Business and Investment Grants
Business Grants
The Business Link Grants and Support Directory allows you to search for potential sources of help with starting up or business development. Click here for more information.
Companies of all sizes may be eligible for a Grant for Business. Most manufacturing businesses are eligible to apply for a grant, as are businesses in service industries which supply a national, rather than local, market. Click here for more information and eligibility.
Business Loans and Equity
Partnership Investment Finance is a £37M fund that provides loans and equity funding for businesses that are unable to raise money from traditional sources. Loans range from £3,000 to £100,000 and equity funding from £100,000 to £1.5M. Click here for more information.
The Viking Fund provides early-stage risk capital to match that invested by business angels or other private sector investors. Typical first stage investments from the Viking Fund are between £10,000 and £100,000. Click here for more information.
The Viking Loan Fund is part of a £5M package of support announced by Yorkshire Forward in February 2009 to provide the region's businesses with working capital during the recession. The Viking Loan Fund will lend a total of £1M in the form of unsecured loans alongside business angels. Applicants will need to be a SME and satisfy a number of conditions to be considered. Click here for more information.
The YFM Group provides venture capital, private equity investment and business development services for small companies. The Group manages funds in excess of £300M. Click here for more information.
The Transitional Fund for Working Capital Purposes available from the Phoenix Loan Fund provides loans up to £25,000 for companies over 6 months old. Eligibily criteria applies and the loan must be repaid within 3 years. For more information contact Keith Gomersall on 01422 385804.
The Yorkshire Association of Business Angels can help raise investment capital of £10,000 to £250,000. Click here for more information.
International Trade Support
The MYCCI Export Documentation Service provides documentation solutions and guidance on international trade procedures to businesses throughout the region. Click here for more information.
Trade Yorkshire aims to help businesses to succeed overseas. They offer assistance ranging from developing a strategy and action plan to providing information and expertise about markets cultures and competitors. Click here for more information.
The Targeted Export Scheme is designed to help access funding to support the development of their export strategy. Grants up to £5,000 are available to help companies with anything from identifying and visiting potential markets to modifying their websites for international customers. Click here for more information.
Research and Development Grants
The Grant for Research and Development is aimed at helping businesses carry out research and development activity that will lead to technologically innovative products or processes. It is suitable any business with fewer than 250 employees. Click here for more information.
The Industrial Research and Development Award for Large Companies supports industrial research and pre-competitive development projects. Maximum grant rates are 50% for industrial research and 25% for pre-competitive development. Click here for more information.
Innovation Vouchers provide small to medium sized businesses with financial support to engage with Yorkshire's universities and other academic institutions to help their business grow and develop. Click here for more information.
