Updated: Several sections edited/deleted, ie Regional Growth Fund programmes, Application criteria for Regional Growth Fund programmes, Finding a live Regional Growth Fund programme in your area, Other funding schemes and Contacts
Regional Growth Fund programmes
Regional Growth Fund programmes are schemes run by national or local organisations which have been awarded Regional Growth Fund cash to offer grants and/or loans to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Over £800 million has been made available to SMEs through Regional Growth Fund programmes and over 2,700 SMEs have received cash from the Fund via Regional Growth Fund programmes.
Millions of pounds of government funding is now available for eligible SMEs to:
invest and strengthen their business
create or protect jobs
build on creativity
Application criteria for Regional Growth Fund programmes
Each Regional Growth Fund programme will have specific criteria for applications and you will need to check this when you apply.
In general terms, SMEs applying for a grant or loan must:
be based in England
want to strengthen, consolidate or grow their business
create or protect jobs
be investing private capital
be unable to find funding elsewhere for the application
be State Aid compliant
To apply for Regional Growth Fund support for your business you will need to contact the programmes in your area to see if you are eligible.
Finding a live Regional Growth Fund programme in your area
East Midlands
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership
Derby City Council
Leicester & Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP)
Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership (NEP)
Nottingham City Council on behalf of (Nottingham Technology Grant Fund Group)
East of England
New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership
Nationwide
Cavendish Consortium / Barclays – Ready for Business
CDFA wholesale loan fund
CfEL - Business Angels
Close Brothers Asset Finance
Grant Thornton / ‘GROW: Offshore Wind’ - Opportunities for Manufacturers
Finance For Industry Limited
Fredericks Foundation
HSBC / Asset finance scheme
Lloyds Banking Group (Lloyds TSB Bank plc, Bank of Scotland plc and Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance Limited)
Santander UK
The GAMMA Programme
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (Lombard)
UK Steel Enterprise Limited
Northeast
Arch (Commercial Enterprise) Ltd
Business & Enterprise Commercial on behalf of BE Group, Trinity Mirror and UNW LLP (www.nebusiness.co.uk/letsgrow)
Entrust Growth Fund
North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP)
Tees Valley Unlimited
Northwest
Britain’s Energy Coast
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership
Economic Solutions Ltd
Greater Manchester LEP / Pipeline
Lancashire Business View - The Fuse Fund
Business Growth Grant / Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership
Regenerate Pennine Lancashire
Wirral Business Growth Grant
South East
Expansion East Kent
TIGER (Thames Gateway Innovation, Growth and Enterprise)
Southwest
Business Catalyst Fund (Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP)
West Midlands
Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (administered by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council)
Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership
Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative
Green Bridge Supply Chain Programme (Greater Birmimgham and Solihull LEP)
North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NSCCI)
Yorkshire and The Humber
Bradford City Centre Business Growth Scheme
Humber Local Enterprise Partnership
Leeds City Region LEP Business Growth Programme
North Lincolnshire Council (Tata)
Sheffield City Region LEP
Further programme details
Descriptions, eligibility criteria and contact details (where known) for the above programmes are available in the spreadsheet below.
Regional Growth Fund (RGF) programmes for SMEs
MS Excel Spreadsheet, 339KB
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Other funding schemes
A list of additional government support is provided below.
Enterprise Finance Guarantee (EFG) - this is a loan guarantee scheme which assists additional lending to SMEs who are considered viable and eligible but which lack adequate security or a proven track record for a normal commercial loan
Start-up loans – this scheme assists entrepreneurs aged between 18 to 30 living in England and looking for finance to start a business
Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) – this scheme aims to encourage investment in small and early stage companies by giving tax breaks to investors. If you are an entrepreneur or small business owner this site will show you how you can raise money for your company by accessing SEIS investments.
UK Export Finance (also known as the Export Credits Guarantee Department) is the UK’s official export credit agency. It provides government assistance to exporters and investors, principally in the form of insurance policies and guarantees on bank loans
You may also wish to visit the government’s finance finder for more information on what is available: www.gov.uk/business-finance-support-finder.
Contacts
If you are interested in any of the live programmes listed on this page you should contact the respective programme leads directly. They will be able to discuss with you whether you are eligible and suitable for their programme.
If you experience any difficulties making contact with the programmes please contact the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Regional Growth Fund Team, email: growthfund@bis.gsi.gov.uk