Innovate Essex Fund
Get in touch
Get in touch to find out more about our business support offering.
Who’s it for?
The fund is open to eligible organisations based in Essex or with significant operations in the county, including:
- Start-ups actively trading for at least three months and less than three years
- Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees
- Social enterprises developing innovative solutions
- Organisations with a clear innovation project and growth ambition
What is it?
The Innovate Essex Fund provides three funding routes, designed to support businesses at different stages of their innovation journey.
Explore
Grants up to £5,000
Ideal for businesses and entrepreneurs with early-stage ideas who need support to test concepts, assess opportunities and validate their market. Funding can be used for activities such as market research, feasibility studies, customer engagement and proof-of-concept work.
Develop
Grants from £5,000 to £15,000
Designed for organisations ready to pilot, trial or implement an innovative product, service, technology or process. Funding can support prototype development, testing, technology adoption and activities that prepare innovations for commercialisation.
Scale
Grants up to £15,000
Delivered in partnership with the University of Essex, this strand supports businesses with mature innovation projects and ambitious growth plans. Alongside funding, businesses can access academic expertise, research support and specialist facilities to accelerate commercialisation and growth.
What’s required?
All projects must demonstrate:
- A clear innovation or business growth objective
- Strong commercial potential
- Potential to deliver economic benefits for Essex
- A clear plan for delivery and impact
Match funding requirements:
- Explore: No match funding required
- Develop: Minimum 20% cash contribution from the applicant
- Scale: No match funding required (although applicants must cover project costs above the grant value available)
How does it work?
Applications open in October 2026. Following assessment and due diligence, successful applicants will receive grant funding and project support. Approved projects are expected to begin from January 2027 onwards.
Throughout the application period, businesses will be able to access guidance, webinars and information to help them understand the fund and identify the most suitable funding strand.
Next steps...
Ready to explore, develop or scale your next innovation?
Applications for the Innovate Essex Fund are open now.
Stories of progress
Don't just take our word for it, hear from the local individuals who are scaling faster and thinking bigger.
“The Innovation Grant Mentoring Programme didn’t just help us write a stronger grant application, it changed how we tell KIGO’s story. That is the kind of support every early-stage founder needs and almost none can find.”
Innovation Grant Mentoring
“The support was incredibly helpful. I was able to step back, really look at where the business was going, and understand the financial side more clearly. It also made me realise the true value of what I was delivering - something I hadn’t fully recognised before.”
Ambitious Essex
“The Essex Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service has been invaluable in helping us enable apprenticeship employers to secure funding quickly and easily, ensuring smaller employers and apprentices have the same opportunities as other learners.”
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service
“The team have been very supportive throughout the process and guided us through each step. Every question was answered in detail, and we would highly recommend the service to other businesses.”
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service
“It’s a valuable way to invest in our team and support business growth. The process was straightforward, and the support helped us up skill our team without the usual financial pressures. We’d highly recommend it to others looking to develop their workforce.”
Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Service
“Pitching to companies was the best, from a commercial and learning perspective. Secondly the other cohort members, I feel I've met like minded people going through or have been through similar challenges.”
Grow Essex Global
“My experience with the Essex Growth Agency through Ambitious Women in Essex has been transformational for my business. May it continue as an incubator of talent, driving growth and prosperity across the county.”
Ambitious Women in Essex
"From start to finish, the process was seamless. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, guiding me through every step. I felt valued as a customer, and the results were fantastic. Thank you for a wonderful experience!"
Ambitious Women in Essex