What grants can a UK manufacturer get?
A manufacturer can be in range for an innovation competition, a local Made Smarter scheme if one covers the region, or a capital scheme aimed at energy or productivity. None of these is automatic. A new machine that simply replaces an old one is often refused. Read whether the brief wants innovation, digital adoption, or a listed piece of kit.
Also asked as: manufacturing grants UK · factory funding · grant for new machinery
Does Innovate UK have a permanent factory grant?
No. It opens competitions. When the deadline passes, that round is over until another brief is published.
Schemes named here
- Made Smarter East MidlandsMade Smarter · £2,000–£20,000 · A business · 5–249 · Manufacturing · Closes 11 Dec 2026
- Innovate UK Smart grantInnovate UK · £25,000–£2,000,000 · A business · Up to 249 · Manufacturing, Digital and creative, Energy and environment, Professional services, Health and care · Closes 20 Jan 2027
- UK Net Zero SME grantUK government · £5,000–£100,000 · A business · Up to 249 · Manufacturing, Energy and environment, Hospitality, Agriculture · Closes 31 Mar 2027
Related
128 answers on this site. Find Grants checks which UK grants a business can get from a postcode or a place. Looking is free. If you want the application written, the fee is £99 for that one application, shown before you pay. Find Grants does not take a percentage of the grant, does not file the form, and is not part of GOV.UK. Confirm every scheme on the funder's own site.