Opportunities for businesses: funding and beyond 

Suffolk Economy brings you a monthly round-up of current opportunities for Suffolk-based businesses, including funding, support and more. If you have an opportunity you’d like to share, please contact suffolk.economy@suffolk.gov.uk

Funding for Technology-Driven Vocational Learning Projects

The Ufi VocTech Trust has announced that it will open its VocTech Activate grant fund on 6 January 2026. The aim of the fund is to support early-stage digital innovations that address real vocational learning challenges faced by adults aged 16 and over, especially those underserved by existing provision.

Organisations can apply for grants of between £30,000 and £60,000, with projects running for between three and twelve months. The fund is designed to help innovative ideas move from concept to proof of concept, focusing on technology-based solutions that make a measurable difference in adult vocational learning.

Applicants must submit their Stage 1 application by 3 February 2026. Early March feedback will be provided to successful Stage 1 applicants, with the Stage 2 submission deadline set for 24 March and final funding decisions expected by mid-May.

Eligible organisations include charities, trade bodies, learning providers, employers, private companies, community interest companies and other not-for-profit organisations.

Applicants should demonstrate a clear understanding of learners’ needs and be able to show why their target group has been overlooked and how their technology-driven solution offers a significant step change compared with existing approaches.

To help you prepare applications, the Ufi VocTech Trust is running five online workshops to introduce the VocTech Activate grant fund (details available on the Ufi VocTech Trust website – link below)

Organisations interested in applying are advised to begin preparing their submissions now.

VocTech Activate

Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26 

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is inviting applications for the Women in Innovation Awards, which will support up to sixty female entrepreneurs across the UK.

Successful projects will receive up to £75,000 of grant funding and bespoke business support for 12 months.

The 2025/26 round will support women founders and co-founders of UK-registered SMEs developing scalable innovations in the high growth sectors of:

• advanced manufacturing
• digital technologies
• life sciences

The scheme targets late-stage start-ups with ambitions to grow a scalable business which will involve raising considerable investment in the next 12 to 24 months.

Applicants will be expected to:

• have built a basic version of the idea or product, service, solution, for example a prototype or Minimal Viable Product
• have received early interest from users, customers, or made some money
• know who the product is for and have started testing how the business will work
• have an understanding of realistic market opportunity
• have started forming a team, going beyond original founders

Subcontractors are allowed in this competition. Subcontracting costs must not exceed 50% of the grant funding amount.

Successful applicants will undertake a 12-month project and participate in training and outreach activities.

Closing date 11am, 4 February 2026.

Webinar: Women in Innovation 25/26 Awards Competition Briefing on Vimeo

Apply here.

Creative East  

The Creative East programme is designed to give participants the tools, guidance and connections they need to take their business further. Over the course of the programme, participants gain fresh insight into what it takes to grow sustainably, while being supported by people who understand the unique challenges of working in the creative industries.

Eligibility  

To qualify your business must: 

• Be based in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire or Peterborough. 

• Be revenue generating (not a start-up). 

• Employ (directly or as freelancers) at least two full-time equivalent staff. 

• Fall within the DCMS definition of Creative Industries; 

Open now

The next programme begins in Norwich in January 2026, with expressions of interest now open: Creative East | Create Growth Programme | Expression of Interest 

Grants to Preserve Historic Buildings in Town Centres (England) 

 The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is accepting applications through its Heritage Revival Fund that is designed to support the restoration and adaptive reuse of neglected historic buildings in town centres across England.  

  It aims to empower community-led organisations: such as charities, not-for-profits, and social enterprises: to take ownership of heritage assets and transform them into functional community spaces.  

  The following grant types are currently open for applications: 

• Project Viability Grants (up to £15,000) 
• Project Development Grants (up to £100,000) 

Closing date 19 January   

Eureka GlobalStars Japan 2026 

UK organisations can apply for funding to collaborate on industrial research projects with partners in Eureka member countries and Japan. 

Eligibility 

This competition is open to collaborations only. 

To be eligible for grant funding from Innovate UK your collaboration: 

• must include at least one UK registered business of any size 

• must include at least one eligible SME from Japan 

• can include other UK registered organisations 

For more information on company sizes, please refer to the company accounts guidance. This is a change from the EU definition unless you are applying under State aid. 

Closes: 21 January 2026 

Suffolk Economy Grants

Our own Suffolk Economy grant programme is also open for applications. 

You might be eligible for funding if…  

• You are a micro, small or medium sized business based in Suffolk  

• You need funding to achieve clean growth, such as job creation or access to external investment.   
• You have a focus in one of the following areas: innovation, digital technology adoption, carbon footprint reduction, and sustainable practices  

Our priority areas for funding are digital transformation and adoption of new technologies, innovation and R&D, decarbonisation and sustainability.   

All of the information and criteria is available on the Suffolk Economy website: Business Grants and Funding – Suffolk Economy