts sectors. Cross-sector applications and design-led innovations aligned with these frontier industries are also encouraged.
Deadline: 11th August 2026
Sustainability:
Growth Cohorts: Next Generation Low Carbon Concrete
Funding for UK businesses developing innovative solutions to decarbonise concrete.
What is it? Delivered by Innovate UK, this competition provides £50,000 in stage one funding to support selected businesses joining a Growth Cohort focused on accelerating the decarbonisation of concrete. The programme combines grant funding with tailored sector support to help companies develop and refine their innovation and growth plans. Successful applicants work closely with a Cohort Manager and industry partners to address barriers to adoption, strengthen investment readiness, and accelerate route-to-market strategies. Stage one acts as an entry point into a longer programme that may lead to further funding and support in stage two.
Who is it for? UK-registered businesses developing solutions that reduce the carbon impact of concrete production and use. Applicants should demonstrate commercial traction, a clear value proposition, strong team capability, and a credible route to market, with potential to scale their innovation within the construction and materials sector.
Deadline: 8th July 2026
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 7: Pre-deployment Trials
Funding for UK organisations developing and testing innovative clean maritime technologies.
What is it? Delivered by Innovate UK on behalf of the Department for Transport, this competition is part of the UK SHORE programme, which aims to accelerate clean maritime technologies and support the UK’s transition to net zero. The pre-deployment trials strand funds projects that design, develop and test innovative clean maritime technologies for use on vessels, maritime infrastructure, or both, ahead of real-world deployment. It forms one of three strands within the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 7, with up to £121 million available across the programme.
Who is it for? UK-registered organisations developing innovative clean maritime technologies for on-vessel or maritime infrastructure applications. Projects must focus on pre-deployment testing and have eligible project costs between £750,000 and £6 million.
Deadline: 15th July 2026
Green Community Grants Programme
Flexible funding for not-for-profit organisations delivering community-led environmental action across England, Scotland and Wales.
What is it? A one-year flexible grant programme offering up to £25,000 to support not-for-profit groups working to protect and improve the natural environment. The programme focuses on activities that contribute to nature recovery, respond to the climate emergency, and improve access to nature-rich spaces. Funding can also support wider sustainable activities such as recycling, litter picking, beach cleans, and sustainable transport initiatives.
Who is it for? Not-for-profit organisations operating for at least 12 months with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million. Priority is given to organisations with income between £10,000 and £250,000, those working in areas within the top 15% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation, groups supporting marginalised communities (including disabled people, racially minoritised communities, and LGBT+ people), and organisations whose governing purpose relates to habitat or species protection and restoration.
Deadline: 15th July 2026
DRIVE35: Scale Up Fund
Funding for UK manufacturing scale-up projects supporting zero emission vehicle technologies.
What is it? Innovate UK competition offering a share of up to £150 million, delivered with the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), to support the creation of scale-up manufacturing facilities for zero emission vehicle technologies. The programme is designed to accelerate industrial capability and strengthen UK manufacturing capacity in clean transport innovation.
Who is it for? UK-registered organisations, including single applicants or collaborations, developing manufacturing scale-up projects for zero emission vehicle technologies. To lead a project, organisations must be UK-registered businesses. Non-UK businesses may apply but must establish a UK-registered entity before any grant can be awarded, which must deliver the project with UK-based staff in place.
Deadline: 15th August 2026
Social Impact
Co-op Local Community Fund
Funding for UK not-for-profit groups delivering community-led projects that help people thrive in their local area.
What is it? A community funding programme from Co-op that distributes £3.5 million through member voting and “community stamps” collected in Co-op stores. Funding supports local projects that improve access to food, create opportunities for young people, strengthen mental wellbeing, build community cohesion, and support sustainable futures. Successful causes receive funding based on member support, with all selected groups receiving a minimum award.
Who is it for? UK or Isle of Man not-for-profit organisations with a local focus, including registered charities, CICs, community groups, social enterprises, schools, and other eligible community organisations. Projects must be delivered locally, benefit communities in the UK, and align with themes such as food access, youth opportunity, mental wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability. Applicants must have a bank account in the organisation’s name and be able to provide basic governance and financial documentation.
Deadline: 10th July 2026
Social Impact Funding (The 7 Stars Foundation)
Grants for UK charities supporting children and young people to address key societal issues.
What is it? A targeted funding programme offering £10,000 over two years (£5,000 per year) for projects tackling key societal challenges affecting young people aged 18 and under. The fund supports both direct interventions and wider approaches addressing the underlying issues linked to each focus area, allowing charities to design solutions that respond to immediate needs or broader systemic change.
Who is it for? UK-registered charities with an annual turnover under £1.5 million. Applicants must also have unrestricted reserves below 30% of income. One charity is selected per focus area per year, and organisations may apply to multiple programmes. Charities can reapply three years after receiving a grant. Focus areas include: Child Exploitation, Child Mental Health, LGBTQ+ Inclusion & Support, Anti-Racism, and Online Abuse. Current funding rounds are focused on Anti-Racism and Online Abuse.
