1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202 
Help I need somebody
Page 40
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
There isn't a business in the country that doesn't need some form of money or help. Most owners turn to the standard forms of finance and advice but there are hundreds of alternatives, many of which are either free or subsidised, depending on your need and geographic location. The government's Business Links, for example, is an excellent source of advice; check out the website www.businesslink.gov.uk. Here's a small sample of the help that is available.
Employment
• Job Introduction Scheme: This scheme provides a grant to contribute towards the costs of employing a disabled person during the first six weeks of employment.The job can be either full or part time and the maximum amount of the grant is £75 a week.
However, the work trial must last for at least six months after the grant period ends. www.jobeentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/ Home/AboutUs/OurOffices • New Deal Employment Option — Employers' Subsidy: Here, businesses that take on new employees aged 18-24 are offered a subsidy of up to £60 a week for six months, or up to £40 a week for a part-time post.
A further £750 is available towards the cost of training. However, employees must attend an education establishment for at least one day a week.
There is a similar programme for over-25s. In this case a weekly subsidy of £75, for a maximum of six months, will help cover the pay of a full-time employee (£50 for a part-timer). There's the option of a trial period.
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page./ Home/AboutUs/OurOffices
Finance
• Enterprise Management Incentives — UK: This scheme can provide 'tax-advantaged' share options to help small, higher-risk companies recruit and retain employees with the skills that will help them grow.
They are also designed to reward employees for investing their time and skills in helping small companies achieve their potential. www.hmrc.gov.uk/shareschemes/emi/ index.htm • Enterprise investment Scheme (EIS): Another source of finance is the money that can be raised from individuals who can invest between £500 and £150,000 per tax year in qualifying businesses and receive tax relief. Under the EIS an investor can become a paid director — this is to encourage investment by 'business angels' who might be able to provide valuable management expertise.
Any business seeking this funding must have no more than £15m-worth of assets, and must be a trading company that carries out its trade wholly or mainly in the UK.
www.eisa.orgaik
Innovation
• Grant for Investigating an Innovative Idea: Businesses or individuals who have an idea for an innovative product, process or service may be able to receive help from the Department of Trade and Industry.
Businesses and individuals will identify weaknesses and barriers to successful implementation of their ideas by undertaking analysis with chosen mentors before submitting their applications. The weaknesses and barriers will form the basis of the application for a grant.
The grant, if approved, will reimburse some of the costs of the project mentor and consultants. The maximum available is £12,000, with most grants between £2,500 and £7,000, www.dti.gov.uldinnovative-idea
Exporting
• Passport... to Export Success: New and inexperienced exporters can receive assistance with training, planning and support to help them do business overseas.
There are many services that users can access, including a free, objective assessment of the company's capability for export; free help from a locally-based expert in international trade; subsidised training; subsidised use of the UK Trade & Investment export service; and a subsidised visit to an overseas market.
www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk
• Trade Partners UK Support for Export Marketing Research:This offers funding to visit overseas markets for market research, to employ consultants and to buy published market research. Funding is for 50% of eligible costs between £100 and £20,000.
Any British business that has been trading for at least two years, has fewer than 500 employees and is able to export its products or services can apply.
www.britishchambers.org.uk
Regional
All these programmes are available nationwide but there are plenty of projects that can help your business, depending where you are based in the UK. Here is one example: • Accelerator Fund: This is a regional scheme for the south-east of England that provides loans to SMEs with the potential for significant growth. It offers £25,0004100,000 for three to seven years; capital repayment holidays are available.
Businesses must have a completed business plan including financial accounts and projections. Applicants must have a clear growth strategy.
www.financesoutheast.corn/desktopdefault.as px?tabld=459