TWDA — NBSL Registered Provider
Website & Marketing Grants Through the Business Support Fund
Grant Funding for Your Website & Marketing
TWDA is a registered provider for NBSL’s Sunderland Business Support Fund and North of Tyne Business Support Fund. If your business is based in Sunderland, Newcastle, North Tyneside or Northumberland, you may be able to get 40–50% of your next website or marketing project funded.
We’ll scope your project, give you a fixed quote to support your application, and guide you through the process from start to finish.
Is your business eligible?
Both funds support trading SMEs with fewer than 250 staff, already making sales, based in the right area — Sunderland City Council for one, Northumberland, North Tyneside or Newcastle council for the other.
They can’t cover equipment, premises, running costs, wages or training — but a new website, an SEO project, branding or content work fits perfectly.
North of Tyne Business Support Fund
Delivered by NBSL and funded by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, this is one of two business support fund schemes TWDA can help you apply to.
- Grant: up to 50% of project costs
- Project size: £3,000–£8,000 (grant of £1,500–£4,000)
- Area: Northumberland, North Tyneside or Newcastle council areas
- Covers: web design, marketing, video, social media and other growth-focused external expertise
- Doesn’t cover: equipment, premises, day-to-day running costs, wages or staff training
Sunderland Business Support Fund
Also delivered by NBSL, this business support fund supports trading SMEs and social enterprises in the Sunderland City Council area.
- Grant: up to 40% of project costs
- Project size: £3,000–£6,000 (grant of up to £2,400)
- Area: Sunderland City Council catchment
- Covers: marketing strategy, web design, product development, growth planning and process improvement
- Doesn’t cover: equipment, premises, day-to-day running costs, wages or staff training
What kind of TWDA project qualifies?
A business support fund grant works best against a clearly scoped, one-off project — not an ongoing retainer. One-off website and marketing projects are exactly what these funds are designed for — a new website build or redesign, a focused SEO project, content strategy work, or branding. Our Launch, Growth and Flagship project tiers all fit within both funds’ project-size limits.
Ongoing services — our monthly Care Plan, Care+Content or Local SEO packages — count as running costs, so they aren’t eligible for grant funding. We’re always happy to discuss these once your funded project is complete.
What could your project cost after the grant?
| Project tier | Typical cost | NoTBSF grant (50%) | Net via NoTBSF | Net via SBSF (40%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | £3,500 | £1,750 | £1,750 | £2,100 |
| Growth | £5,500 | £2,750 | £2,750 | £3,300 |
| Flagship | £7,500 | £3,750 | £3,750 | Not eligible — over £6,000 cap |
Figures are illustrative examples based on typical project costs, correct as of 24 July 2026. Your actual grant amount depends on NBSL’s assessment of your application, not on TWDA.
How the process works
- Get in touch — tell us what you want to achieve, and which fund you think applies.
- We’ll scope the project and give you a fixed quote for your application.
- You apply directly to NBSL — a straightforward online form, with decisions typically within a few weeks.
- Once your funding offer is confirmed, we start work — never before.
- On completion, you pay TWDA the full project cost.
- You claim your grant back from NBSL — both funds are retrospective, so you’ll need to cover the full cost upfront.
Why work with a registered provider
Registered provider status means TWDA meets NBSL’s criteria to deliver funded business support projects — it’s not a guarantee of any individual application’s outcome, which is entirely NBSL’s decision. What it does mean is a provider who’s done this before: we know how the process works, what a strong application looks like, and how to scope a project that makes the most of your grant.
If you’re applying to a business support fund for the first time, that experience is exactly what reduces the risk of a rejected or delayed application.
FAQ
Do I have to use TWDA to get the grant?
No. You can choose any registered provider for either fund. We’d love to work with you, but the choice is entirely yours.
Does TWDA decide whether I get the grant?
No. NBSL assess and approve every application. We can help you scope a strong project and provide the quote you need to apply, but the funding decision, amount and timescale are entirely down to NBSL.
Can the grant cover an ongoing website care plan or SEO retainer?
No. Both funds exclude day-to-day running costs, so ongoing services aren’t eligible — only one-off projects with a defined start and end.
Do I pay TWDA before or after the grant comes through?
Before. Both funds are retrospective: you pay TWDA in full for the completed project, then claim the grant back from NBSL. You’ll need to be able to cover the full project cost upfront.
Can I start my project before I hear back from NBSL?
No — work must not start before your funding offer is confirmed, or the project won’t be eligible. We’ll agree a start date with you once that’s in place.
How long does a funding decision take?
NBSL describe the process as straightforward, with decisions typically within a few weeks of applying.
I've had funding from NBSL before — can I apply again?
It depends on the fund and phase. Sunderland Business Support Fund allows previous recipients to reapply, though new applicants are prioritised. North of Tyne Business Support Fund allows one application per phase. Check current phase status with NBSL.
How do I check I'm eligible?
Eligibility covers business size, location, trading history and state aid limits — the full criteria are on NBSL’s official pages for each fund. We’re happy to talk through your situation, but NBSL make the final eligibility call.
Grant amounts, eligibility criteria and fund phases are set and administered by NBSL, not TWDA, and can change without notice. The figures on this page are correct as of 24 July 2026 and summarised from NBSL’s official fund pages at growwithnbsl.org.uk — please confirm current terms and your eligibility directly with NBSL before relying on them. Registered provider status means TWDA meets NBSL’s criteria to deliver funded projects; it does not constitute an endorsement by NBSL, Sunderland City Council or the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, and is not a guarantee of approval for any individual application.