Aberdeenshire female founders get help to test new ideas

Technology & Science Desk 2026-10-06 13:32 2 min read

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By demoduck.co.uk editorial team

Female founders across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who are within their first two years of trading can apply for £500 grants to test business ideas, explore new markets or develop products and services. Applications close on 30 November 2026, and the funded activity must be completed and evidenced by the end of February 2027.

Business Gateway Aberdeen City & Shire is offering the funding through its Building Female Founders programme. To receive the full grant guidance and application form, email startup@aberdeenshire.gov.uk.

Eligibility for the £500 grants

According to Aberdeenshire Council’s announcement, the grants are intended for female founders within their first two years of trading, with women-led businesses across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire encouraged to apply.

The funding is described as small-scale “test and learn” support. Its purpose is to help founders validate an idea or take a specific step towards bringing a product or service to market.

Aberdeenshire female founders get help to test new ideas

The announcement gives the headline eligibility criteria rather than the full application conditions. Applicants should review the grant guidance to establish whether their business and proposed activity qualify.

Projects the money can support

The council identifies several possible uses: attending trade shows and exhibitions, developing marketing campaigns, creating e-commerce platforms, securing specialist accreditation, and producing professional photography or video for a new product or service launch.

These examples connect the grant to a defined business activity. A founder could use the support to test demand through a marketing campaign or develop an online sales platform, provided the proposal meets the full scheme guidance.

The completion requirement also matters when choosing a project: the proposed activity must be finished and evidenced by the end of February 2027.

Request the application pack before 30 November

Business Gateway encourages eligible founders to apply early because demand is expected to be high. The confirmed closing date is 30 November 2026.

For the grant guidance and application form, contact startup@aberdeenshire.gov.uk. For wider Building Female Founders support, call 01467 535353 or email aberdeenshire@bgateway.com.

The programme is part of the Pathways Ecosystem Fund project and includes personalised coaching from Female Founders Business Adviser Kirstene Hair, alongside specialist expertise, practical learning and peer networks. It was developed to address barriers identified in the announcement, including access to finance and professional networks, travel constraints and caring responsibilities.

Source: Aberdeenshire Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source and application details

Eligibility, project examples, deadlines and contacts were checked against the supplied Aberdeenshire Council announcement.

Checks

The announcement specifies £500 grants for female founders within their first two years of...
The application deadline is 30 November, with activity completed and evidenced by the end...
The grant guidance and application form are available through startup@aberdeenshire.gov.
Full application conditions are not reproduced in the announcement.

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