Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has direct responsibility for the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in England, though the former DTI, has at the 5th June 2009 been renamed the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), absorbing the former Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS).

The Enterprise Directorate within BIS works across Whitehall, the Regional Development Agencies and key delivery partners to ensure that Government – national, regional and local – understands and responds to the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

European Small Business Act

The European Small Business Act was formally agreed by Member States on the 1st December 2008, and this basically makes support and encouragement of SMEs a major plank in the EU's future strategy.

Regional Development Agencies The primary role of the Regional Development Agencies is as strategic drivers of regional economic development in their region. The RDAs aim to co-ordinate regional economic development and regeneration, enable the regions to improve their relative competitiveness and reduce the imbalance that exists within and between regions.

Under the Regional Development Agencies Act 1998, each agency has five statutory purposes, which are to:

further economic development and regeneration;
promote business efficiency, investment and competitiveness;
promote employment;
enhance development and application of skills relevant to employment;
contribute to sustainable development.

Small Business Service (SBS)

Grant for Business Investment

From 1 January 2009 this replaced Selective Finance for Investment (SFI) grants in the 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.

GBI 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 GBI 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.

The minimum level of grant available is £10,000 with no upper limit.

R&D Grant Scheme

There are four types of grants aimed at supporting different types of research and development projects:

• Micro Project grants help you develop a simple, low-cost prototype of an innovative product or process. Project duration: up to 12 months; maximum grant £20,000.
• Research Project grants help you assess the technological and commercial feasibility of turning highly innovative technology into a new product or process. Project duration: 6-18 months; maximum grant £75,000.
• Development Project grants help you develop a pre-production prototype of a new product or process involving a significant technological advance. Project duration: 6-36 months; maximum grant £250,000.
• Exceptional Development Project grants help with the development of a new technology that is strategically important to an industrial or technology sector. Project duration: 6-36 months; maximum grant £500,000,

Other grants available in England

Skills Development Grant

Financial assistance is available to help companies invest in training for their staff.

Small Business Assistance Grant

Financial assistance is available for capital expenditure projects that will stimulate business growth.

 European Social Fund grants

Grants providing 100% funding to projects that typically provide training to targeted regional groups of the workforce or disadvantaged groups in society. Of interest to organisations that provide training or social support or can help deliver these services.

Local Grants

There are a large variety of locally available grants for projects such as business development and training. To identify these for clients, we undertake a grant search and prepare a summary report of local and national grants available to meet a client’s individual needs.