Grants - GBI

What is GBI?

GBI is a discretionary BERR grant scheme aimed at financially supporting manufacturers and added value businesses in England. These businesses must be planning to embark on either a capital investment programme or a project which is more heavily weighted towards new employment rather than capital expenditure. Both should assist in accelerating the company’s growth but for which also an actual or potential financial shortfall may exist on the project. Applicants can be start ups to large multi-nationals.

Who Qualifies?

Most manufacturing businesses are eligible to apply, as are businesses in service industries that supply a national rather than local market. Applicants can be companies, partnerships or sole traders. Assistance can be provided to:

• Establish a new business
• Expand/ modernise/ rationalise an existing business;
• Set up research and development facilities; Enable businesses to take the next step from development to production.

Where is eligible?

100% of England is now eligible geographically for GBI grant aid to SMEs. The interactive map on the right (and in downloadable pdf format here) gives you an idea of the regions where GBI is available. In April 2007 many of the RDA's opened up their entire regions to the GBI scheme and made them Tier 3 regions in response to the EU removing many of the previous Tier 1 & 2 grant areas they had. In 2008 the last two RDAs joined the others to make ALL of England now grant aided to SMEs.

What are Tier 1 & 2 regions?

Tier 1 & 2 areas are those identified by the EU where companies of any size can apply for grant aid under the GBI scheme.

• The Grant intervention rate is typically from 10% to 25%. However larger intervention rates and regional special top ups may apply depending on location making up to 35% and even 50% possible. Tier 3 areas are those given grant aid status by the relevant regional development agency (RDA) and are those areas which were not granted status by the EU. Applicants here must be an SME.
• The Grant intervention rate is typically from 10% to 20% Grants range from £10,000 up to several million depending on the size of your capital spend

Grants range from £10,000 up to several million depending on the size of your capital spend

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