How it works
From a free scan to a funded application
GrantFlow is a funding intelligence engine with honest, specialist support on top. Four moves make it work: verify the universe, gate out what you can't win, score what's left with the working shown, then build the plan. Here's each one.
The method
Verification, gates, scoring, plan
Sophisticated buyers ask how the matching actually works. Good — here is each stage, with the real interface alongside it. Figures are live; the worked example is a clearly-labelled fictional business.
01
A verified universe before anything is scored
Everything starts with the data. The database is built only from official UK sources, re-scraped weekly, with duplicates merged and expired schemes closed automatically. Every record carries an honest verification status — and unverified parameters lower a match's confidence rather than being papered over.
The verified universe · live figures
493
schemes tracked
274
verified live
- GOV.UK Find a Grant
- GOV.UK business support
- UKRI
- Innovate UK
- Find Business Support Scotland
Data as of 28 Aug 2026 · re-scraped weekly · expired schemes closed automatically.
02
Hard gates: exclusion before persuasion
Geography, sector, company size and published eligibility rules are checked first, as pass-or-fail gates. Anything your business can't win is removed outright — never dressed up as a low score. What survives is a genuinely eligible shortlist, not a longlist to wade through.
Hard gates · fictional sample business
- Geography — passes · Greater Manchester — in scope
- Sector — passes · manufacturing fits the scheme
- Company size — passes · SME by staff and turnover
- Funding purpose — passes · capital equipment qualifies
- Scotland-only schemes — excluded · excluded outright, not low-scored
A failed gate removes the scheme before scoring — it never appears as a “weak match”.
03
Explainable 0–100 scoring, never a black box
Each surviving scheme is scored across seven weighted dimensions — sector fit, activity fit, geography, size, funding goals, timing and materiality. The number always comes with its working: you can see exactly why a scheme scored what it did, and what would firm the score up.
Explainable scoring · real scheme, real engine output
Made Smarter Adoption — North West
89Sector fit
weight 22%Activity / purpose fit
weight 24%Geographic fit
weight 12%Size & turnover fit
weight 12%Funding-goal alignment
weight 12%Deadline & timing
weight 10%Funding materiality
weight 8%
Scored for the labelled fictional sample business — your report shows this working for every match.
04
From scores to a plan you can act on
The free scan stops at potential matches and headline reasons. The paid Full Funding Strategy Audit takes the shortlist further: eligibility confirmed scheme by scheme, a funding forecast, risks, the document checklist and a recommended application order — reviewed by a person before it reaches you.
The deliverable · real section names
- 01Executive summary
- 02Funding opportunity & forecast
- 03Top recommended grants
- 04Grant breakdown
- 05Eligibility analysis
- 06Deadlines
Ten sections in the full audit, including the complete methodology appendix. See the sample
The journey
Six steps — and exactly where free ends
The scan is a genuinely useful free product, not a teaser. It stops at potential matches; strategy and execution are the paid work, agreed on a call first.
- 1
Complete the free scan
FreeThree minutes of questions about your business — sector, size, location, what you're investing in. No documents, no card details.
- 2
See potential matches instantly
FreeThe engine runs the methodology above and shows potential matches with headline fit reasons on screen straight away.
- 3
Get your scan summary by email
FreeYour top potential matches, an indicative funding value, and what still needs confirming. The scan shows where funding may be available — not confirmed eligibility.
- 4
Book a funding strategy call
FreeIf the opportunities look worth pursuing, we talk it through: which schemes are genuinely worth your time and the level of support that fits. No pressure, no lock-in.
- 5
The Full Funding Strategy Audit confirms and plans
PaidEligibility reviewed scheme by scheme, a ranked shortlist with reasons for fit and concern, deadline priorities, the document checklist and your application roadmap.
- 6
Application support and ongoing monitoring
PaidOur team builds and strengthens your applications — assisted by AI tooling that never invents facts, with human review at the centre. Monitoring keeps scanning and alerts you when new schemes match.
Weighing us against searching manually or hiring a consultant? See the honest comparison — GOV.UK is useful; it's just slow to search by hand.
FAQ
Common questions
Is the scan really free?
Yes. The on-screen matches and the emailed scan summary are free with no obligation. We earn fees when you choose the Full Funding Strategy Audit, monitoring, or application support — agreed up front on a call.
How accurate are the estimates?
Estimates use each scheme's published award ranges and intervention rates, weighted by your eligibility strength. Before any application we verify current parameters against the funder — schemes change frequently, which is exactly why the database refreshes weekly.
What if my region or sector has nothing?
Unusual, but it happens. The audit will say so honestly — and monitoring can alert you when a matching scheme opens. UK-wide schemes (R&D relief, export finance, skills funding) apply to most trading businesses.
Do you handle R&D tax relief?
We identify and size the opportunity in your audit. For claims we work with specialist preparers, reflecting HMRC's evidence standards.
How is this different from searching GOV.UK?
GOV.UK's index is genuinely useful, but it's one source among many, and you do all the interpreting. We combine national, devolved and curated sources into one scored, explained, continuously refreshed database — see the full comparison on the homepage.
Discover your possible funding routes — in under 3 minutes
Answer a few questions. The engine scans every live scheme in the database and shows where funding may be available for your business.
No documents needed · potential matches on screen instantly · scan summary by email