Please find the most recent update shared by AD:Venture Business programme.
Adventure Peer to Peer Networking
15th July 09:30-12:00 Cedar Court Hotel
Kirklees and Calderdale Connect is a dedicated peer-to-peer event exclusively for AD:VENTURE clients in the Kirklees and Calderdale area, delivered by your Business Manager Chris Mitchell. Designed to go beyond traditional networking, this forum brings local entrepreneurs together to build authentic connections, share insights, and collaboratively tackle real business challenges in a supportive environment. Attendees can exchange experiences, discover new opportunities for collaboration, and gain practical, actionable advice while strengthening their presence within the local business community. We also have an excellent guest speaker booked who we are really looking forward to hearing from—more details will be shared soon. If you’re ready to grow your network, gain fresh perspectives, and feel more connected, book your place using the link. LCC Portal – Events – Details · Ad:Venture Business Support
Please see below events, updates and support available
Available Workshops and Webinars
20th May – Planning and Launching a Website You’re Proud Of
21st May – Using KPIs to Manage Your Business
26th May – Pitching for Investment
28th May – An Introduction to the Business Model Canvas
2nd June – Sales Confidence for Founders: How to Sell Without Feeling Salesy
4th June – Introduction to Cash Flow Forecasting
9th June – Email Marketing Mastery: From Cold Contacts to Loyal Customers
11th June – Developing Your Business Plan
17th June – Learn to Love Your Numbers
18th June – Pricing your services and products for the profit you need (and more!)
25th June – Become a Thought Leader: How to Develop a Personal Brand
2nd July – So What? Tools to Enhance your Strategic Thinking
7th July – Developing Your Business Plan
9th July – From Zero Pipeline to Predictable Growth: A Practical Outbound Workshop for Founders
16th July – Strategic Website Content for Improved Visibility
24th July – The Business Growth Clinic: Diagnose. Unblock. Move Forward
The King’s Awards for Enterprise
The King’s Awards for Enterprise are for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of:
- young founder
- innovation
- international trade
- sustainability
- promoting opportunity through social mobility
What happens if your organisation gets an award
If you get an award you’ll be:
- invited to a Royal reception
- presented with the award at your company by one of The King’s representatives, a Lord-Lieutenant
- able to fly The King’s Awards flag at your main office, and use the emblem on your marketing materials (for example, on your packaging, advertisements, stationery and website)
- given a Grant of Appointment (an official certificate) and a commemorative trophy
The awards are valid for 5 years.
Organisations that got an award have reported benefiting from:
- worldwide recognition
- increased commercial value
- access to wider export markets
- greater press coverage
- a boost to staff morale
https://www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise You can now apply for the 2027 awards until Tuesday 8 September 2026
Seasons of Culture – Nature
The Creative Development team, on behalf of Kirklees Council are pleased to announce the launch of Seasons of Culture – Nature, a new grant programme supporting creative projects that celebrate the connection between culture and the natural environment. Seasons of Culture – Nature is all about bringing people together to connect with nature through creativity and supporting sustainable creative practice.
The programme is part of a regional initiative funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and will support the delivery of inspiring cultural activity across Kirklees during the summer through to December 2026.
Kirklees Council is offering grant funding to Kirklees based Cultural & Creative Third Sector organisations (Charities, CICs, social enterprises etc.), Grassroots community groups and registered creative businesses (including artists, creative practitioners, sole traders and freelancers).
Kirklees Council are supporting a limited, but broad mix of creative & cultural ideas, from outdoor events and exhibitions to community activities and creative projects. Seasons of Culture – Nature is all about bringing people together to connect with nature through creativity to promote a greener future.
Key information:
- Grants available from £500 to £24,000
- Applicants must be based in Kirklees
- Projects must take place in Kirklees
- Delivery period: Summer 2026, to be completed by 20th December 2026
Kirklees Council welcome applications that:
- Increase cultural engagement
- Encourage sustainable practices
- Support the visitor economy
- Promote active and sustainable travel
If this opportunity is relevant to your organisation, business or networks, we’d encourage you to apply or share the information with partners who may be interested.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 10h June. Find out more and apply here: Seasons of Culture – Nature
If you have any queries about completing this application form, please ring the Creative Development Team on 01484 221000 or email arts.creativity@kirklees.gov.uk
UK Games Fund Offers Grants for Early-stage Developers
The UK Games Fund (UKGF) has opened its Starter Fund, offering grants of up to £20,000 to support UK games developers at the start of their professional journey. The Starter Fund is intended to reduce early business and development risk by providing financial support alongside guidance and structured development support.
