Grants and loans for existing businesses

Many grant schemes are only open to new applicants for a limited period.

Business grant schemes may also be specific to:

certain types of business
specific types of investment
businesses within a specific location

Links to information on grants can be found below.

We also publish information on grants and loans for new businesses.

We will share updates on new grant schemes in our free business support enews.

Grants from New Forest District Council

We do not have our own business grants scheme.

On occasions we administer grants on behalf of the government or in collaboration with our partners. When these grants are available they will be listed on this webpage.

Please sign up to our free business support enewsletter.

Rural England Prosperity Fund

We have been allocated a total of £162,005 of funding from the government's UK Rural England Prosperity Fund (UK REPF) to support local businesses, and community initiatives for the financial year 2025-2026.

£107,000 has been allocated so community groups and businesses can apply for grants to fund capital projects, for example, to improve buildings or buy necessary equipment.

The decision, taken at Cabinet on 7 May 2025, approved the allocation of the government fund, to be administrated by us.

The decision supports our priorities of supporting local business and communities and place, as set out in our corporate plan.

For more information about these grants and how to apply, visit the UK Rural England Prosperity Fund guidance web pages.

Grants and support from the Hampshire Growth Hub  

The New Forest is served by the Hampshire Growth Hub, based at Hampshire County Council.   

The hub's services aim to address barriers to growth, including access to investment and talent, and for businesses that are not 'investor ready' to help them prepare for the next stage of their business.

Their team also have access to a free grant finder service to source finance and grant funding. Contact growth.hub@hants.gov.uk

Grants and financial support from government

'Find a grant' is a service that allows you to search all government grants. You can access it at https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk

Funding for farmers, growers and land managers

The government has a range of grants and other funding to increase productivity, manage your land to benefit the environment and support your agricultural business at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/funding-for-farmers