GOVERNMENT FUNDING SCHEMES
Solutions for Business - simplified business support
Solutions for Business is the government's streamlined portfolio of business support products. It contains 13 products which will focus on helping business meet their aspirations and improve.
A £2.4bn fund operating across England from 2011 to 2015. It supports projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.
Provides guarantees to help small businesses access loans.
Provides capital grants to businesses to support sustainable investment in England.
National Loan Guarantee Scheme
This Government scheme helps businesses access cheaper finance, by reducing the interest rate of bank loans under the scheme by one percentage point.
GrowthAccelerator is the new premier service that helps ambitious businesses achieve rapid, high and sustainable growth.
New Enterprise Allowance helps people who have been getting Jobseeker's Allowance for six months to start their own business.
A £2.5 billion equity investment fund backed by five of the largest banks in the UK.
Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) - England
Consultancy support for manufacturing businesses.
ECFs) address a market weakness in the provision of equity finance to SMEs by using Government funding alongside private sector investment to establish funds that operate within the 'equity gap'.
Business Angel Co-Investment Fund
A £50m Co-Investment Fund which aims to support angel investments into high growth potential early stage SMEs, particularly in areas worst affected by public spending cuts.
Business Finance Partnership (BFP)
The Government will invest £600 million alongside an initial £650 million from the private sector to create four new funds that will lend to mid-sized companies. These funds are now open for business and will greatly expand the market for such lending in the UK.
£110m worth of entrepreneurial loans, available over the next three years to 18-30 year olds, to help encourage small business growth.
Find a business mentor to help you develop your ideas and grow your business.
Campaign encouraging people to start a business, employ more staff, or start exporting.
Helping businesses recruit and develop the people they need.
Supports export contracts.
OTHER LOCAL AND NATIONAL SCHEMES
Helping Your Business Grow Internationally
The scheme provides structured help to prepare a business to start exporting, or to improve its current exporting capabilities.
Be the Boss is a service from The Royal British Legion with Poppyscotland aimed at supporting UK Service leavers to plan, fund and grow their own small businesses.
Research and Development Tax Credit for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) - West Midlands
Offers tax deductions to SMEs carrying out research and development projects.
Supply Chain Improvement Programme (SCIP) - West Midlands
Provides financial assistance for the development of the automotive supply chain in the West Midlands.
Collaborative Research and Development
Funding of collaborative R&D projects allocated on the basis of regular competitions.
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)
This scheme provides advice and funding for delegates who work within rural communities.
Export Finance - Northern Bank
This scheme offers finance to buyers dealing with the export of capital equipment, project-related goods and services.
Invoice Discounting - Skipton Building Society
This scheme offers advice on an invoice discounting solution to give a business more flexibilty with cash flow.
Regional Employer National Insurance Contributions Holiday Scheme
New businesses may qualify for a deduction of up to £5,000 from the employer National Insurance contributions that would normally be due for each of the first ten employees they take on.
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise
Information on how to enter for a business Award, or how to nominate an individual.
HELP FROM BANKS
Overdraft facility for business current accounts.
Santander Unsecured Business Loans
Business loans for Santander current account holders
Lloyds Enterprise Finance Guarantee
Provides guarantees to help small businesses access loans.
Barclays Business Loans up to £25,000
Business loans up to the value of £25,000 for Barclays business account holders.
Business loans for Lloyds TSB business account holders.
Fixed rate loans for small businesses.
Business loans for HSBC business account holders.
Finance solutions for purchasing equipment, machinery and vehicles.
Commercial provider of business finance for growth and refinancing.
Provides a range of invoice finance solutions to small businesses.
Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance
Providers of invoice factoring and discounting services.
Contract hire finance solutions for businesses operating between one and 20 vehicles.