Starting and growing a business can involve plenty of decisions, from finding customers and managing cash flow to recruiting staff and investing in the right equipment. For eligible businesses in West Yorkshire, AD:VENTURE provides fully funded guidance designed to make that process more manageable.
The programme is currently preparing for a new phase of delivery beginning in September 2026. Businesses can register ahead of the launch, although the previous round of AD:VENTURE Growth Grant funding is now closed.
This guide explains the current position, who may qualify and what to prepare before registering.
Jump To
- What Is AD:VENTURE?
- The Current Position In 2026
- Who Is Eligible?
- What Support Is Available?
- How To Register
- What To Prepare
- Are AD:VENTURE Growth Grants Available?
- Preparing For Future Funding
- Could Digital Investment Be Funded?
- How Athena Media Can Help
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is AD:VENTURE?
AD:VENTURE is a business support programme for ambitious start-ups and young businesses across West Yorkshire.
Since launching in 2017, the programme has helped founders develop business plans, improve their knowledge, explore funding opportunities and prepare for growth. Support is adapted to the stage and ambitions of each business rather than following one fixed route.
The programme covers businesses based in:
- Bradford
- Calderdale
- Kirklees
- Leeds
- Wakefield
Support may include practical workshops, events, growth planning and direct guidance from a Business Manager.
The Current Position In 2026
As of July 2026, AD:VENTURE is preparing for its next phase of delivery, which is expected to begin in September 2026.
Businesses can register now. The programme advises that there may be a short delay while its systems and processes are updated, but eligible businesses can begin discussing their plans with a Business Manager ahead of full delivery.
It is important to separate the business support programme from its grant funding:
- Programme registration is open: businesses can register their interest in receiving support.
- Full delivery is due to begin in September 2026: this includes the wider events programme.
- The previous Growth Grant round is closed: new applications are not currently being accepted.
- Future grant details have not been confirmed: do not rely on previous funding amounts or eligibility rules.
AD:VENTURE states that it will publish an update when more information about grant funding becomes available.
Who Is Eligible?
The current programme information says AD:VENTURE is aimed at ambitious SMEs based in West Yorkshire that have been trading for less than five years.
Trading age is generally measured from the date of the business’s first invoice rather than its company registration date.
Current eligibility considerations include:
- The business must be based in West Yorkshire
- It should have clear ambitions to grow
- It should normally have traded for less than five years
- It must meet the relevant definition of a small or medium-sized business
- It should trade with other businesses or have suitable plans for wider growth
For business-to-consumer companies, AD:VENTURE currently looks for plans to generate at least half of consumer sales from outside West Yorkshire, develop a business-to-business offer, or both.
The programme’s published SME criteria include having fewer than 250 employees and either annual turnover of no more than £44 million or a balance sheet total of no more than £38 million.
The registration form also includes pre-start businesses, sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, community interest companies and other legal structures. Eligibility still depends on the complete circumstances of the business, so it is worth registering or speaking to the programme if you are unsure.
What Support Is Available?
AD:VENTURE describes its support according to three broad stages of business growth.
Building Strong Foundations
Businesses in their early stages may receive help with understanding the fundamentals, developing confidence and preparing for future growth.
Planning For Growth
Businesses that have started gaining momentum may receive support to create a practical growth plan, attend events and connect with relevant experts.
Preparing To Scale
Businesses with more developed growth plans may work directly with a Business Manager to explore investment, recruitment, funding readiness and increased turnover.
The exact support offered will depend on eligibility, availability and the needs identified during the initial discussion.
How To Register
You can register through the AD:VENTURE online registration form.
The form asks for information about you and your business, including:
- Your contact details and position in the business
- The business name and trading address
- Its legal structure and trading start date
- A description of its activities
- Business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales
- Sales generated outside West Yorkshire
- Employee numbers and annual turnover
- VAT, PAYE and company registration information where applicable
- Previous public funding or subsidy support
- The type of help you are looking for
Complete the form accurately rather than trying to make the business appear further developed than it is. The information helps the programme assess eligibility and decide which support may be appropriate.
After registering, you may need to wait while the next delivery phase is prepared. AD:VENTURE states that registered businesses will be contacted to confirm eligibility and next steps.
What To Prepare
You do not need a complete grant application to register for business support. However, preparing some basic information will make your first conversation more productive.
