Growth hubs are local bodies across England that offer free, impartial business support — advice and signposting to grants, funding and support programmes. They don’t usually award grants themselves but act as a navigator, helping you find well-matched funding (including UK-wide options) and avoid wasted applications. For any established business seeking funding, a free conversation with your local growth hub is a sensible first step.
Key takeaways
- Growth hubs are local English bodies offering free business support.
- They signpost grants, funding and support programmes.
- They navigate the landscape rather than awarding grants directly.
- Useful for established businesses seeking growth funding.
- Scotland, Wales and NI have their own equivalent support bodies.
- A free growth hub conversation is a smart first step before applying.
The landscape of business grants and funding can be bewildering — which is exactly the problem growth hubs exist to solve. These local bodies across England offer free, impartial support to help businesses find and access the right funding and advice. For an established business, your local growth hub is one of the most useful — and underused — free resources available. This guide explains what growth hubs are, what they offer, and how to make the most of yours.
What is a growth hub?
A growth hub is a local body in England that provides free business support — advice, guidance and signposting to funding, grants and other help. Operating by area, growth hubs connect businesses with the right local and national support for their needs, acting as a navigator through the often-confusing landscape of programmes and schemes. Their support is free and impartial, which is central to their value.
What growth hubs help with
Growth hubs help across several areas:
- Finding funding and grants for which your business may be eligible.
- Accessing advice and support programmes, local and national.
- Connecting to resources for investment, exporting and innovation.
Rather than awarding grants directly, their main role is to help you find and access the right support — including signposting relevant grants and finance options.
Free and impartial
A key point is that growth hub support is free and impartial. This makes them a trustworthy first stop compared with some commercial sources, and they never charge for access to information that is freely available. For a business unsure where to start, a free conversation with a growth hub can quickly point you toward well-matched opportunities and away from poor fits.
Before spending hours searching for grants, call your growth hub. A short, free conversation can surface well-matched funding you might never have found alone.
How they connect local and national support
Growth hubs act as a bridge between your business and the wider landscape — linking you to both local programmes and national support. That includes signposting UK-wide options such as the Growth Guarantee Scheme alongside local grants, helping you see the full picture of what is available to fund your growth.
Growth hubs and the devolved nations
Growth hubs are the English model of local business support. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent bodies and services — such as Business Wales and Invest NI — that play a similar navigating and signposting role for businesses in those nations. Wherever you are, there is a free local support body worth engaging.
Using your growth hub well
- Find your local growth hub for your area.
- Contact it early — before investing time in applications.
- Explain your growth plans and funding needs.
- Use its signposting to focus on well-matched grants and finance.
- Take up any help it offers with strengthening applications.
The bottom line
English growth hubs are a free, impartial resource that helps established businesses navigate the funding landscape — signposting grants, funding and support programmes, and connecting you to local and national options including the Growth Guarantee Scheme. They don’t usually award grants themselves, but they help you find and access the right ones. For any business seeking funding, starting with your local growth hub is a smart, no-cost first move.
Frequently asked questions
What is a growth hub?
A growth hub is a local body in England that provides free business support — advice, guidance and signposting to funding, grants and other help. Growth hubs connect businesses with the right local and national support for their needs.
Are growth hubs free to use?
Yes. Growth hubs offer free, impartial business support, which makes them a sensible first step for any established business seeking funding or advice before investing time in applications.
What do growth hubs help with?
They help with finding funding and grants, accessing business advice and support programmes, and connecting to local and national resources. They act as a navigator for the often-confusing landscape of business support.
Do growth hubs give out grants themselves?
Growth hubs primarily signpost and connect businesses to funding rather than awarding grants directly, though this can vary locally. Their main value is helping you find and access the right support, including relevant grants.
How do I find my local growth hub?
Growth hubs operate across England by area. You can find your local growth hub through the network’s information or the government’s business support resources, then contact it directly for support.
Are growth hubs only in England?
Growth hubs are the English model of local business support. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent business support bodies and services for businesses in those nations.
Can growth hubs help me find grants?
Yes — this is one of their core roles. They can signpost relevant grants and funding for which your business may be eligible, helping you focus on well-matched opportunities rather than searching blindly.
Can a growth hub help with my funding application?
Growth hubs offer advice and signposting and can sometimes help you prepare or strengthen applications. Engaging early can improve your chances and save wasted effort on poorly matched opportunities.
Are growth hubs useful for established businesses?
Yes. While they help businesses at all stages, established businesses can use growth hubs to find growth funding, navigate support programmes, and connect to resources for investment, exporting and innovation.
Do growth hubs help with finance as well as grants?
They can signpost finance options as well as grants, helping you understand routes such as government-backed finance alongside non-repayable funding. For finance specifically, they may direct you to lenders or brokers.
Is the advice from growth hubs impartial?
Growth hubs provide free, impartial support, which is part of their value. They are a trustworthy first stop compared with some commercial sources, and they never charge for access to information that is freely available.
How do growth hubs connect to national support?
Growth hubs link local businesses to both local and national support, acting as a bridge between you and the wider landscape of programmes, grants and schemes — including UK-wide options like the Growth Guarantee Scheme.
Should I contact a growth hub before applying for funding?
Yes, it is a sensible first step. A free conversation with your growth hub can help you identify well-matched grants and support and avoid wasting time on opportunities that do not fit.
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