UK Launches £3.4 Million Programme to Help 200 High-Growth Firms Expand

The United Kingdom announced a £3.4 million pilot programme on 29 October 2026 to support 200 high-growth companies seeking investment, customers and international markets. The initiative, called Scale UK Connect, is intended to help established businesses overcome obstacles that can prevent them from expanding after their initial start-up phase.

The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said participating companies would receive tailored account management, guidance on growth planning and opportunities to connect with investors, major businesses and potential customers. The support programme will last 12 months, while the wider pilot is scheduled to run for 18 months.

Recruitment opened on 29 October and is expected to continue until January 2027. The first group is scheduled to begin in February 2027, with a final programme report due in April 2028. Those dates are plans for future delivery rather than completed milestones.

The scheme will be led by London & Partners with regional organisations in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Yorkshire, the South West and Scotland. Its national design is intended to give eligible companies outside London access to advice and commercial networks that may otherwise be concentrated in the capital.

Regional programme information says applicants should be registered and based in the UK, have at least 10 people including founders, and have annual turnover or investment raised of at least £2 million. Businesses should also be seeking to scale or expand internationally. The programme covers sectors including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technology, financial services and life sciences.

The government argues that many promising British firms struggle to find the capital, customers and specialist connections needed to reach the next stage of growth. It says the pilot builds on existing regional support for exporting and international partnerships, rather than offering a universal grant to every start-up.

The £3.4 million figure is the budget for the pilot, not a cash payment to each of the 200 companies. Selection, participation and eventual economic benefits remain to be assessed. The initiative's results will depend on whether supported businesses secure investment, reach new customers and grow sustainably after the advisory period.