Citylife Business Support 2026

Fully-Funded Support for Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and Northumberland SMEs

ANNOUNCEMENT

Citylife Business Support is Back for 2026!

We're pleased to announce a new round of Citylife Business Support funding, running from April to December 2026. Fully-funded expert support is available for SMEs in Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside and Northumberland.

Applications open on 1st May 2026. This round is available to new businesses in the first instance. Schedule a call today and we'll make sure you're ready to apply as soon as the programme launches. Schedule a call today and we'll make sure you're ready to apply as soon as the programme launches.

Three people having a business meeting around a table with a laptop, a tablet, and documents; one person is pointing at the laptop screen.
Logo with text 'Citylife Business Support' on a white background.

The Citylife Business Support programme is developed and supported by:

Logo of North Tyneside Council with a colorful crest featuring a lion and shield above the council's name.
Text reading "City of Sunderland" in red on a white background.
UK Government funding logo with royal crest and text "Funded by UK Government."
Northumberland County Council logo featuring a stylized yellow and red checkered flag above the text "Northumberland County Council."
Business & IP Centre North East logo
Gateshead Council logo with an abstract building design above the text.
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BENEFITS

What’s in it for you?

12 hours of free support

Up to twelve hours of free support from a Business & IP Centre North East (BIPC) Expert in Residence.

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Tailored Workshops

Tailored workshops designed specifically to meet the unique requirements and challenges of your business.

Audience seated at a conference, watching a presentation, with dim lighting and focus on individuals in the front rows.

Events programme

Access to a free events program covering current business challenges, funding landscape, resilience, and innovation.

Has the Citylife funding launched in my area?

Newcastle
Applications Open

Gateshead
Applications Open

Sunderland
Applications Closed

Northumberland
Applications Closed

North Tyneside
Applications Open

HOW TO QUALIFY

Here are the requirements for Citylife funding:

01

Your business must be a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise located within Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland, Northumberland or North Tyneside.

02

Your business must demonstrate a commitment to either safeguarding existing positions or creating new job opportunities.

03

To qualify as an SME, your business cannot exceed 250 employees during a financial year, have an annual turnover surpassing £36m, or a balance sheet total over £18m.

FAQs about
Citylife Funding

  • As a Citylife Expert, HiThrive provides tailored advice to meet your unique needs. This may include one-to-one advice, online or in-person consultations, or even project assistance. Topics covered include improving business performance, audits, turnaround strategies, sales growth, and strategic planning.

  • Citylife Experts are small businesses or support organisations partnering with BIPC North East. They may be part of the Experts-in-Residence program or have delivered workshops and events organised by BIPC

  • Schedule a free initial meeting with us to discuss your business and the areas where you are looking for support. Further meetings or support can be agreed upon during the first meeting.

  • While larger projects can be undertaken, the Citylife Business Support scheme only funds the first twelve hours provided by the Expert. The remaining balance must be paid upon completion of the work.

  • The BIPC team will help you find the right Expert for your business. You can split your 12 hours between up to two Experts, although we'd recommend being realistic about what can be achieved in the time available — focusing your hours on one area of support often delivers the best results.

    You can also access a free events programme covering current business challenges, funding, and innovation. Keep an eye on our newsletter for upcoming dates.

    Have questions about how Citylife can help your business? Get in touch. Together, let's thrive with Citylife!

  • Once the support is delivered and you’ve signed-off as completed, the Citylife grant will be paid into your business bank account. You can then use it to pay the Expert.

    The grant will include the Expert’s fee plus VAT if your business is not registered for VAT. If you are registered for VAT, the grant will NOT include VAT, and you will have to pay this element yourself.

  • This round of Citylife funding is available to new businesses only. If you've accessed the grant before, you may be able to apply later in the year for support from a different Expert — we'll update this page when that becomes available.

    Not sure if you qualify? Get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.

Together, let’s thrive with Citylife!