Funding and Support Opportunities for West Oxfordshire Businesses

UKSPF-Funded Grant Schemes

Business Boost Grant

The Business Boost Grant is a capital funding programme to help rural businesses based within West Oxfordshire grow, diversify and build long-term resilience.

Funded through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), the scheme supports strategic investments that deliver economic and environmental benefits, such as upgrading equipment, expanding facilities or adopting low-carbon technologies.

A total of £25,000 remains available, to be awarded as five grants of £5,000. The application window will run from Monday 15 September to Friday 26 September 2025.

All projects must be completed by 28 February 2026.

West Oxfordshire Business Boost Grant - application form - docx - 100 Kb

West Oxfordshire Business Boost Grant - guidance notes - pdf - 185 Kb

Sustainable Tourism Grant Scheme

Sustainable Tourism Grant Scheme

Funded by the Rural England Prosperity Fund, the Sustainable Tourism Grant Scheme aims to help visitor economy businesses in West Oxfordshire make capital improvements to make their businesses more eco-friendly and climate conscious.

A total funding pot of £75,000 has been allocated, aiming to provide funding for at least 12 businesses.

There are two levels of grants available:
Level 1 – Grants of between £1,000 & £5,000
Level 2 – Grants of between £5,000 & £10,000

Grants will be available to support capital investments that improve businesses’ sustainability, such as solar, rainwater harvesting systems, habitat creation and restoration, green roofs, living walls, secure bike storage, and EV charging points.

To be eligible to apply for a grant, businesses must be:

Located within West Oxfordshire
A micro or small to medium-sized enterprise (SME)
Operate in a sector of the visitor economy (accommodation, attraction, activity provider, independent food & beverage, independent retail)
Have been trading for at least six months

How much can I apply for?

Businesses can either apply for a grant of between £1,000 & £5,000 (Level 1) or £5,000 to £10,000 (Level 2).

When to apply

The application window will be open from Mon 22 September to Mon 6 October 2025. Applicants are encouraged to review the Sustainable Tourism Grant Guidance in advance and prepare the required supporting documents to ensure eligibility.

Sustainable Tourism Grant Scheme Guidance - pdf - 122 Kb

Apply now

Contact us

If you would like to know more about the Sustainable Tourism Grant Scheme, or have any queries regarding your application, please contact us at: [email protected].

Time-limited opportunities

Made Smarter South East

This programme is helping makers, creators, and manufacturers in the South East embrace digital innovation. Eligible SMEs can access expert support, tailored action plans, and training to boost digital skills. Crucially, the programme offers match-funded grants to help businesses invest in essential hardware and software—making digital transformation more affordable.

Running from April 2025 to March 2026, it’s a powerful opportunity to grow through technology.

Register to get started

Low Carbon Hub Green Fund

Low Carbon Hub’s Green Fund can provide up to £10,000 in grant funding for any energy-saving recommendation in one of their ESOx building energy assessment reports. These assessments are currently available to any SME in West Oxfordshire for free, due to UK Shared Prosperity Funding from West Oxfordshire District Council.

The grant will cover 25% of the implementation of any recommended measure. Businesses can apply for more than one item, but the total grant request must not exceed £10,000. The other 75% of the project costs, can be covered through capital, a bank loan or another grant funder. Projects which are already underway or completed are not eligible.

For more details about the Green Fund, including the Sept 2025, Dec 2025 and March 2026 application deadlines visit the Green Fund web page.

If you would like an assessment, please fill in this assessment form.

More support with loans and grants

Enterprise Oxfordshire

Enterprise Oxfordshire's Business Support Tool helps to identify your business support needs and can signpost you to relevant schemes and opportunities such as:

Business grant programmes
Workshops and webinars
1:1 business mentoring
Financial advice
Skills advice for your workforce.

UK Research and Innovation

Funding and support across all academic disciplines and industrial areas from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, environmental sciences, and the arts and humanities.

Search for funding opportunities

Apply for a UK government-backed startup loan

If you are starting a new business or have been trading for less than three years, this programme offers loans from £500 to £25,000 alongside free mentoring and support.

