Deadline : 26-Feb-2026
The Caithness Business Fund is inviting applications for its Business Start-Up, Growth and Training Grants Programme provide to small and medium-sized enterprises in the Caithness and North Sutherland area to employ graduates in roles that promote business growth and development.
Focus areas include starting a new business without significantly displacing another business, developing an existing business through training, growth plans, or employing an apprentice or graduate, demonstrating financial viability including owner investment, and ensuring applications show additionality rather than funding basic capital equipment.
Graduate placements must be 24 months in duration and in a graduate-level role, with graduates having qualified within the last five years. The supported salary range is between £25,000 and £32,000 per annum, with further support of up to £1,250 annually available for Continuing Professional Development, such as 20-credit CPD modules at UHI North, West and Hebrides, with a preference for local training providers.
Applicants must be small to medium enterprises, including sole traders, partnerships, or limited companies, and should not be very small lifestyle or hobby businesses with no scalability. Businesses must be based within the Dounreay Travel to Work Area. Eligible applicants are required to provide their latest accounts, insurance certificates, relevant health and safety documentation, and any other supporting documentation to strengthen their application.
Applications for capital equipment such as computers or printers will only be considered if they clearly demonstrate growth or additionality. The grants aim to support sustainable business development, create meaningful opportunities for recent graduates, and ensure that businesses can build capacity while investing in local talent and skills.
For more information, visit Caithness Business Fund.
