Funding and Grants

Discover a range of funding and grants available for businesses in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. This page will keep you up to date with the latest grant and incentive schemes.

Innovation and growth funding from Derbyshire Accelerator

Drive growth and innovation with funding from the Derbyshire Accelerator Project, open to businesses of any size or sector until 31st, March 2026.

Funding is available for:

Existing businesses to adopt new-to-firm technologies that drive innovation and efficiency
New and existing exporters to launch products or services in new international markets, create jobs and increase productivity
High-performing businesses to create jobs, enhance productivity and adopt new or improved products or services

The project is led by the East Midlands Chamber and is funded by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), awarded by East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA).

Access a grant for your new business through the Derbyshire Business Support Start-Up Scheme

If you live in Derbyshire, apply for up to £10,000 of funding to get your new business off the ground. The scheme is open to residents who are just starting their business idea, as well as people who have been operating for up to one year.

Apply for up to £10,000 in start-up funding (covering up to 50% of permitted costs). Alternatively, apply for the small grant scheme for funds of up to £500 (covering 100% of permitted costs).

A dedicated adviser works with you to help create your business plan and cash flow forecast, as well as help with submitting your application for independent review.

Haatch D2N2 Early Stage Angel Investment Fund

The Haatch D2N2 Early Stage Angel Investment Fund (Haatch D2N2 ESAIF) is an £8 million fund established by Haatch and the D2N2 LEP. Designed to invest in and fuel growth within Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s startup ecosystem.

The fund aims to stimulate investment and growth in ‘early stage’ companies. These are businesses that have been trading between six and 24 months.

D2N2 LEP/EMCCA are contributing £8 million to the fund, match-funded by the ESAIF fund manager, Haatch. Over the longer term, these funds will be reinvested in the programme. This will catalyse investment and growth for more early-stage companies.

Find out how your company can pitch for investment funding by visiting Haatch.

Midlands Engine Investment Fund II

The British Business Bank has launched its £400 million Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, unlocking additional funding to help smaller businesses in Derbyshire prosper and thrive.

The fund will drive sustainable economic growth by supporting new and growing businesses across the whole of the Midlands. It does this through investment strategies to meet the needs of these firms. The fund offers a range of finance options, including loans from £25,000 to £2 million. It also provides equity investments of up to £5 million to help small and medium-sized businesses start up, scale up, or stay ahead.

The new fund will help hundreds more businesses to achieve their potential. It will also increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance by providing options to firms that might otherwise be unable to secure investment.

Funding is designed to help smaller businesses with activities including expansion, product or service innovation, new processes, skills development, and capital equipment.

Find out more about the scheme by visiting British Business Bank.

Invest to grow – University of Derby

The Invest to Grow programme provides grants and loans of between £15,000 and £250,000 to support private-sector businesses across the East Midlands to innovate, grow and create jobs.

Successful applicants now fund the programme by repaying through their loan repayments.

For your project to qualify for Invest to Grow funding, you will need to demonstrate that it meets the following criteria:

It will create new jobs or safeguard existing positions in your company
It will increase the scope or scale of your company activity
It will improve the company’s performance
It has not commenced and will not be achievable in the timescales proposed without Invest to Grow support

Find out more information on the project by visiting the University of Derby.

British Business Bank

The British Business Bank may well be able to equip you with further ideas around possible funding choices and their impact on the enterprise. The organisation can also provide start-up businesses with funding to help bring your idea to life.

For further ideas, more information can be found by visiting British Business Bank.

High Growth Academy

The Academy is part of the High Growth Accelerator project, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and open to businesses that can demonstrate 20% annual growth in revenue, employment or market share over the past three years.

Support available includes:

A series of workshops for businesses at different growth stages – from early-stage ‘Growth Drivers’ sessions on sales, leadership and emerging markets to ‘Growth Builders’ sessions for senior leaders covering governance, structure and performance management.
Monthly High Growth Forums with expert speakers and networking opportunities. The first forum, on 6 November, features Professor Marvin Cooke OBE, exploring how businesses can maintain a human-centred approach while scaling operations.
One-to-one business support from a High Growth Adviser.
Innovation Vouchers of up to £5,000 to access university expertise in areas such as food innovation, manufacturing, design and immersive production.
Student placement support of up to £2,000 for interns working on defined growth projects.
Training bursaries of up to £2,000 to attend East Midlands Chamber Commercial Training courses.

Businesses can register by completing the Registration Form and a High Growth adviser will respond.

High Growth Academy workshops can be booked on the East Midlands Chamber site.

The Chamber’s schedule of Commercial Training courses, for which eligible businesses can apply for a £2,000 subsidy to attend, can be accessed on the East Midlands Chamber site.

Business Finance Support Finder

The Business Finance Support Finder is an HM Government tool to help you access information about funding options in your area.

You may also find the D2N2 website useful for identifying additional potential routes to finance for your enterprise.

Apprenticeship Funding Opportunities

Employers who are looking to take on an apprentice can benefit from funding towards apprenticeship training. See the current apprenticeship funding opportunities available here: Apprenticeship Funding Opportunities – Destination Chesterfield | Destination Chesterfield.

Your accountant or financial advisor may also be able to advise you of funding and grants available to your business. If you are looking for support you can view our list of financial service businesses here.