Business Support Grants

Business Development Credits

This scheme is administered by Trade Partners UK and provides export vouchers that can be used if a company is looking to develop their exporting potential by doing such things as producing international literature, translations, shipping goods to exhibitions, stand space etc. Companies can be given up to £1,000, as long as the company can contribute at least and equal amount of the costs....more info

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)

This programme helps local authorities and businesses work in partnership to improve their local area, using resources raised from that partnership.  Funding will be raised through a supplementary business rate levied on participating businesses in the BID area....more info

Coalfields Enterprise Fund

English Partnerships is working with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) to establish a Coalfields Enterprise Fund. It will provide equity investments to small and medium-sized enterprises in the coalfields to diversify the economic base of the coalfields areas....more info

Community Development Venture Fund (CDVF)

The Fund aims to stimulate the provision (and benefits) of venture capital to viable SME's, which are capable of substantial growth, and that are located in the 25% most deprived wards in England as classified under the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) ranking....more info

Community Investment Tax Credit

This programme promotes enterprise in disadvantaged communities by increasing the flow of private capital into the community development sector. The tax credit will provide an incentive for this investment....more info

English Cities Fund

This programme attracts long term private involvement into priority areas for regeneration. These areas will be agreed as part of the Regional Development Agency's strategies and will include such things as Urban Regeneration Company areas....more info

Enterprise Grant

Enterprise Grants are available to Small and Medium sized businesses based in the Enterprise Grant Areas of England. Projects can involve expanding, modernising or restructuring an existing business or setting up a new one. The maximum grant available is £75,000 on projects with up to £500,000 capital investment....more info

Support for Exhibitions and Seminars abroad

Exhibitions and Seminars abroad provides financial support for new exporters who wish to participate in exhibitions and seminars abroad.  This initiative is administered through Trade Partners UK....more info

Export Promoter Initiative

The Export Promoter Initiative helps UK small and medium-sized enterprises and larger companies to win business overseas. It is a programme of secondments from private industry in Whitehall, and provides SMEs and larger companies with a unique resource - market or sector experts with hands-on experience to advise about promoting their business and put them in touch with overseas buyers....more info

Exports - Outward Mission Scheme

Outward Missions provide an extensive framework of both practical and financial help for UK businesses travelling abroad as part of a group to markets outside Western Europe to promote UK goods and services....more info

Inner City 100 Project

Identify and promote the 100 fastest-growing businesses in deprived urban areas. Generate significant positive publicity around these businesses in order to spread awareness of opportunities for enterprise in disadvantaged communities.  Selected businesses receive Free public relations, including articles in the Financial Times. Introductions to venture capitalists for leading businesses....more info

Network Space

Network Space Ltd is a joint venture between English Partnerships and Langtree Group plc, developing new industrial workspace in the English coalfields. The company aims to provide quality accommodation for new and expanding small companies....more info

New Entrepreneur Scholarships

This programme helps people from deprived areas develop the skills to set up and run their own business.Anyone living in one of the selected deprived areas, aged over 18 and not in full time education. Anyone living in one of the selected deprived areas, aged over 18 and not in full time education is eligible to apply....more info

One hundred per cent Capital Allowances for flats over shops for letting

This programme encourages recycling of vacant and underused space above shops and similar commercial premises into flats for letting. The scheme will focus on properties in traditional shopping areas and be open to all property owners and occupiers, provided they have an interest in the property in which the flats are to be created. It will be targeted as follows....more info

Partnership at Work Fund

The Fund is a grant award scheme designed to improve employer-employee relationships, workplace productivity and job satisfaction. Projects for support under the Fund are invited on a competitive basis during fixed rounds. Organisations could be looking at partnerships for the first time or building on existing efforts. The grant scheme offers up to 50% funding of eligible projects that are looking to adopt partnership approaches. The applicants must meet the remainder of the costs and the maximum grant available is £50,000....more info

Prince's Trust

The Trust exists to help young people fulfil their potential. The Trust works with 14 to 30 year olds who face disadvantage - offering them the support, encouragement and basic financial assistance they need to achieve their goals....more info

Regional Innovation Fund

The funding will enable the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) to promote regional competitiveness, innovation and enterprise, and to support clusters and networks of businesses in their areas....more info

Regional Selective Assistance

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is a discretionary grant which provides assistance towards projects with fixed capital expenditure over £500,000 and which will create or safeguard employment in the Assisted Areas.

Most businesses investing in manufacturing are eligible to apply for a grant, as are businesses in service industries that supply a national rather than local market where displacement of other similar employment is likely to occur, e.g. retailing, legal and accounting practices.  Applicants can be companies, partnerships or sole traders. Grants are not available simply to transfer jobs from one part of the country to another....more info

Regional Venture Capital Fund

This programme addresses a national market weakness in the provision of small-scale risk capital (amounts less than £500,000) to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with growth potential..... more info

Science Enterprise Challenge

This programme establishes university centres of enterprise. These encourage the commercialisation of science and technology research, and teach business skills to science students....more info

Small Business Service Phoenix Fund

To encourage entrepreneurship as a means of tackling social exclusion. This includes:

*                   A Development Fund to encourage innovative ideas to support enterprises in disadvantaged areas and amongst groups of people who are under-represented in business. This includes communities affected by major change and groups such as people with disabilities, older people and ex-offenders.

*                    A Challenge Fund and Loan Guarantees to help resource Community Finance Initiatives (CFIs) and encourage commercial and charitable lending to that sector....more info

Small Business Service Loan Guarantee Scheme

The Small Business Service (SBS) SFLG guarantees loans from the banks and other financial institutions for small firms that have viable business proposals but who have tried and failed to get a conventional loan because of lack of security. Loans are available for periods of between two and ten years on sums from £5,000 to £100, 000 (£250,000 if your business has been trading for more than two years)....more info

Small Business Service - Small Firms Research Initiative

This is not a grant scheme. The Small Business Research Initiative is designed to increase the success of smaller firms in obtaining contracts from Government bodies to conduct research and development. The initiative was inspired by the US Small Business Innovation Research Programme, and is co-ordinated by the Small Business Service.nt....more info

Investigating an Innovative Idea

Businesses who have an idea to develop an innovative product, process or service, but are not sure whether they are ready to take it forward successfully, may be able to receive help under a Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea.....more info

Sustainable Technologies Initiative (STI)

The STI is a programme to support collaborative research and development aimed at improving the sustainability of UK business. It is jointly funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)....more info

Stamp duty exemption in certain disadvantaged communities

This programme encourages businesses to relocate to, or expand in, disadvantaged communities and to enhance the development and occupation of new and second-hand housing in those communities. Awaiting date of application from Treasury....more info

UK High Technology Fund

This programme encourages more institutional investors to invest in early stage high technology growth companies in the UK. This is a Fund of Funds that will consider investing on commercial terms in other venture capital funds that target early stage high technology growth companies in the UK....more info

Work Live Balance Partnership Fund

To date the Partnership Fund has supported a variety of different organisations to develop projects that solve business problems; improve workplace relationships, horizontally and vertically; implement schemes to enhance work-life balance; and disseminate best practice solutions to a wider audience....more info