Dr Rehman Rafiq, associate director – grants, at Streets explores the European grant funding options available for growing businesses. For ambitious companies looking to accelerate innovation, European grant funding offers a compelling alternative to private investment. Unlike equity-based finance, these non-dilutive programmes allow businesses to retain full ownership while gaining the resources, credibility, and momentum needed to bring breakthrough ideas to market. Working with Streets dramatically accelerates your path to funding. Teams that partner with us are up to three times more likely to secure investment and turn bold ideas into real, scalable outcomes. At the forefront of Europe’s innovation landscape is Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme with a €95.5 billion budget spanning 2021 to 2027. It supports collaborative projects addressing major global challenges across health, climate, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing. Within this framework, the European Innovation Council (EIC) provides targeted support for high-risk, high-impact technologies through a range of instruments. The EIC Pathfinder programme offers up to €4 million per project to fund early-stage, disruptive research, with an open call of €166 million and a submission deadline of 12 May 2026. Additionally, three challenge-specific calls totalling €96 million will open until 28 October 2026, encouraging novel solutions to pressing scientific and societal challenges. For innovations approaching commercialisation, the EIC Transition programme provides up to €2.5 million per project, supporting the translation of Pathfinder research into viable products or services. Applications for this €100 million funding stream are open until 16 September 2026. A new addition, the EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges, offers two-stage funding for breakthrough technologies: Stage 1 provides up to €300,000 (deadline 26 February 2026) for proof-of-concept development, while Stage 2 offers up to €2.5 million (deadline 18 June 2027) to scale commercially promising solutions. Finally, the EIC Accelerator remains the flagship route for scaling deep-tech innovations. With an open budget of €414 million across six cut-off dates in 2026, and €220 million dedicated to five challenge-specific calls, it supports companies developing technologies at TRL 6+ with a streamlined proposal process, evaluation by technical experts, and an interview stage. The 2026 cut-off dates are 7 January, 4 March, 6 May, 8 July, 2 September, and 4 November. Complementing this is the EIC STEP programme, with a €300 million budget and four proposal batches in February, May, September, and November, focused on supporting scaling and market entry for high-impact companies. Another important route for R&D-focused SMEs is the EUREKA Eurostars programme, which funds international collaborations developing novel products, services, or processes with strong commercial potential. For UK companies, Innovate UK continues to provide a bridge to European funding opportunities, helping businesses access both domestic and cross-border innovation programmes. UK companies are also eligible to apply for European Grant Funding. Accessing these competitive funding programmes requires strategic planning, aligning innovation goals with funding priorities, building credible partnerships, and demonstrating measurable impact. Companies that combine technical excellence with clear market validation and exploitation strategies significantly improve their chances of success. For expert guidance, Streets Innovation offers end-to-end support in proposal writing, submission, and project management, increasing the likelihood of securing funding by up to threefold. With the right strategy and support, your next innovation could be Europe’s next success story. For further information or a conversation to explore how we can help your business please email innovation@streets.uk  

A new 10-year workforce strategy for 2025–2035 has been released to strengthen the East Midlands labour market and improve employers’ access to skilled workers. Covering Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire, the plan outlines measures to raise employment levels, strengthen training pathways, and reduce barriers to employment.

The framework focuses on three priorities: widening access to training and employment programmes, improving coordination across skills, health, and employment services, and addressing challenges such as transport gaps, housing pressures, and health issues that restrict participation. It aligns with previous regional growth work designed to ensure economic gains reach more communities.

Mayor Claire said: “The Get East Midlands Working Plan is our commitment to the people of the region that if they step up, we will work across public services to support them in whatever way they need. It’s why we are working so closely with our partners in health, skills, employment support, and in the benefits system: life can be complicated, but support shouldn’t have to be.

“This is about real people, not just statistics. It’s about a mum who wants to return to work but needs childcare, a young person looking for their first chance, or someone recovering from illness who wants to feel confident again. These people deserve public services that are in their corner, and this plan shows what that will look like in practice.”

The plan sets targets to raise the regional employment rate to 80% by 2035, bring an estimated 60,000 more people into work, support the creation of 100,000 jobs, improve productivity, and enable more residents to move into stable, higher-quality roles. It has been shaped through local workshops, organisational input and data analysis, and is designed as a flexible document that can evolve as employer needs and economic conditions shift.

STEP Fusion and Historic England have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to protect the historic character of the West Burton site – the future home of the UK prototype fusion power plant. The agreement was signed by Claudia Kenyatta, co-CEO of Historic England, and Paul Methven, CEO of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Limited and responsible officer for STEP Fusion. It sets out a shared ambition to ensure that the transformation of the site remains sensitive to the heritage and natural environment of the area. West Burton is deeply rooted in the UK’s energy story. It powered the nation and was part of the famous Megawatt Valley, with a high concentration of power generating facilities along the River Trent. In years to come the site will be home to a clean energy revolution, the site of the first-of-its-kind fusion power plant. The MoU reflects commitment to responsible stewardship of historic areas and cultural legacy, including areas of special interest in the site, such as the site of the former medieval village and chapel, close to the power station, which is protected as a Scheduled Monument. Paul Methven, CEO of STEP Fusion, said: “The STEP Fusion endeavour is bold and considered. We are committed to working with partners such as Historic England to ensure that the story of West Burton continues and that the past is respected and protected. We believe that innovation and conservation can work hand in hand on our site.” Claudia Kenyatta, co-CEO of Historic England, added: “We’re delighted to be working with STEP Fusion to help shape a future for West Burton and support our shared heritage whilst moving forward to an exciting new era for the site. “This MoU demonstrates our shared commitment to the distinctive historic environment and the long history of energy production in North Nottinghamshire.” The MoU will guide ongoing collaboration between STEP Fusion and Historic England including considerations at the early planning stages as the programme progresses towards construction in 2030.

Menzies Distribution Solutions has acquired the transport division of C Butt, a move that increases its presence in the Midlands logistics corridor and strengthens its capacity in packaging, FMCG, and manufacturing supply chains. The agreement includes the transfer of 29 staff members and 102 fleet assets, with existing clients continuing to be supported by local teams in Northampton and Kettering through Menzies’ national network.

Jonathan and Robert Butt have chosen to retire from the near century-old firm. In a statement, they said: “We’re proud of C Butt’s history as a family-owned logistics company and grateful for the trust our customers have placed in us. In MDS, we have chosen a partner with the scale, systems and culture to support those customers in the next phase. We are confident this transition will be smooth and that our people and customers will be well looked after.”

Richard Morson, Chief Executive of Menzies Distribution Solutions, commented: “We’re very pleased to welcome C Butt’s people and customers into MDS. The team is well regarded in the market and will be a strong addition to our network. For customers, this means they’ll have the same people delivering their work, backed by our national infrastructure, systems and 24/7 support, plus access to additional capacity and services across the UK.”

C Butt, founded in 1926 and operated by three generations of the Butt family, brings long-standing relationships and deep sector experience to the enlarged Menzies operation.