Financial Support

Business Finance

Helping SMEs to raise development funding is a key part of emda's Business Support Strategy and improving access to finance is identified as a priority action with the Regional Economic Strategy.

They are continually looking at new ways to make accessing finance easier. Since 2002 around £80m of new risk capital has been made available to the region’s small and medium sized enterprises – thanks to emda, central Government and our partners. emda’s approach to improving access to equity finance is to create an ‘escalator’ of funds – to encourage the development of high growth businesses in the region, and provide support programmes to help businesses secure the right funds. emda’s main responsibilities in this area are:

• Improving the supply of, and demand for, equity finance
• Delivering national Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) grant programmes on a regional basis

As a result of this work, new and established businesses have access to a number of finance initiatives to help them reach their potential.

In addition, Business Link also can provide advice on raising finance. Click to visit www.businesslinkem.co.uk

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Business support programmes

Access to Finance networks and events can play a key role in helping businesses to find out about the right finance for their business and support them in securing funds.

Investment Readiness Connect InvoRed
Delivered by Connect Midlands, this is a regional programme providing investment readiness support to businesses seeking £15,000 to £3.5 million of debt, grant and equity funding.

For more information please click [ Here ]
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Growth Investment Network East Midlands
In 2004, emda supported the establishment of Growth Investment Network East Midlands (GINEM), a network of private sector organisations set up to stimulate business growth through private equity investments, in the range of £50,000 to £2 million. GINEM members are professional organisations across the region active in investment, raising finance and support

For more information please click [ Here ]
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A2F Showcase events
A2F Showcase events provide East Midlands companies seeking to raise funding with the opportunity to present their propositions to investors from outside the region, particularly those investors based in London and the South East. Organised by E-Synergy Limited, the events consist of presentations and short pitches to investors, as well as exhibitions and workshops.

Please click [ Here ] to visit the E-Synergy website
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Business Grant Schemes

emda delivers two BERR (formerly DTI) grant schemes across the East Midlands. These are:

Grant for Research & Development
Providing grants up to £200,000, the Grant for Research & Development helps businesses carry out research and development work that will lead to technologically innovative products or processes.

For more information please click [ Here ]
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Selective Finance for Investment (SFIE)
SFIE is BERR's capital investment grant scheme aimed at encouraging eligible businesses to invest in land and buildings, plant and machinery to support expansion and modernisation in England’s more deprived areas. The scheme is delivered in the East Midlands region by emda.

In February 2007, emda announced an ambitious extension to the scheme to support small and medium-sized enterprises across the whole of the region.

Please visit emda's mini website by clicking [ HERE ]
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Business equity funds

For businesses with strong growth potential emda has supported three equity funds which can provide investment between £20,000 and £660,000.
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Lachesis Fund
The Lachesis Fund is an early stage seed fund investing up to £250,000 for the commercialisation of research activity undertaken at the Universities of De Montfort, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Nottingham Trent.

For more information please click [ Here ]
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Early Growth Fund
The Early Growth Fund makes commercial investments up to £200,000 in start-up and early stage businesses across the East Midlands, investing alongside private investors (Business Angels) on identical terms - every £1 the Early Growth Fund invests will be matched by at least £1 from a Business Angel.

For more information please click [ Here ]
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Regional Venture Capital Fund
In 2002, emda helped launch the £30m Regional Venture Capital Fund (RVCF) to support high growth companies looking to raise development funding. Managed by fund managers Catapult, it is designed to address the equity gap at the smaller end of the venture capital market, and can make investments in businesses of between £100,000 and £500,000.

For more information please click [ Here ]
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Business Loan Fund

COMING SOON. In 2008 emda will be launching a regional Community Development Loan Fund (CDFI). When launched this Fund will provide access to finance for commercial businesses that are unable to access mainstream finance. It aims to encourage enterprise in under represented groups and disadvantaged communities by focusing on new business start-ups and growth businesses.

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Other Funds

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
The ERDF programme is now run by emda. For more information about the new programme, visit our dedicated site at www.eastmidlandserdf.org.uk

For information about the old ERDF and European Social Fund (ESF) programmes, click here: http://www.emda.org.uk/erdf/MiniSite/default.asp
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Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is a new programme to support social and economic development in rural areas.

For more information [ Click here ]
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East Midlands Early Growth Fund

This initiative is a venture capital fund which invests in start-up and early stage businesses based in the East Midlands. If your company have clear growth potential and fits the following criteria, then your company may be eligible.

• Businesses must have a clear growth potential and a strong management team
• Investment is up to £200,000 for a start-up business or up to £50,000 for an early-stage business
• Investment must be matched by private investors on the same terms
• Businesses must be based, or looking to be based, in the East Midlands Region (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland)
• All business must meet the definition of a small or medium-sized enterprise

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Fill in our enquiry form to be contact with more information

NTI Technical Development Grant

Technical development grants offer small organisations a contribution to a maximum of £10,000 to capital fund equipment purchases that advance the use of IT within the workplace.

To be eligible you must be based in the East Midlands Region and either the construction, creative, food & drink, or high performance engineering industries. You must also fulfil two of the following criteria:

• Employ 250 people or less
• Have a balance sheet of less than 43m € (approx. £30m)
• Have a turnover of less than 50m € (approx. £34m)

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Fill in our enquiry form to be contact with more information

CITB Grant Scheme

CITB Grants are given to employers to develop their workforce through various methods of training. Grants are available for apprenticeships registered onto approved apprenticeship programmes, new entrant and experienced adult craft employees working towards a NVQ, SVQ or recognised card scheme, and training development plans.

It is also possible to claim grant for all your employees and labour only sub-contractors who receive training.

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Fill in our enquiry form to be contact with more information