Find details on the latest Midlothian funding opportunities to support your business below.

Shared Prosperity Fund – Local Business Support

The Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Business Support Grant, via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is now open to Midlothian businesses who meet the eligibility criteria.  The grant funding will support the following areas:

Community Wealth Building

Projects supporting  the local social economy, including community businesses, cooperatives and social enterprises as Midlothian transitions to a wellbeing economy. Funding will strengthen local entrepreneurial ecosystems, supporting businesses at all stages of their development to start, sustain, grow and innovate, including through local enterprise networks.

Exporting

Supporting businesses to develop new and innovative products. Funding will provide financial support for early stage prototyping, modelling or beta testing, to accelerate the journey to commercialisation, with the potential to create higher value jobs.

Tourism, Culture & Heritage

This fund aims to  encourage and support enterprises to develop tourism projects that will  improve Midlothian’s tourism offer, making it a more accessible and attractive for visitors.

Find out more about the funding and how to apply>>

Midlothian Business Start Up Grant

Midlothian businesses that have started trading in the last 12 months can apply for a grant of up to £2,000 to further develop and grow.

This fund is administered by Midlothian Council’s Economic Development team with Business Gateway Midlothian supporting new businesses to access this fund.

To be eligible for this grant the business must:

  • Have started trading within the last 12 months
  • Be registered with Business Gateway Midlothian
  • Sign up to the Midlothian Business Green Pledge
  • Be registered and trade in Midlothian
  • Pay your business rates and/or council tax to Midlothian Council

The Midlothian Business Start Up Grant can be used for the following projects:

  • Market Development, including website design and build, marketing implementation costs
  • Introduction of new business processes including ICT infrastructure
  • Capital expenditure that will improve efficiency and capacity
  • Support for new products or services being introduced to market

How to apply

To apply please email bg@midlothian.gov.uk and an Adviser will be in touch to discuss eligibility.

Midlothian Council LACER Fund

The Midlothian Council LACER Fund provides grants to social enterprises to support start up and growth and aims to develop a network of local business associations to encourage collaboration.

Social Enterprise Fund

Grants of up to £4,000 are available to support the development of locally based social enterprises, helping them to start up and grow.

Business Association Fund

A £1,500 grant is available to help businesses come together to deliver local projects collaboratively as part of a Business Association.

You will need to contact a business adviser from Business Gateway Midlothian to receive further eligibility details for each grant and an application form.

How to apply

The LACER funds are available for Midlothian based businesses only. To find out more about the funds and to apply, email bg@midlothian.gov.uk

Find out more about the LACER funds>>

Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF)

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, delivered in partnership with COSLA and local government, supports locally developed place based regeneration projects that involve local communities, helping to tackle inequalities and deliver inclusive growth in deprived, disadvantaged and fragile remote communities across Scotland.

RCGF is for larger capital projects that community groups are seeking to progress, applications are invited on an annual basis.

For more information visit Capital investment for regeneration on gov.scot website.

Place-Based Investment Programme (PBIP)

The Place Based Investment Programme aims to bring the Place Principle to life through funding for capital projects; to accelerate the delivery of community led regeneration, community wealth building, town centre revitalisation, and 20-minute neighbourhoods.

Please email grants@midlothian.gov.uk with details of your proposal for funding in 23/24.

For more information visit Place Based Investment & Infrastructure on ourplace.scot website.

SME Loan Scheme

Loans up to £100k are available to help you pay for energy and carbon-saving upgrades in your business. You could also receive a cashback grant of up to £30k.

An SME loan can be used to finance the installation of energy efficient systems, equipment or building fabric, including:

  • heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades.
  • renewable heat technologies such as installing an air source heat pump.
  • improving insulation, draught-proofing, double or secondary glazing,
  • installing LED lighting.
  • installing solar panels, wind turbines and wood-burning stoves.

Find out if your business is eligible and ow to apply on the Business Energy Scotland website.

CARES Funding

The Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports communities to engage with, participate in and benefit from the energy transition to net zero emissions. CARES is managed by Local Energy Scotland and offers a range of financial support to local energy projects.

CARES can support a wide range of projects including installing renewable technologies in community buildings, community benefits and shared ownership.

Find out who is eligible for this funding and how to apply on the CARES webpage on Local Energy Scotland.

Business Gateway Midlothian

Business Gateway Midlothian

Business Support

Learn more about how Locate Midlothian can help Support your Business

Invest In Midlothian

Invest in Midlothian

Quality of Life

Learn more about the great Quality of Life living in Midlothian

Economic Renewal Strategy

Business Green Pledge