Scotland and the North East of England
Free advice, grant funding and social investment for people starting and growing businesses that do good for people, place and planet.
Free advice and start-up grants to test your idea and start trading.
Grants to hire, support to get investment-ready, then loans and investment.
Our track record, what we can deliver for you and how to start.
Our impact
500+
ideas supported
£1.69m
in grants awarded
£1.28m
in social investment
2,700
hours of start-up support
2025-26, from Firstport’s Impact Report.
Success stories
Inclusive dance and fitness classes, and equipment, taken to rural community halls across Orkney, paid for by memberships, pay-as-you-go classes and private events.
Start It → Build It → LaunchMe → Step Up · Orkney
Barista and hospitality training, mobile coffee catering and pop-up cafés that create routes into work and belonging for refugees, asylum seekers and other newcomers.
Pounds for Purpose → Start It · Glasgow
Two former teachers run an alternative education setting for neurodivergent children, young people and adults, built around animal care, horticulture and crafts. Most of the team are neurodivergent too.
Start It → Build It · Moray
What we offer
Free one-to-one advice, training and investment readiness programmes.
0% loans from £5,000 and investment over £50,000, repaid from income.
For funders and commissioners
Firstport designs and delivers programmes for the Scottish Government, foundations and public bodies, and shows you the impact.
Coming up
Eight free Wednesday sessions on Zoom for women and non-binary people exploring social enterprise.
This year's finalists pitch to the award panel on 26 October; the winner receives £30,000 and tailored support.
The third cohort runs from 13 January to 3 March 2027.
The Firstport Group
Grant funding, free business support and social investment for social entrepreneurs.
Cultivates a purpose-led approach to business, supporting wider purpose-led and responsible businesses.
Manages the Catalyst Fund, the group's revenue-based social investment fund.
