Business Start-Up Grant Scheme

PAUSED - This grant scheme has been paused until future funding has been confirmed for Financial Year 2025/26.

A grant scheme has launched to support start-up businesses in Aberdeen by offering funding of:
• £1,000, where there is no business premise
• £3,000, where the start-up is taking on a rateable business premise

Sole traders, Partnerships or Limited Companies who have set up within Aberdeen City Council boundary since 1 January 2024 can apply, with one grant per business permitted. Business applicants must be engaged with the Business Gateway service. This scheme has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

How to apply

If you have any questions please contact the project team by emailing BusinessSupport@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Assessment of applications

This fund is open to sole trader, partnership or limited company - evidenced as such through Companies House registration or a UTR number; trading as a micro, small or medium enterprise (up to 250 employees) within the city centre.

All complete applications received will be assessed and verified against the eligibility criteria by Aberdeen City Council and Business Gateway. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed.

Successful applicants will be informed by offer letter. All decisions will be made at the discretion of Aberdeen City Council and are subject to the availability of funds.

The applicant may appeal an unsuccessful application up to 4 weeks after notification by submitting a written request to appeal to BusinessSupport@aberdeencity.gov.uk. The application will then be reviewed by a second member of staff at Aberdeen City Council.

Contact

If you have any questions about the application form, guidance or eligibility, please contact BusinessSupport@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

All applicants must be engaged with the Business Gateway service and have an allocated adviser prior to applying. If you do not have a Business Gateway adviser please contact Business Gateway by email aberdeen@bgateway.com or 01224 472844.

Can I apply for £1,000 or £3,000?

New businesses registered to a home address within Aberdeen City are eligible to apply for an award of £1,000 to support start-up costs.
New businesses taking on a rateable business premise within Aberdeen City are eligible to apply for an award of £3,000 to support start-up costs.
Council Tax and/or Business Rates records held by Aberdeen City Council will be consulted to verify eligibility.

Who can apply for a business start-up grant?

• Sole Trader, Partnerships or Limited Companies
• All business sectors excluding illegal businesses, or those that may bring the Council into disrepute. UKSPF guidance also restrict payments for activities of a party political or exclusively religious nature
• The business must be based within the Aberdeen City Council boundary area (see Guidance for further information)
• The business must be engaged with the Business Gateway service and have a named advisor, see Contact information above for referral address
• The business must commence trading as a micro, small or medium enterprise (up to 250 employees)
• The business must not be trading, registered or have sold goods prior to 1 January 2024
• The business must demonstrate a viable and thought-through business idea within the application
• Businesses which are part of a group or franchise are unable to apply unless they have an autonomous cost and profit centre and reasonability in their own day-to-day management and accounts

Ineligible businesses:

• We are unable to award any grant payment to any organisation where the business owner/director within the business has been disqualified as a director or business owner
• We are unable to award any grant payment where the business owner/director within the business that has been on the AIB Register of Insolvencies
• We are unable to award any grant payment to any organisation where the business owner/director has debts outstanding to Aberdeen City Council

What supporting documents do I need to provide?

•    Completed application form
•    Evidence of Trading - Business Bank Statement. This must demonstrate that no trading took place prior to 1 January 2024 and must show at least 1 business related item paid in or out. Please note personal bank statements and details may only be accepted in exceptional circumstances for sole-traders.
•    Evidence of Registration (registration date not before 1 January 2024) – for limited companies, Companies House registration number or, for sole traders, attach a copy of your HMRC UTR letter.
•    Proof of identity
•    Proof of applicant address
•    12-month Cashflow Projection – a template can be provided by your Business Gateway Advisor.
•    If applying for £3,000 - copy of lease or property purchase is required. Please note home businesses do not qualify.

Why do I need a Business Gateway Adviser?

Business Gateway Aberdeen City & Shire helps new and existing businesses to grow and prosper through a combination of online support, access to finance, local workshops, training, impartial advice and specialist advisory services. The services are free of charge.

You will be asked the name of your Business Gateway Adviser in the application form, which will be verified with the Service. If you do not yet have a dedicated adviser, please contact Business Gateway by email aberdeen@bgateway.com or phone 01224 472844.

Is there any other funding available?

ABZ Seed Fund
In partnership with Business Gateway, ABZWorks offers support to eligible individuals through business start-up grants. You will find more information on the groups that ABZWorks can support via their webpage.

Union Street Empty Shops Grant Scheme
This fund supports new or potential tenants of ground floor vacant units on Union Street to undertake internal renovation project works to enable reoccupation in line with the Union Street Empty Shops Action Plan.
Further information is available here

Are there any conditions to the Grant award?

Any Grants awarded through the Business Start-Up Grant Scheme are to be awarded under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 – Subsidy Control Number SC11114. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether any other public subsidy has been received.

The Application Form Declaration, and for successful applicants, Grant Award Letter, outline conditions and terms of the grant award in detail.

The grant must be used for intended outlined business purposes otherwise the Council has the right to reclaim the grant. Applicants should retain copies of receipts related to expenditure for a period of up to 12 months. Aberdeen City Council will undertake auditing spot checks and retains the right to ask for copies of receipts as evidence of eligible expenditure.

Any decision to award a grant will be at the discretion of Aberdeen City Council.