A Clear Business Overview
Be ready to explain:
- What the business provides
- Who its customers are
- How it currently makes money
- Where its customers are based
- How long it has been trading
- What is currently limiting its growth
A Practical Growth Objective
A general aim such as “get more customers” is difficult to plan around. Try to identify a more specific objective, such as:
- Increasing production capacity
- Launching a new service
- Reaching customers outside West Yorkshire
- Recruiting a first employee
- Introducing online sales or bookings
- Improving the efficiency of an existing process
Basic Financial Information
Prepare recent accounts, management figures or a simple cash-flow forecast where available. These can help demonstrate what the business can afford and whether a proposed investment is realistic.
An Initial Investment List
If you are considering future funding, make a list of what the business needs, why it is needed and what outcome it is expected to produce. Do not place orders or pay deposits on the assumption that funding will become available.
Are AD:VENTURE Growth Grants Available?
No new applications are currently being accepted for the previous AD:VENTURE Growth Grant round.
The last funding round ended in March 2026, with earlier deadlines for approved businesses to complete purchases and submit claims. Information about that closed round should not be treated as the rules for any future grant.
At the time of writing, AD:VENTURE has not published confirmed details covering:
- The value of any new grants
- The percentage of match funding required
- Minimum or maximum project costs
- Eligible and excluded expenditure
- Application or claim deadlines
Registering for business support does not guarantee that a grant will become available or that an application will be approved.
Preparing For Future Funding
If a new grant round opens, businesses that have already prepared their plans may be in a better position to respond.
Useful preparation could include:
- A clear explanation of the proposed investment
- Evidence showing how it supports business growth
- Realistic revenue, productivity or employment outcomes
- Cash-flow evidence showing how your contribution will be funded
- Comparable supplier quotations where required
- Planning permission, licences or approvals where relevant
- A delivery timetable
Do not buy equipment, sign a supplier contract or pay a deposit before receiving formal written approval. Retrospective costs are commonly excluded from business grant schemes, although the rules of any future AD:VENTURE round must be checked when published.
Could Digital Investment Be Funded?
The previous draft of this guide listed website design and marketing as eligible costs. That should no longer be assumed.
Any future grant may distinguish between capital expenditure, revenue expenditure and general marketing costs. A website, booking system, software integration or ecommerce platform could be assessed differently depending on the funding rules and how the project is structured.
Before commissioning digital work, ask the programme to confirm in writing:
- Whether the proposed project is eligible
- Which parts of the quotation can be included
- Whether hosting, subscriptions or ongoing support are excluded
- How many comparable quotations are required
- Whether work can begin before the funding decision
- What evidence will be needed when making a claim
A supplier cannot confirm grant eligibility on behalf of AD:VENTURE. The final decision rests with the programme and must be included in the written funding offer.
How Athena Media Can Help
If a business is planning a digital project, Athena Media can provide a clear, itemised quotation covering the proposed work, delivery timescale and expected outputs.
This could include:
- Website design and development
- Online booking or enquiry systems
- Ecommerce functionality
- Search engine optimisation
- Website hosting and ongoing support
Providing a quotation does not mean the work is automatically eligible for grant support. Always obtain approval from your Business Manager before confirming the project or paying any costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AD:VENTURE Support Free?
The current programme describes its business support as fully funded. This is separate from grant funding, which may require a business contribution if a future round becomes available.
Can I Apply For An AD:VENTURE Grant Now?
No. Applications for the previous Growth Grant round are closed. AD:VENTURE says it will publish further information when it has an update about future grant funding.
Can I Register Before September 2026?
Yes. Registration is open ahead of the new delivery phase. The programme warns that responses may take a little longer while its systems and processes are updated.
Does My Business Need To Be A Limited Company?
The registration form includes several structures, including sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. The programme will assess the complete business against its current eligibility rules.
Can A Pre-Start Business Register?
The registration form includes a pre-start option. The support available may differ from that offered to an established trading business with evidence of growth.
Does Registration Guarantee Funding?
No. Registration provides a route into the support programme. It does not guarantee a grant, loan or other financial award.
Can I Choose My Own Digital Supplier?
Future funding rules may allow an applicant to identify a preferred supplier, but value-for-money and quotation requirements have not yet been confirmed. Wait for the new grant guidance before making a commitment.
Final Thoughts
AD:VENTURE remains a useful source of support for ambitious young businesses across West Yorkshire, but its funding position has changed. The next programme phase is due to begin in September 2026, while applications for the previous Growth Grant round are closed.
Registering now can help the programme assess your eligibility and begin a conversation about your growth plans. Just avoid committing to purchases or digital work on the assumption that a future grant will cover them.
If you need an itemised quotation for a planned website or digital project, contact Athena Media and explain what you are considering. We can provide clear project costs while you confirm funding eligibility directly with AD:VENTURE.
