East Lothian Council is offering grants to businesses in East Lothian to fund capital projects that will support economic growth or innovation. 

Businesses can apply for a minimum of £15,000 and a maximum of £35,000 to fund capital projects, with 20% match funding required.

You can use the grant to help pay for:

• new machinery or equipment
• creating, upgrading or refurbishing facilities
• certain IT software or systems
• new processes or systems that reduce carbon emissions  
• implementing carbon reduction projects
• professional services related to the capital project only

The funding cannot be used for:

• buying company shares or buying out members of a partnership
• repaying or replacing existing loan and overdraft facilities
• repaying debts – including taxes owed
• paying interest on existing loan or borrowing facilities
• illegal or political activities
• revenue costs – for example, staff or payroll costs and utilities
• consultancy

East Lothian Council’s Business Growth and Innovation Capital Grant is funded by the UK government as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The fund aims to encourage business and employment growth, innovation and the transition to net zero.

The deadline to apply is midday on Monday 23 June 2025.

You are eligible if your business:

• has been trading for at least 2 years
• is in East Lothian
• is VAT registered
• employs at least 5 staff, or can show the project will create sustainable jobs within 12 months of completion
• meets all legal requirements and regulations related to its operation
• is not in debt to East Lothian Council – for example, for outstanding business rates or other charges
• has not received an East Lothian Council Economic Development grant within the last 2 years (excluding UKSPF New Business Support Grants and UKSPF Expert Help programmes)

Your business will need to be able to clearly demonstrate:

• its need for the funding
• the project's benefits for the business and the local economy
• its commitment to fair work practices and achieving net zero

Your business must also fit in with the key UKSPF outcomes, which are:

• net zero carbon
• business growth
• innovation

Priority will be given to applicants whose proposals:

• demonstrate that they meet more than one of the key UKSPF outcomes
• show an active approach to net zero and fair work practices
• encourage employment
• grow an existing East Lothian business
• support sustainability
• safeguard existing jobs or create new ones

You can apply for a minimum of £15,000 and a maximum of £35,000. It is free to apply.

You'll need to provide 20% match funding. This can come from your own funds, prudential borrowing, or other external sources.

If successful, you'll receive an award offer from East Lothian Council. Once you've accepted, signed and returned the offer, you'll receive 70% of the grant amount.

The remaining 30% will be paid once you've submitted evidence of your expenditure and East Lothian Council is satisfied that the project is complete. 

Established businesses based in East Lothian.

The deadline to apply is midday on Monday 23 June 2025.

East Lothian Council will start contacting successful applicants from 7 July 2025.

If you're successful, you'll be sent a grant award offer and will have 2 weeks to accept or refuse. You'll then have until 30 January 2026 to complete your project.

You must submit your final report and claim with evidence of your spending by 13 February 2026 to receive your final payment. This will be paid out by 27 February 2026.

Along with your fully completed application, you'll need to submit:

• 2 years worth of full accounts
• the last 3 months' bank statements
• relevant quotations
• an up-to-date business plan
• key policies – for example, health and safety and carbon management plans
• evidence of any permissions or consents that are required

Once your application is received, the council will carry out initial eligibility checks and a member of their Support Grants team will be in touch to discuss your application.

The deadline to apply is midday on Monday 23 June 2025.

You cannot get funding for costs that were incurred before you apply.

Visit the Invest East Lothian website for more information and to read the full guidance.