Grants are aimed at supporting own-IP game development and helping applicants build stronger commercial readiness, market understanding and audience development. The Starter Fund includes tailored support delivered through the Fresh Start and Head Start pathways, with a stated route into the UKGF Prototype Fund for teams that progress.
Eligible applicants include new games studios, UK university graduate companies and solo developers working with UK-based contractors. Applicants must be at a very early stage of building a studio, have hands-on development capability and be seeking to strengthen the commercial aspects of their business.
To apply, organisations must be wholly UK-based companies registered at Companies House with UK-resident directors. Applicants are expected to demonstrate an intention to grow a sustainable studio, rather than establishing a company solely to apply. The application also requires a clear game idea, an emerging plan for commercial success and a defined market opportunity.
The grant is intended to meet labour costs relating to the supported project. Applicants are expected to have begun early concept or pre-production work and to be ready to start supported development in summer 2026.
The deadline for applications is 1 June 2026 https://starterfund.ukgamesfund.com/
Transport Research and Innovation Grants – New Round Open for UK Projects
The Department for Transport (DfT) has opened a new round of its Transport Research and Innovation Grants (TRIG), delivered by Connected Places Catapult, to support early-stage projects addressing transport challenges.
The TRIG programme is intended to help bridge proof-of-concept gaps where smaller investments can reduce risk for emerging solutions. It targets projects at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2 to 4 at the point of application, with projects able to progress to TRL 5 by the end of the support period. All projects must be fully delivered and deployed within the UK.
Successful applicants can receive grant support of up to £45,000 per project. The call invites proposals across five priority areas: Maritime Decarbonisation, Freight Innovation, Digital Twins, Critical Technologies and an Open Call strand for projects outside the targeted themes that align with DfT priorities.
The funding may be used to support proof-of-concept activity that could lead to new or improved transport research products, processes or services. Proposals may adapt solutions that exist in other sectors or transport modes, provided they are being applied to the targeted transport mode for the first time.
In addition to financial support, participating organisations will have access to non-financial input including monthly virtual meetings with DfT policy leads, virtual pitching and learning sessions and, for selected cohort members, one-to-one mentoring. Further support includes access to a community platform, guidance from Advisory Board members and periodic in-person events held across the UK.
Applications are open to UK-registered organisations from the public, private and third sectors of any size, with consortia permitted where a lead applicant is identified. Previous applicants and grant recipients may apply again with a different project.
The deadline for applications is 5 June 2026
https://cp.catapult.org.uk/opportunity/trig-2026-competition-cohort-19
Defra and Innovate UK Reopen Farming Innovation Competition for England
Innovate UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have reopened the Farming Innovation Investor Partnership Competition to support the commercialisation of innovations in agriculture.
The competition is linked to Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme and is intended to help solutions, technologies, systems or approaches reach market readiness. Supported projects are expected to improve productivity, profitability, sustainability and resilience, and contribute towards net zero emissions by 2050.
Defra has allocated up to £5 million for grant support for experimental development projects only. Each application must propose total eligible project costs between £750,000 and £3 million.
Projects must be in the late stages of experimental development and show clear potential for market readiness. Applications are expected to set out plans to finalise the innovation, align activity with a coherent business strategy and scale through investment from a lead investor associated with the competition.
Proposals must address challenges or opportunities in at least one of these subsectors: livestock, plants, novel food production systems or the bioeconomy and agroforestry. Applications must also demonstrate measurable improvements to farm-focused outcomes, including productivity, environmental sustainability, emissions reduction and resilience.
The call is open to single applicants only. Lead applicants must be UK registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprises carrying out project work in the UK. Applicants must also be seeking private financing of at least twice the value of the grant requested.
To be offered grant support, a project must be assessed as eligible and must have secured aligned investment with a lead investor from the investor pool.
The deadline for applications is 17 June 2026 https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2472/overview/8d51ea8e-212a-4a55-8e32-3237f92a86f2
Innovate UK Opens FOAK26 Rail Contracts for Innovation Competition
Innovate UK (IUK) has opened the Contracts for Innovation: First of a Kind 2026 (FOAK26) competition, jointly operated with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Innovate UK Business Connect. The competition is funded by DfT and is focused on challenges identified by the rail industry.
