Dundee City Council is the local delivery partner for the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund which launched in April 2022.
The funding will be targeted at the three following priority areas:
- Communities and Place - Thriving Places: Development of the visitor economy and improving well-being.
- Supporting Local Business: Advice and support to businesses, developing an enterprise culture and start-up support and developing business sites and premises.
- People and Skills: Supporting people to progress towards and into employment or education, supporting essential skills and delivering higher level, employment related skills.
Elements of the funding will be awarded through a competitive Challenge Fund approach, with bids being invited from eligible organisations. Please see below for details on current UKSPF funding opportunities.
For all enquiries please contact externalfunding@dundeecity.gov.uk
- Development of the Visitor Economy challenge fund
The UKSPF Dundee: Development of the Visitor Economy challenge fund is now opens for applications.
The fund aims to support growth in Dundee's visitor/tourism economy by enabling key local organisations, visitor attractions, cultural and heritage-based organisations and events promoters in the sector to develop new products, new projects, feasibility studies, visitor facilities, exhibitions and events that will help to grow their visitor base and to increase the attractiveness of the city to visitors and locals alike.
Grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 are available for feasibility studies. Grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 are available for all other activities. All projects require minimum match-funding of 25%
The deadline for applications is 5pm on 27 May 2025.
Key documents:
- Youth Diversionary Activities challenge fund
The UKSPF Dundee: Youth Diversionary Activities grant scheme is open for applications. Funding is available to local groups/ organisations who wish to provide a range of activities for young people aged 10-18 years old during the Summer or October holiday periods. Funds will be focused on activities being delivered for young people in our six most deprived communities - East End, Coldside, Lochee, Strathmartine, Maryfield and/or North East
The scheme opened for applications on Friday 16 May and will close at 12pm on Friday 6 June.
To apply, please read the guidance and fill out the application form, and send to externalfunding@dundeecity.gov.uk by the deadline.
- Employment Related Skills (Green and Digital Skills) challenge fund
UKSPF Dundee is launching a challenge fund with a focus on intermediate and higher-level digital and green skills at 12:00 on 23 May 2025.
Grants of between £50,000 and £100,000 are available, with projects to be completed by March 2026. Eligible applicants include any legally constituted organisations with experience of delivering higher level digital and/or green skills. Clients must be resident within Dundee City Council boundaries.The deadline for applications is 12:00 on Friday 13 June.
- SME Support and Upskilling challenge fund
This challenge fund is focused on SME upskilling and business growth.
To address this key priority UKSPF Dundee is looking to deliver advice and support to SMEs in the city. This could include sectoral support for key growth sectors (life sciences, digital & creative industries, energy); support for staff training to address key skill shortages within company workforces, and support SMEs in the transition to net zero
This call therefore invites applications from potential providers who can deliver support to local businesses and skills development programmes for SMEs in Dundee, tailored towards local business needs and economic challenges and opportunities.
The scheme will open for applications at 12pm on Friday 23 May and will close at 12pm on Friday 13 June.
- Adult Numeracy Programme challenge fund
The funding aims to support learning activities for young people and adults aged 16+ who are not in formal school-based education and without a Level 5 qualification in maths, who wish to improve their numeracy skills and knowledge. Invitations are invited for projects which will design and deliver courses designed to increase confidence with numbers. Courses which deliver via disguised learning methods, in which adult numeracy is taught via innovative and creative ways, are particularly encouraged.
Eligible applicants: Applications are welcome from all public sector bodies, community groups, education providers and private organisations where the intervention is relevant to their work.
Grants of £2,000 to £5,000 will be available.
The scheme will open for applications at 12pm on Friday 23 May and will close at 12pm on Friday 13 June.