There are grants available in certain areas, for specific periods of time and under certain circumstances.  To apply for these you will need to fulfil the eligibility criteria.  Note: Bristol is not a DTI Assisted Area so businesses here are not eligible for Enterprise Grants.  Bristol City Council does not offer grants for business start-ups. 

Current information on locally-available grants is available from Business Support agencies (see Here to Help), who can also explain what is involved in making an application.  You will need a business plan to access most grants, which may cover the cost of equipment, marketing activities, research and development or training.  Grants usually cover a proportion of the total costs, typically up to 50%, so you will need to obtain the rest of the money from other sources.   

The European Union provides grant opportunities but these are issued on a competitive basis, so not every applicant who fulfills the criteria will receive an award.  EU funded projects typically involve collaboration with organisations in another country.

The RDA has launched a new round of Research and Development funding.  The grant helps small and medium sized businesses carry out research and development work that will produce technologically innovative products and processes.  The amount ranges from £20,000 to £500,000 depending on the scale of the project and the size of the business. 

Businesses located in designated improvement areas may be eligible for grants towards renovating their premises.

Specific grants include the DTI's new fund designed to pay for feasibility studies into innovative ideas and processes.  Grants will cover 75% of the cost of using mentors and consultants, up to a maximum of £12,000.  This is a pilot but should remain open until 31 March 2007.  For further details email or visit their website.

There is an array of information on the Internet about sources of grants for business.  To find information yourself on EU, UK Government and trust grants, calls for proposals and deadlines there are commercial systems such as grantsonline, j4bgrants and grantfinder.  The Grants and Support Directory, through Business Link, allows you to search for potential sources of help with starting up or developing your business.  The database contains schemes from central and local goverment as well as private organisations.

CITB-ConstructionSkills is offering grants to employers for construction industry training, to encourage National Vocational Qualifications..  See the CITB website for further details.

Information on EU Funding for projects can be found at Europa.  Microsoft's Small Business Centre has an online EU Grants Advisor.  This allows you to quickly find and sort through grants in your local area.

An innovative business idea could earn you a grant of £10,000: Alliances for Innovation is a programme that encourages collaboration between small and medium sized companies in the West of England.  Call 01275 373 373 or visit www.businesswest.co.uk/innovate for further information.

Information about new and existing funding streams, trusts and grants, as well as general information, which may be useful to the voluntary and community sector can be found on the Voscur website.

Voluntary and community groups (including social enterprises) can find information on government grants from the Department for Education and Skills, the Department of Health, the Home Office and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at www.governmentfunding.org.uk 

The GrantsNet website www.grantsnet.co.uk offers free information about UK grant schemes for business and charities, while Access Funds has a database of grants for the non-profit sector.

The agencies listed on the right subscribe to funder finder systems on CD-ROM or online, and can advise on making an application.  The South West Regional Development Agency has made the j4b system available from its website.