Build It
Firstport (Scottish Government Social Entrepreneurs Fund)
Worth
Up to £40,000
Deadline
Closes 21 January 2027
Type of funding
Grant
Where
Scotland
What it is
Grant of up to £40,000 toward salaries for new permanent jobs (up to £27,000 for one role), for asset-locked social enterprises in Scotland that have been trading for three years or less.
Checked 9 Nov 2026 on firstport.org.uk: applications are accepted any time and assessed at quarterly deadlines; the next is 21 January 2027. Shortlisted applicants pitch to an independent panel, and new roles must pay at least the Real Living Wage.
Official sourceWho can apply
A summary of the main rules, not the full list. Firstport (Scottish Government Social Entrepreneurs Fund) decides who is eligible, so read their guidance before you apply. The free scan checks these against your own business.
- Business based in Scotland
- An asset-locked social enterprise (e.g. CIC, charity or company limited by guarantee)
- Trading, for three years or less
- You're creating new paid roles
You cannot apply if
- Legal form that cannot be asset-locked (sole trader, partnership, LLP, PLC)
Common questions
- Is Build It open for applications?
- Yes. It is open for applications until 21 January 2027.
- How much is Build It worth?
- Up to £40,000. It is a grant, and the funder decides what each applicant receives.
- Who runs Build It, and where is it available?
- Firstport (Scottish Government Social Entrepreneurs Fund) runs it. It is available in Scotland.
Does your business qualify?
Eligibility rules are where schemes get fiddly. Gov Owed checks your business against Build It — and every other UK scheme we track — in about two minutes, free. The £19.95 report then explains exactly why you qualify, drafts your answers and walks you through the real application step by step.
Check my businessNo sign-up to scan · keep 100% of anything you win · re-runs free for 12 months
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Youth Jobs Grant (£3,000 hire grant)
Department for Work & Pensions
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Information, not financial advice; eligibility is decided by the funder. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Schemes change — confirm details on the official page before applying.