Support2business Ltd - Grants for Large Companies and High Growth Companies

The task of finding funding to support the establishment and growth of Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) is one of the hardest tasks that we have ever been involved with. So many worthwhile cases, put up by really dedicated and very knowledgeable people, just cannot get the requisite funding for one reason or another. But if it is so tough why have we chosen to become engaged in this arena?

The Budget - 21 March 2007

• A new tax credit for environmental investment will be introduced.
• Small firms will be able to claim a 175 per cent tax credit for research and development from April 2008.

Selective Finance for Investment in England

DTI official statistics publication – latest Annual Report.
In the year ending March 2006, businesses in England have accepted over 400 grant offers totalling in excess of £80m.

RSA Wales official statistics publication – latest Annual Report

In the 7 years to end March 2006, businesses in Wales have accepted 1173 RSA grant offers totalling £650m. These offers relate to projects with planned investment of £2.83bn with the aim of creating or safeguarding over 70,000 jobs.

Grants for Large Companies and High Growth Companies

Support2business grants have an enviable reputation in successfully securing larger grant applications for medium and larger-sized businesses along with selective applications for high growth companies. For a successful outcome it is crucial that these applications are structured and compiled correctly from the outset. A poorly thought out and flawed application will almost certainly be rejected and is likely to prejudice any future attempt for grant assistance.

It is also important to be aware that grants cannot be applied retrospectively and therefore once projects have started, grant assistance will not be available.
Case application requires careful and systematic preparation with experienced and professional submission and negotiation.

Start the planning process well in advance and if you decide to utilise our services call us in at the earliest opportunity.

Key grant sources areas are as follows:

Selective Finance for Investment (SFI)

From 1st April 2004 this replaced both Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants and Enterprise Grant Scheme (EGS) grants in Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 areas of England.

For the time being, the existing schemes (RSA and EGS) remain in place in Scotland and Wales.

SFI is a discretionary grant that provides assistance towards business expansion projects with fixed capital expenditure in the Assisted Areas of England.

There is no automatic formula for allocating SFI/RSA assistance, as each case is determined on its own merits.

The level of discretionary assistance is linked to the number of jobs created and/or safeguarded by the proposed project and the amount of capital investment committed.

There are regional variations across the UK in the levels of grants available:

In England – the minimum level of grant available is £10,000 with no upper limit.
In Scotland – there is no minimum level of grant available and no upper limit.
In Wales – the minimum level of grant available is £50,000 with no upper limit.

Regional Selective Assistance Grants (RSA)

RSAs are available for capital expenditure projects taking place within Scotland and Wales in Tier 1 and Tier 2 Areas which will create and/or safeguard jobs. Grants, from £10,000 upwards, and running into millions are possible since there is no maximum stipulated by the RSA scheme.
Investment for Growth (IFG)

IFG has been replaced by a streamlined RSA scheme for smaller projects from £10,000 up to £250,000 in grant size, with an alternative of job creation evaluation to assist projects that are low on capital expenditure but still create worthwhile jobs and offering improved support for R&D and commercialisation projects.
DTI Grant for R&D

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Grants for research and development (R&D) provides finance in England to research and develop technologically innovative products and processes. There are four types of grant, each supporting types of R&D project.

Micro project grant of up to £20,000 is available to business with fewer than ten employees.
Research projects aim to investigate the technical and commercial feasibility innovative technology and last 6-18 months. A grant of up to £75,000 is available to businesses with fewer than 50 employees.
Development projects aim to develop a pre-production prototype of a new product or process that involves a significant technological advance. Projects take 6-36 moths. A grant of up to £200,000 is available to businesses with fewer than 250 employees.
Exceptional development projects involve a significant technological advance and are strategically important for a particular technology or industrial sector. Projects take 6-36 months. A negotiable grant of up to £500,000 is available to businesses with a qualifying project.

Collaborative Research and Development

Collaborative Research & Development forms part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI’s) Technology programme. These grants are designed to help cut the cost burden associated with bringing research to market. Projects must involve two or more collaborators, at least one of which is from a business. The level of grant support will vary from between 25-75 per cent of you and your business partners’ R&D costs.
Scottish Executive Innovative Programme SPUR+

The programme provides grant support for expensive leading edge technology development in areas such as telecommunications and biotechnology. To be eligible for support, projects must normally involve eligible project costs of at least £1 million, assistance of up to £500,000 at 35 per cent of eligible costs is available to support development up to pre-production prototype stage.

The value of grants involved can be substantial in many cases necessitating detailed scrutiny, substantiation and validation by the authoritative bodies. This means that applications need to be of the highest quality to ensure success.

Give us a call on 08454 300 270 or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and let us lend our experience and expertise to your grant application.

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]