The BSUF offers funding for essential business purchases that will support business growth or create/safeguard jobs, such as IT/digital investments, website design and development, infrastructure, stock, and equipment costs. However the fund cannot support working capital requirements.
The BSUF provides 100% funding and has a tiered structure with grants of up to £1,000 and up to £3,000 available. The structure has been devised to reflect the higher start-up costs associated with businesses operating from commercial premises and/or with employees. It also aims to encourage new start businesses to grow their operation earlier.
Maximum Grant Award - Up to £1,000 - Who can apply?
Pre-Start and Start Up home-based businesses with no employees
Maximum Grant Award - Up to £3,000 - Who can apply?
Pre-Start and Start-Up businesses operating from commercial premises, or employing a minimum of 1 FTE (in addition to the business owners/directors), or VAT registered.
Eligibility
To apply for the Business Start Up Fund you must be working with a Business Gateway Lanarkshire adviser. Additionally your business must either be:
- at the pre-start stage (but planning to start actively trading within 3 months of applying).
or
- already started but have been actively trading for less than 12 months before applying.
To be considered for grant support, no expenditure should be incurred for the costs outlined in the application form until after the applicant has received a formal decision from the council regarding their grant application. If approved, grants can only be claimed after the project has been completed and suppliers have been paid in full. For detailed eligibility criteria and information on how to apply please read the BSUF Guidelines for Applicants 2025/26 to make sure that your business, and the specific project seeking support, are eligible for consideration under this grant scheme.
The Quick Guide below will also help you determine at a glance if your business is eligible in principle to apply for a Business Start Up Fund grant.
You are eligible to apply for a grant if:
- you are working with a Business Gateway Lanarkshire adviser the trading/operational address of your business is within North Lanarkshire
- you are a recent start-up business that has been trading for less than 12 months
- you are a pre-start business that plans to start trading within the next 3 months
- your business employs less than 49 FTE staff
- the business has not yet started the project seeking support or paid any suppliers
- you are able to justify why your business needs external funding for the project
- you will be able to complete the project within 6 months* of grant award
- you have not previously received a Business Start Up Fund grant or a Small Business & Self-Employed Support Scheme grant
* Or by 31 January 2026 (whichever comes first).
You are ineligible to apply for a grant if:
- the project does not directly help the business to start or grow
- the project has already started and/or you have already incurred project costs
- your business lacks sufficient funds to pay for the full cost of the project ‘up front’
- your business is not registered with Companies House (ltd co) or HMRC (sole trader)
- you have not provided a HMRC Unique Tax Reference (UTR) with your application
- items will be paid for by cash, credit card, HP, lease or credit/finance agreement
- your project includes training/accreditation that is a legal requirement
- you do not have a business bank account
- you do not pay the Real Living Wage to your employees (if you have any)
How to apply
For information on how to apply and to discuss your enquiry in more detail, please contact Business Gateway Lanarkshire on 01698 442837, lanarkshire@bgateway.com