Deadline: 13th July 2026 (October Round Deadline)
Music For All: Schools and Community Groups Award
Funding in the form of musical instrument awards for UK schools and not-for-profit community groups
What is it? A UK award programme providing donated musical instruments and equipment to help schools and community organisations deliver or expand music-making opportunities. Round 3 awards include items such as electric guitars with amps and cables, ukuleles, and headphones, aimed at improving access to music education and participation in local communities.
Who is it for? UK-based schools and not-for-profit community groups, including educational establishments and community organisations delivering music-making activities. Applicants must be able to demonstrate how the awarded instruments will be used to benefit their community.
Deadline: 31st July 2026
Health and Wellbeing
Early Career Advancement Fellowship (Blood Cancer Research)
Funding for early career researchers to develop independence in blood cancer research.
What is it? A fellowship programme supporting early career blood cancer researchers who have completed a PhD and undertaken postdoctoral research. The fellowship is designed to help researchers transition towards independence and establish themselves as future leaders in the field. Projects may include discovery or translational research, small-scale clinical studies, or research linked to existing clinical trials, but do not support full clinical trial delivery.
Who is it for? Early career researchers with a PhD and up to six years’ full-time equivalent postdoctoral research experience. Applicants must be working in blood cancer research and proposing projects aligned to key themes including prevention, early detection and prediction of outcomes, or treatment. The scheme supports researchers progressing towards independent academic careers, with allowances for career breaks and clinical commitments.
Deadline: 9th July 2026
The Hospital Saturday Fund – Medical Grants Programme
Funding for health-related charities, medical organisations, and individuals.
What is it? A charitable grant programme supporting medical and health-focused organisations and individuals. Funding can be used for medical projects, patient care, research, and medical training. The fund also considers contributions towards capital projects and running costs for eligible organisations. Support is available across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland, and Malta.
Who is it for? Registered medical health charities, hospitals, hospices, and medical clinics, as well as individuals with a medical condition or disability. Applicants must demonstrate a clear medical or health-related purpose aligned with care, treatment, research, or training outcomes.
Deadline: 14th July 2026
Marie Curie Research Grants Scheme: Care Close to Home
Funding for research improving palliative and end of life care in community settings.
What is it? A research grants scheme delivered by Marie Curie focused on generating evidence to improve care close to home for people with palliative and end of life care needs. The 2026 call prioritises research into community-based care delivery, including out-of-hours services, workforce skills, communication and care coordination, and support for people with multiple health conditions. The scheme also encourages service evaluation, implementation research, and economic analysis to understand and improve models of care.
Who is it for? Researchers and organisations working in health and social care research, particularly those focused on palliative care, community services, and end of life care. Applications should align with the priority areas identified through the James Lind Alliance partnership process.
Deadline: 17th July 2026
CRUK Early Detection and Diagnosis Programme Award
Funding for large-scale research programmes improving early cancer detection and diagnosis.
What is it? A programme award from Cancer Research UK supporting ambitious, integrated research aimed at transforming how early cancers and pre-cancerous states are detected. Projects should bring together multiple strands of work such as biomarker discovery, diagnostic test development, clinical studies, health systems research, and behavioural or economic analysis, with a clear route towards clinical or population impact.
Who is it for? UK-based scientists, clinicians, and healthcare researchers in universities, hospitals, or research institutions working in teams. Applicants must hold a fully funded post and contact CRUK prior to submission due to the closed-call nature of the scheme.
Deadline: 21st July 2026
Other
RIVET x GirlDreamer Innovators Challenge
Funding for young women of colour in the UK developing ideas that address social, environmental, and community challenges.
What is it? A small project-based fund delivered by RIVET and GirlDreamer, supported by e.l.f. Cosmetics, providing £600 to help test, build, or grow community-focused ideas. The programme supports early ideas and active problem-solvers working on real issues in their communities, with a focus on learning, experimentation, and early impact rather than fully developed ventures.
Who is it for? UK-based women of colour aged 18-30 with ideas or projects tackling challenges in education, health and wellbeing (including mental health), sustainability, inclusion, or poverty reduction. Applicants should demonstrate a clear connection to the issue and a motivation to create local or community impact.
Deadline: 22nd July 2026
Accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnerships 6 (AKT 6)
Funding for short innovation projects between UK research organisations and businesses
What is it? An Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme offering up to £2.5 million to support rapid, 3-month innovation projects between a UK knowledge base and a UK business. The programme funds targeted knowledge exchange activity to help evaluate or develop an innovation with clear commercial or industrial potential. Projects should align with the UK Industrial Strategy priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, and life sciences, though other high-growth areas may also be considered.
Who is it for? UK-registered academic institutions, further education institutions, research and technology organisations (RTOs), or Catapult centres working with a UK business partner. The application must be led by the knowledge base, with the business partner actively involved in shaping the project.
Deadline: 15th July 2026
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
If you can’t see a grant relevant to your industry, our curated grant opportunities finder contains an expansive array of the best national and local funding available across sectors.
Our team of expert consultants can help you identify different funding routes for your organisation that suits your business model and aspirations to grow. Whether you’re looking for bespoke grant funding opportunities, support with writing bids and tenders, or advice on preparing your pitch deck for investors, our experienced team can help you find an approach that’s right for you.
Speak to a member of our team today to start your funding journey.
01273 704400