Business Wales Finance Locator

Overview

The Business Wales Finance Locator is a free online tool provided by the Welsh Government to help businesses in Wales find the right finance for their needs. By filtering opportunities by business stage, sector, finance type, and amount required, the Locator surfaces grants, loans, equity investment, and hybrid funding options available from the Welsh Government, Development Bank of Wales, UK Government, and the private sector. It is the starting point for any Welsh business seeking structured finance or publicly backed funding, and complements the broader Business Wales advisory service.

What You Can Find Here

• Development Bank of Wales loans - flexible loans from £1,000 to £10 million for Welsh businesses at every stage
• Welsh Government grants - sector-specific and regional grants for capital investment, innovation, and job creation
• Start-Up Loans UK - personal government-backed loans up to £25,000 for new businesses in Wales
• Equity investment programs - including the Wales Business Fund and Angel Co-Fund Wales for high-growth companies
• UK Government financing programs accessible to Welsh businesses including Innovate UK and the British Business Bank
• Social enterprise and third sector finance - including grants from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
• European replacement funding - programs replacing EU Structural Funds through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Levelling Up initiatives
• Export finance and trade credit options for Welsh exporters through UK Export Finance

Who Should Use This

• Startups and early-stage businesses in Wales seeking seed funding, loans, or startup grants
• Established Welsh SMEs needing working capital, asset finance, or investment for growth projects
• High-growth Welsh tech and innovation companies looking for equity investment or R&D grants
• Social enterprises and cooperatives in Wales seeking mission-aligned grants and repayable finance
• Rural businesses in mid and west Wales exploring agricultural and rural development funds
• Exporters looking for trade finance and credit guarantees to enter international markets
• Companies in key Welsh sectors (manufacturing, food and drink, life sciences, creative industries) seeking targeted sectoral grants

How to Get Started

1. Step 1: Go to businesswales.gov.wales/businessfinance and select your finance search criteria
2. Step 2: Filter by business stage (start-up, established, growing), finance type (grant, loan, equity), and amount needed
3. Step 3: Review matching results - each entry provides a description, eligibility criteria, and a link to the funding body
4. Step 4: Contact the Development Bank of Wales or relevant Welsh Government department for a pre-application discussion
5. Step 5: Prepare a business plan, financial projections, and evidence of trading history as required by your chosen program
6. Step 6: Submit your application through the funder's own portal and engage with a Business Wales adviser if needed

Things to Check Before Applying

• Most Welsh Government grants require the business and primary beneficiaries to be located in Wales
• Development Bank of Wales lending is commercial in nature - you will need to demonstrate repayment capacity
• Grant programs often have match-funding requirements, typically 50% from private sources
• Some programs are sector-specific or tied to particular Welsh Government priorities such as decarbonisation or digital adoption
• Funding landscapes change regularly - programs from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund operate in waves with defined intake periods
• Businesses in receipt of de minimis state aid must track cumulative totals to avoid exceeding thresholds

Frequently Asked Questions