A maximum of £4.3 million has been allocated for phase 1 feasibility research and development. Contracts are expected to be worth up to £210,000 per project, lasting up to seven months, with IUK expecting to support up to 22 projects.
Applicants can address one or more of eight challenges aligned to DfT priorities. These include safe concurrent high-speed rail installation in constrained environments, drone operations beyond visual line of sight, improving customer experience in isolated spaces, a digital hazard log, managing scour risks to structures, rapid behaviour verification for structures, green engineering solutions for earthworks resilience and biodiversity net gain and improving rail adhesion through intelligent vegetation management.
Applications can be led by organisations of any size based in the UK, EU, EEA or internationally. Projects may be delivered by a single organisation or supported through subcontracted expertise from businesses, research organisations, research and technology organisations, charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups, although contracts will be awarded to a single legal entity.
Applicants are expected to include an integration partner to support demonstration of the proposed technology in a suitable railway environment, such as railway asset owners, experienced rail organisations or potential future customers.
Support can cover prototyping, demonstrating, piloting, testing and validation of new or improved products, processes or services in representative operating conditions.
The deadline for applications is 24 June 2026 https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/2475/overview/6fba05b0-d73b-4a33-886e-cb0950f1252a
New Round of Tree Production Capital Grant for Nurseries and Seed Suppliers
The Forestry Commission has reopened applications to the Tree Production Capital Grant (TPCG), delivered in partnership with Defra and financed through the UK Government’s £750 million Nature for Climate Fund.
The scheme provides capital support to help tree nurseries and seed suppliers invest in projects that improve, expand, automate or mechanise operations. The aim is to increase the resilience and productivity of the UK’s tree production sector and support a reliable supply of diverse, biosecure and high-quality trees for England.
Up to £3.5 million will be available over the next two years. Individual applicants can request up to 50% of eligible investment costs, to a maximum grant value of £175,000. Projects must have a minimum total cost of £10,000, equating to a minimum grant of £5,000. The remaining 50% of costs cannot be met using another Defra-funded grant.
Funds are available for the 2026-27 financial year, ending 27 March 2027, and the 2027-28 financial year, ending 27 March 2028. Applications may cover activity in one or both years.
The grant is open to UK-based organisations that supply or plan to supply trees or tree seed to England and have previously sold or supplied trees, tree seed or other plants or seed, either commercially or through a non-profit organisation. Eligible applicants include forest nurseries, amenity fruit or nut tree producers, tree rootstock producers, tree seed suppliers, community charity or public sector nurseries and new entrants from horticulture, with new entrants required to submit a business plan.
Eligible costs include equipment and machinery, delivery and shipping, installation and construction and one-off purchases or development of nursery management software. Items can include polytunnels, irrigation, buildings such as packing sheds or coldstores, seed processing or storage equipment, water treatment, refrigeration and long-life trays.
The deadline for applications is 8 July 2026 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-production-capital-grant
Innovation Fund to Support Tree Planting Stock in England Reopens
The Forestry Commission is inviting applications to the Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF), a grant pot supporting projects that enhance or facilitate tree production methods in England.
The TPIF is intended to support the development and adoption of new technologies or techniques to improve productivity and resilience in tree production, raise the quality of seeds and trees produced and increase the availability of genetically diverse material across species and provenances. The work aligns with the government target to increase tree and woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050.
Up to an additional £3 million is available over the next three years. Applicants may submit proposals covering up to three financial years, with projects able to run up to March 2029. Proposals must have a minimum total cost of £20,000 and may be valued at up to £200,000 per financial year.
Applications must address one or more of eight challenges: efficient use of Forest Reproductive Materials, ensuring a diverse and resilient supply of Forest Reproductive Materials and saplings, automation and other technologies to enhance productivity, sustainable weed and pest control, sustainability, weather, biosecurity and tree establishment.
Eligible applicants include private sector nurseries, organisations and seed suppliers, research institutes, universities and colleges, horticultural and agricultural growers, private sector research and technology suppliers, consortia and new entrants to the sector. Public bodies can apply only if partnered with private sector third party organisations. Applicants are also encouraged to partner with industry where appropriate.
