Regional Funding in England: An Overview

England has 11 Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) including Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, London, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and others. These bodies have been given significant devolved powers over economic development, transport, housing, and skills, along with funding to deploy through regional programmes.

MCAs run their own business support and grant programmes, often supplementing national programmes with regional priorities. For example, the West Midlands Combined Authority has run investment readiness grants, R&D grants, and green economy grants as distinct regional programmes. Greater Manchester has operated its own business grant schemes through the Greater Manchester Business Growth Hub.

If your business is located within a combined authority area, check the combined authority's website and its business support portal as well as national programmes. Regional programmes often have simpler applications and are less competitive than national ones, making them a good starting point for businesses new to grant funding.

The government's Levelling Up agenda has directed significant investment towards areas identified as having historically lower productivity, poorer public services, or declining industries. Key programmes include:

• Levelling Up Fund (LUF) — Capital funding for local infrastructure such as regeneration, transport, cultural, and heritage projects. Delivered through local authorities, with most funding already allocated through three rounds. Some projects are still being delivered.
• Towns Fund — Targeted investment packages for 101 specific town centres in England, supporting regeneration through Town Deals and Future High Streets Fund. Towns Fund investment plans are now largely agreed and in delivery.
• Long-Term Plan for Towns — The successor to the Towns Fund, launched in 2023, initially covering 55 towns in England with endowments of £20 million each over ten years. Plans are developed by town boards with local input.

These programmes primarily fund public infrastructure and town centre improvements rather than direct business grants. However, they create opportunities for local businesses involved in construction, supply chains, and economic activity linked to regeneration projects.

England's 38 Local Growth Hubs act as a single point of contact for business support in each LEP area. They provide free, impartial information and guidance on grants, finance, and support available at national, regional, and local level.

Growth Hubs are particularly valuable for businesses that do not know where to start with finding funding. A conversation with a Growth Hub adviser can quickly identify the most relevant opportunities and help you prioritise where to focus your application efforts. They can also refer you to specialist advisers for R&D funding, export support, or sector-specific programmes.

From 2024, LEPs are being consolidated into combined authorities or county-level structures. Growth Hubs are expected to continue, but under different governance arrangements in some areas. Check your regional Growth Hub's website for current contact details.

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own devolved funding structures that operate entirely separately from English regional programmes:

• Scotland — Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) provide grants, loans, and business development support to Scottish businesses. Business Gateway provides free advice and support for start-ups and small businesses. Scotland receives its UKSPF allocation directly and deploys it through its own programme.
• Wales — Business Wales is the primary support portal for Welsh businesses, connecting them to grants, loans, and advice. The Development Bank of Wales provides finance including grants and loans. Wales has a separate UKSPF programme managed by the Welsh Government.
• Northern Ireland — Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) is the main business development agency, offering grants and support to manufacturing and tradeable service businesses. Northern Ireland also has unique access arrangements under the Windsor Framework that may affect eligibility for some EU programmes.