Written by Sami (Sam) Swain. Every status below was checked on the official page on 9 October 2026.
This page lists funding and free support that a small Lancashire business can use to adopt AI or digital tools. We only list schemes we could confirm on the official page, and we say plainly when something has closed.
We did not find a general AI grant for small businesses open on 9 October 2026. Most of the help is free advice, funded training, and a few grants with tight rules. Manufacturers have the best option, which is Made Smarter.
Lancashire AI is a private business and is not part of any scheme on this page.
Boost's helpdesk helps Lancashire businesses find the right support, and its online directory lists national and local schemes.Source [1]Source [2]
A free government advice line that can point you to national and local schemes, grants and loans.Source [4]
Fully funded technology advice, a digital roadmap, leadership training, funded interns, and a match funded grant of up to 50% of a project's cost with a maximum of £20,000.Source [5]Source [6]
Free short AI courses from government and industry partners, some under 20 minutes, covering things like drafting text and admin tasks. Courses that meet Skills England's benchmark earn a virtual AI foundations badge.Source [7]Source [8]
A 12 week course for senior leaders with modules that include digital adoption, plus one to one mentoring. It is 90% funded by the government and the business pays £750 per person.Source [9]Source [10]
A free online course of 17 short videos, each 5 to 7 minutes, on the business basics behind growth.Source [13]
Intensive courses of up to 16 weeks, designed with employers, that end with a guaranteed job interview. Employers can upskill existing staff for a contribution of 10% if they are an SME, or 30% if they are larger.Source [14]
A level 4 apprenticeship of about 18 months that trains staff to find where AI and automation can save time, such as duplicated data entry and repetitive manual processes, and to use AI safely.Source [15]
Free one to one mentoring from volunteer experts, plus masterclasses and events, to help small organisations grow and adopt digital technology.Source [17]
A university or research organisation recruits a graduate to work in your business on a strategic project, supervised by academics. For SMEs the grant covers 67% of the cost, and projects typically cost £80,000 to £100,000 a year.Source [18]
An Innovate UK programme that helps businesses in sectors with low AI adoption, such as agriculture and food processing, construction, creative industries and transport and logistics. Its free toolkits and online courses are open now.Source [20]Source [21]
Hyndburn Borough Council grants of up to £5,000, matched 50% by the business. Eligible spend includes equipment, consultancy, upskilling and adopting new technology. Computers, phones, tablets, vehicles, stock and standard website development are excluded.Source [24]Source [25]
For other districts, ask the Boost helpdesk what is open today. Each of our district pages also lists the local council support we could confirm. Find your district.
A police led centre offering government funded cyber security services to small businesses, including vulnerability assessments and security awareness training. Worth doing before you connect new AI tools to your systems.Source [26]
UKRI says Smart grants are now closed for new applications while funding is aligned to Innovate UK's new strategy.Source [27]
A pilot that paid up to 50% of AI skills training for SMEs in professional business services. It closed to applications on 18 August 2024.Source [28]
Many local business grants and programmes in Lancashire were paid for by this fund. The government's guidance says no UK Shared Prosperity Fund money is provided for activity after 30 September 2026. Schemes it paid for have either ended or need other money to continue. Hyndburn, for example, says it has extended its grants this year through its own funding after last year's round was paid for by the fund.Source [29]Source [30]
Innovate UK's growth service for innovative SMEs says it will continue as normal for existing and committed clients while Innovate UK renews its strategy.Source [31]
If you have found support and want help planning the AI side of the project, we can scope it with you.
We did not find a general one open on 9 October 2026. Innovate UK's Smart grants are closed and the Flexible AI Upskilling Fund closed in 2024. Manufacturers in the North West can get up to 50% of a digital project funded through Made Smarter, up to £20,000. Some councils run small growth grants, such as Hyndburn's.Source [5]Source [24]Source [27]Source [28]
Yes. AI Skills Boost offers free AI courses to every UK adult. Skills Bootcamps let an SME upskill existing staff for a 10% contribution, and there is an AI and automation apprenticeship open to employers in any sector.Source [7]Source [14]Source [15]
No. It closed to applications on 18 August 2024.Source [28]
No. UKRI says they are closed for new applications.Source [27]
On 9 October 2026 we confirmed Made Smarter for manufacturers across the North West and Hyndburn's growth grants. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund that paid for many local schemes stopped funding activity after 30 September 2026. Boost can tell you what is open in your district.Source [1]Source [5]Source [24]Source [29]
We did not find a scheme aimed at that. Made Smarter funds digital technology projects for manufacturers, and Hyndburn's growth grant can fund adopting new technology if the project creates growth. Check the rules of each scheme with its own team.Source [6]Source [25]
We opened and read every source below on 9 October 2026. If one has changed since, the source is right and this page is out of date, so please tell us.