Major Business Support Schemes

The UK government has a number of schemes and programmes in place aimed at supporting businesses in various ways. These forms of support operate to, through a variety of measures, socialise financial and other risks, support marketing and R&D activities, provide advice, and support investment. Help may take the form of cash, loans or in-kind support.

A recent BIS Select Committee investigation laid out the role government clearly:

Helping British businesses to thrive and grow is vital to the UK’s long-term economic prosperity. The Government’s ambition is for the UK to be one of the best places in Europe to start, finance and grow a business. In order to facilitate this, the Government offers support to business in accessing finance, promoting exports, developing manufacturing and encouraging growth at a local level.

The table below includes data from the current list of government schemes alongside recent programmes that are declared under the annual Business Industrial Development Act report.