DIY vs Professional Support: Which One's Better For Innovate UK Grant Applications?
22 May 2025
Securing innovation funding can be transformative for your business, but the journey to a successful grant application is challenging. Many UK businesses face a crucial decision when approaching Innovate UK grants: “Do I tackle this application myself, or seek professional support”?
With success rates hovering around 15% for many Innovate UK competitions (with some as low as 2%, such as the last round of SMART grants), making the right choice could be the difference between securing vital funding and missing out. But how do you decide which approach is right for you?
As someone who has reviewed over 50 grant applications, I can tell you both paths have merits and pitfalls. Let's explore this thoroughly to help you make an informed decision.
Understanding the Innovate UK Grant Application Process
Before debating DIY versus professional support, it's essential to understand what you're getting into with Innovate UK applications.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), distributes millions of pounds yearly to innovative businesses. Its application process is rigorous and competitive and designed to identify projects with the highest potential for economic growth and innovation.
A typical application includes:
Project summary and scope alignment
Detailed responses to 10+ questions covering innovation, market awareness, team capabilities, project management, and more
Financial forecasts and cost breakdowns
Supporting appendices including a risk register, Gantt chart, and more
Each section is scored independently by multiple assessors who may not be specialists in your field. This means communicating complex technical ideas clearly and persuasively to a non-specialist audience, a challenge that catches out many applicants.
The DIY Approach: Benefits and Challenges
Benefits of Writing Your Grant Application
Complete Control: You know your business and innovation better than anyone. Writing your application gives you complete control over how your project is presented.
Cost Savings: The most obvious benefit is that you'll save the fees associated with professional grant writing services, where consultants have traditionally charged £4,000 - £6,000 for support. Although this is changing now with new AI-writing services like Grant Hero.
Knowledge Development: Going through the application process yourself builds valuable skills and knowledge that can be applied to future funding opportunities.
Challenges of the DIY Approach
Time Commitment: Grant applications are notoriously time-consuming. Expect to spend upwards of 60 hours on a comprehensive Innovate UK application.
Learning Curve: Understanding what assessors are looking for requires significant research. Without experience, it's easy to misinterpret questions or criteria.
Lack of Objectivity: When you're passionate about your innovation, it can be difficult to view it objectively or anticipate potential weaknesses in your application.
Lower Success Rates: First-time applicants typically achieve lower success rates than those with experience or professional support.
Professional Grant Writing Services: Benefits and Challenges
Benefits of Professional Support
Expertise and Experience: Professional grant writers understand what works and what doesn't. They know the "language" of grant applications and how to frame your project for maximum impact.
Objective Assessment: Professionals can objectively evaluate your project's strengths and weaknesses, helping you address potential issues before submission.
Time Efficiency: Working with professionals can dramatically reduce the time you need to invest in the application process.
Time Efficiency: Working with professionals can reduce the time required on your application; however, many applicants are surprised by just how much time is still required when you use a consultant. This is because they still have to ask you many questions to understand your innovation.
Higher Success Rates: Professional grant writing services often claim increased success rates of up to 50% compared to DIY applications.
After failing with two self-written applications, we worked with a professional for our third attempt. The difference in feedback was night and day, we scored 85% versus our previous 62% and secured £350,000 in funding.
Challenges of Professional Support
Cost: Traditional grant writing consultants can be expensive, with fees starting around £4,000-£6,000 per application, plus hefty success fees.
Finding the Right Service: Not all grant writing services are created equal. Some may lack specific expertise in your sector or with Innovate UK applications.
Knowledge Transfer: Working with professionals might mean you don't develop the skills to handle future applications yourself.
Middle Ground: New Technology-Enhanced Options
The grant application landscape is evolving with new options that bridge the gap between DIY and traditional consultancy. AI-powered grant-writing platforms like Grant Hero are emerging as alternatives that provide grant-writing support at a fraction of the cost of traditional consultants.
