To celebrate the social economy, we have launched a grant competition to support inclusive businesses in Greater Manchester, by providing funding that can help them sell products and services.
Application Support
- Email [email protected] for an application one-to-one or enquiry.
Join Our Business GM Directory
- To receive enterprise funding you must first join Our Business GM Directory - see the memberships page and click 'Join Now'
Read the following information and apply using the Grant Form and Budget Template at the bottom of this page. The application can be emailed to [email protected] or sent by post to Our Business GM, C/o Co-operatives UK, Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester, M60 0AS. The deadline for both submission types is 15th February 2026.
Enterprise Grant Criteria
Who can apply for a grant?
- Organisations or individuals based within Greater Manchester (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, or Wigan)
- You must be an inclusive business. By this we mean the following organisation types: CICs, trading charities, Companies Ltd by Guarantee, Cooperatives, Mutuals and social enterprises. Social entrepreneurs and organisations not registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, Companies House, or the Charity Commission, will be asked for additional information.
- You must be able to demonstrate how you deliver purpose alongside profit
What can I apply for?
- Up to £10,000 (please note those asking for more than £5,000 will be asked for more information, including greater evidence of track record)
- Funding can only be used to support you to sell products and services. This can include developing a new or refining an existing product or service, or supporting you to enter a new market (e.g., a product launch).
Priority
- Priority will be given to organisations/entrepreneurs led by and/or primarily benefiting communities that face structural inequalities (women/females, disabled people, people of Black and Racially minoritised heritage, people from the lowest income communities, and/or people who identify as LGBT+).
Timescales
- Deadline for applications is 15th February 2026
- Grant recipients will be contacted in early March 2026
- Grant awards will be processed in March 2026
Exclusions
Funds cannot be used for
- costs already incurred
- the repayment of outstanding or new debts
- illegal activities
- lobbying
- international travel
- organisations and entrepreneurs based outside of Greater Manchester
Applicants must outline how they will spend the grant and they may be asked to provide evidence of expenditure.
Commitment
Successful applicants will be expected to complete a brief grant report (template provided) within 3 months of receiving the grant to update Our Business GM on how the funds were used and the outcomes achieved.
Applicants will be encouraged to take advantage of Business Support made available to them by Our Business GM and our partners.
Who makes the decisions on the grant awards?
The grant is administered by Co-operatives UK, and the grant decisions are made by the Management Committee for Our Business GM.
The committee have a diverse range of lived and professional experiences relevant to Greater Manchester and its inclusive business community. For more information on individual members, please visit our About Us page.
Application Form