Grants, loans and awards open to Portsmouth residents, founders, charities and businesses. This list shows who can apply; money actually awarded in the city is recorded separately on each project. Always check the provider’s page: rounds open and close.
16 routes
Businesses · Loan (repayable)Open
Start Up Loan
From
British Business Bank (Start Up Loans), via Business.gov.uk
Amount
£500 to £25,000
Who can apply
18+; right to work in UK; new business or trading under 5 years; excluded sectors apply (UK)
Dates
No dates published
Fixed 7.5% a year over 1-5 years, with 12 months of free mentoring. Rolling scheme.
Enterprise programme: Test My Business Grant and start-up funding
From
The King's Trust
Amount
£500 to £30,000
Who can apply
Aged 18 to 30; on the King's Trust Enterprise programme; plans to start a business within 12 months, or trading for under 1 year; owns at least 50%; right to work in the UK (UK)
Dates
No dates published
Up to £30,000 in total, not guaranteed: a Test My Business Grant up to £500, a grant up to £5,000 and loans of £500 to £25,000, with mentoring and up to 3 years of support. GOV.UK listing last updated 20 June 2025; it gives no closing date.
Charities and community groups · grantNext round announced
Michael Austin Harlick Sports Awards
From
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation
Amount
£200 to £1,000
Who can apply
Sport groups buying trophies/medals for leagues and open competitions for young people aged 4-18 in formal education (Hampshire and IoW (Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton only))
SWEF Grants to Small Business Start-ups (Start-up Grant / Business Grant)
From
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (SWEF)
Amount
£300 to £2,000
Who can apply
Aged 18-30; UK business trading under 2.5 years; majority owner; sole trader, Ltd or CIC limited by shares; business bank account; facing financial barriers (Hampshire and IoW (incl. Portsmouth, Southampton))
Dates
Next round: Opening date TBC
The listing page says £500-£2,000, but the programme page says minimum £300.
University of Portsmouth with Santander Universities
Amount
£5,000 to £5,000
Who can apply
UoP students or graduates within 5 years; beyond idea stage; not on student visa; applied via Santander X; once per applicant (University of Portsmouth students/graduates)
Dates
Next round: Reopens Spring 2027 (no date)
3 x £5,000 grants in the 2026 round. The page is public, no login.
Micro or small business located in PO1-PO6; 20-50% of growth/start-up project cost; must fund the remainder; business plan; UK bank account (Portsmouth)
Dates
Next round: None announced
Closed at 11.59pm on 29 Jan 2026. Payments were due by 31 Mar 2026.
Non-profit community organisations based in and working within Portsmouth; poverty and health/wellbeing; part ringfenced for learning disability (Portsmouth)
Dates
Next round: Not announced
For community groups, not businesses. 2026 awards are listed on the page.
Awards and allocations recorded for Portsmouth, from funders’ and the council’s own records. Recipient-level outcomes (jobs, survival) are rarely published.
Charity grants published to 360Giving: 2025: 45 grants, £158,324. Only funders that publish to 360Giving, and only grants whose published location names this council; grants to individuals are excluded by the publishers.