These platforms typically offer:
AI-assisted drafting based on your business information
Real-time feedback and scoring along with tailored grant writing tips
Options for additional expert reviews
Templates and guidance aligned with Innovate UK criteria
At £175 per application (versus £4,000+ for traditional consultants), these solutions can offer a compelling middle path for businesses seeking support without the premium price tag.
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
While traditionally businesses had to choose between DIY applications or expensive consultants, the landscape has evolved significantly with AI-powered solutions like Grant Hero. Let's examine the options:
Traditional DIY Approach (Without Tools):
Requires extensive previous grant-writing experience
Demands 60+ hours of your valuable time per application
Success rates are typically lower for first-time applicants
High risk of misinterpreting assessment criteria
Offers no objective feedback on application quality before submission
Traditional Professional Support:
Costs £4,000-£6,000 per application plus potential success fees
Still requires significant time investment from you to brief consultants
Can be difficult to find consultants with specific expertise in your sector
Consultants often have long lead times and limited availability
Knowledge doesn't transfer easily to your team for future applications
Grant Hero's AI-Enhanced Solution (£175):
Combines the best of both worlds at a fraction of the cost
Speeds up application drafting by 5-10 hours per application
Provides a dedicated AI interface specifically designed for Innovate UK applications
Offers real-time scoring based on successful previous applications
Highlights areas for improvement before submission
Gives you the confidence of AI-powered guidance while maintaining control
Helps you build internal knowledge for future funding opportunities
Optional human expert review available along with AI (£850) for complex or high-value applications
For most innovative businesses seeking Innovate UK funding, Grant Hero's AI solution offers the optimal balance of affordability, efficiency, and effectiveness.
The platform's ability to provide instant feedback on your application quality addresses the main weakness of traditional DIY approaches, while the significant cost savings compared to consultants makes it accessible for businesses of all sizes.
Whether you're applying for your first grant or your fifth, Grant Hero's technology streamlines the process while maximizing your chances of success, making it the logical choice for forward-thinking businesses.
Tips for Success Regardless of Your Choice
Whether you decide to go it alone or seek support, these tips will help improve your chances of success:
Start early – Give yourself at least 3-4 weeks to prepare a quality application
Read the guidance thoroughly – Understand exactly what each question is asking
Focus on the business case – Assessors want to see commercial potential, not just technical innovation
Provide evidence – Back up claims with data wherever possible
Get an outside perspective – Have someone unfamiliar with your project review your application
Use appendices wisely – Include visualisations, project plans, and risk registers
Be clear and concise – Avoid jargon and overly technical language
Address all assessment criteria – Ensure you've covered every aspect assessors will score
Case Study: Different Approaches, Different Results
Let me share a real-world example that illustrates the different approaches:
Company A decided to write their own application for an Innovate UK Smart Grant. Despite having an excellent innovation in clean energy technology, they struggled to articulate their business case and market awareness. Their application scored 65%, just below the funding threshold of 70%.
Company B, with a similar innovation, opted for traditional consultant support, investing £5,000 in professional grant writing services. Their application scored 78% and secured £350,000 in funding.
Company C used an AI-powered grant writing platform with expert review for £850. They scored 75% and also secured funding. The platform helped them structure their application effectively while keeping costs low.
This demonstrates that while professional support can improve outcomes, newer technology-enabled options can deliver similar results at a fraction of the cost.
Final Thoughts: Balancing Investment and Return
When deciding between DIY and professional support for your grant application, consider the cost-benefit equation:
If you're applying for a £500,000 grant, spending £4,000-£6,000 on professional support that increases your chances of success by 40-50% may be worthwhile. That's a potential return of 83:1 on your investment.
However, these alternatives become more attractive if you can achieve similar results with newer, more affordable solutions or by taking the DIY route.
Remember that the grant application is just the beginning of your funding journey. Whichever path you choose, ensure you're building knowledge and capabilities that will serve you not only for this application but also for future funding opportunities.
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