Eligible costs include personnel costs, equipment depreciation during the project, contracted research and consultancy services, licensed knowledge and patents, materials and supplies and project-related travel and subsistence.
The deadline for applications is 29 July 2026 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-production-innovation-fund
Defra Sets Out Farmer Collaboration Fund Plans for England
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published details of the planned Farmer Collaboration Fund, intended to support collaboration between farmers and land managers in England.
The programme will be delivered by Defra through delivery partners that will distribute grant awards and provide support to collaboration groups. Delivery partners are expected to demonstrate an understanding of collaborative approaches and locally relevant issues, and to set out how their delivery plans align with existing strategies and plans.
The total budget is expected to be up to £2.5 million for the 2026/27 financial year. Individual awards are anticipated to range from £100,000 to £1 million, although these amounts may change before launch. Projects are expected to run for up to three years, with a similar level of budget allocated for each year of delivery. Defra anticipates supporting up to 10 projects in 2026/27, with additional projects expected to start in subsequent years.
The proposed eligibility criteria are indicative and may be refined before the first application round opens. A range of organisations may be eligible to apply as delivery partners, including charities and Community Interest Companies, local authorities, strategic authorities and National Landscapes, and commercial businesses such as limited companies.
Applicants will be required to show they can manage the funds requested, with appropriate governance and reporting arrangements. They must also provide a clear plan for how they will contribute to objectives, including supporting at least three collaboration groups and showing how activities will deliver intended outcomes through these groups.
Support is expected to cover the costs of running collaboration groups and providing access to expert advice where required.
The fund is not yet open for applications. A webinar for potential delivery partners will take place on 19 May 2026 to provide further information and answer questions about how the fund will operate. https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/famer-collaboration-fund-1
The Kirkwood
Providing specialist palliative care to patients and families across Kirklees.
The Kirkwood works in a variety of ways, with businesses across Kirklees, with a focus on collaborative working and what is important to you and your business.
The Kirkwood Business Movement is a vibrant community, which includes a quarterly networking event for its members.
Check out pictures of their latest event hosted at one of their members premises.
https://gallery.johnsteelphotography.com/client/the-kirkwood-at-torque-motor-group Contact Beverley.shaw@thekirkwood.org.uk for more details.
Reed Entrepreneurs Fund
We’ve recently launched the Reed Entrepreneurs Fund, designed to support young people aged 18–24 who have already taken their first steps into business but need help to scale. At a time when nearly one million young people are not in employment or training, we believe it’s more important than ever to encourage entrepreneurship and support the next generation of business leaders.
Inspired by our founder Sir Alec Reed – who started Reed with just £75 – this fund reflects our purpose of improving lives through work and giving young founders the opportunity to turn ambition into sustainable success.
Successful applicants will receive:
- £10,000 funding to invest in their business
- Expert mentorship from experienced business leaders
- A national platform to showcase their business
- The support and confidence to take their venture to the next level
We’re looking for young entrepreneurs who:
- Are aged 18–24
- Have been trading for under three years
- Have already secured at least one paying customer
Applications are open now and close on 7 July 2026, with a final pitch event taking place in London in September.
👉 To find out more or apply: reed.com/entrepreneurs
Carers Count- Employer Forum 11th June- Celebrating Carers Week 2026
Carers Count are delighted to invite you to our second Employer Forum in Kirklees, with a special focus on workplace wellbeing and supporting carers in your organisation.
Where: The Zone, St Andrew’s Rd, Huddersfield HD1 6PT
When: Thursday 11 June 9.30am-12.30pm ( Carers Week 2026)
Many people (1 in 7) are balancing their job with caring responsibilities , often without their employer’s knowledge. Without the right support, businesses risk losing valuable skills, experience and talent.
This free event will bring together employers and health & wellbeing organisations for a practical, informative and engaging morning. On the day, you will hear from our guest speaker Lisa Darwin, Chief Executive at Giants Community Trust, learn more about support for employees through Carers Count and Kirklees Wellness service. You will also have the opportunity to access Get Set Goal, our wellbeing partners from Huddersfield University who will be offering on-site health checks, giving attendees the chance to experience and learn more about the types of support available for their workforce. Join us for a morning of insights, shared learning and collaboration, with complimentary drinks and pastries provided.
Booking Link: Employer Forum 11 June
For more information please get in touch with AD:VENTURE – Business Support