Apply for a Start up loan

Growth Guarantee Scheme

Designed to support smaller businesses as they look to invest and grow, the Growth Guarantee Scheme offers a wide range of products supported by different accredited lenders.

Explore growth funding

The British Bank Finance Hub

If you need to explore the right type of finance options for your business, the British Business Bank’s Finance Hub and interactive finance finder helps you to identify finance for your needs and understand the options available to you.

Search for finance options

Export finance support

If you’re exporting, UK Export Finance (UKEF) provide UK Government-backed finance, insurance and guarantees to help businesses of all sizes sell internationally.

Find export finance

Business Angels

Business Angels are private financiers who invest capital into new or developing businesses. The British Business Angels Association matches business angels with new companies seeking investment.

Other grants

We subscribe to Grants Online Local, a free, user-friendly service to help organisations identify funding sources available for specific projects. You will need to register the first time you use the site. To search for grants, please visit the:

Grants Online Local website

Support organisations

There are a number of organisations both nationally and locally that may offer financial support to businesses. Enterprise agencies are often set up to develop business in particular areas of the region, typically inner city. Charity organisations can often provide funding for particular groups of people, for example:

The King's Trust for those aged 18 to 30
The Royal British Legion for ex-servicemen and women

Better Business Finance

Impartial information and support to businesses and entrepreneurs looking to develop and grow.  It was set up by Barclays, HSBC, RBS, Lloyds and Santander in 2011 and is managed by UK Finance in collaboration with its business and finance partners.

Better Business Finance website

Investment

Oxford Innovation Finance

Oxford Innovation Finance is the home of OION, one of the oldest and largest angel investment networks in the UK, and the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund.

As a part of the SQW Group, Oxford Innovation Finance is well connected to the early-stage/start-up ecosystem and, through its sister companies, is able to offer connections to a wide range of support, beyond that of just access to finance.

Oxford Innovation Finance website

The FSE Group

Finance South East help growth businesses achieve their potential through direct investment from its £33.6m funds under management, together with a range of professional support and advice. It provides an integrated, independent and specialist offering which prepares companies for investment and high growth.

FSE website

Struggling Businesses

Listed below are organisations that are there to help struggling businesses:

Problems paying tax bills

HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) Business Payment Support Service is there to help businesses that are aware they may not be able to make a payment due in full before the payment deadline.HM Revenue and Customs

Business Debtline

The Business Debtline is a charity that gives free, confidential and independent debt advice over the phone and online. It has also published a series of business debt advice fact sheets. For more information, please visit the Business Debtline.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Citizens Advice Bureau offers advice to anyone who is facing problems including consumer rights, debt and money management and employment rights. For more information, please visit Citizens Advice Bureau.

Financial assistance for employers unable to pay statutory redundancy payments

If a business cannot afford to pay their employees redundancy pay, they can apply to the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) (part of a government agency called the Insolvency Service) for financial assistance. If approved, the RPS will make statutory redundancy payments directly to the redundant employees on the employer’s behalf. For more information, please visit the Redundancy Payments Service.

British Business Bank

The British Business Bank has published a free guide with impartial information to help businesses through survival and onto recovery, helping them stabilise and move forward to growth and future success. For more information, please visit the British Business Bank.

Getting help if your business can't afford its energy bills.

Ofgem has a section on its website full of advice for businesses including those struggling to pay their energy bills. Please visit Ofgem.

Free help from Enterprise Nation

Enterprise Nation’s 'Cost of Doing Business Hub' is full of resources, support and advice to help guide businesses through the current financial hardship. It includes businesses sharing tips and ideas for thriving in difficult economic times. Please visit Enterprise Nation.

Applying for funding – final thoughts

Check that you are eligible for the funding before applying. The process can often be time consuming and you do not want to waste time applying if you do not fit the criteria.
Prepare a business plan. Most organisations will need to see evidence of advance planning and financial projections before committing any money to the project.

Take care to make sure you can realistically make any repayments on any loans or grants.
Seek assistance from a business mentor/adviser when identifying pockets of available funding.

Still need help?

Contact our Economic Development team at [email protected] or sign up for the Business Matters newsletter to stay updated.