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Business Grants are available specific to Scotland through the Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise and the UKTI

Grants in Scotland

Louise Guinda, founder of baby product company Safedreams.co.uk, received help from Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise.

The Sustainable Routes grant offers £1,000 to companies with a green agenda

Neil McManus, owner of telecoms provider GHM Communications, won a grant of £1,000 from Sustainable Routes, an environmentally-friendly project that assists businesses in reducing the cost of business travel.

Avenues for startup grants

Recruitment consultant MBA & Company won £1,000 throught the part government-backed Shell Livewire Award, and jewellery retailer Mama Jewels benefitted from a startup grant from a local council. SmallBusiness.co.uk talks to each to find out how the government grants were achieved.

How your business can get a grant in 2011

Government grants can be hard to come by - but they do exist and they can benefit your business if you know where to look. SmallBusiness.co.uk provides an essential guide to sourcing and applying for a government grant.

The Technology Strategy Board provides grants to the right businesses

Getting a technology grant

Speech recognition technology provider Voxgen was awarded £214,000 this month by the Technology Strategy Board.

Grants: your questions answered

Getting your hands on free funding can be a tricky business. Here we answer your most frequently asked questions about accessing grants

Don't Miss

Making sound investments in volatile times

After the recent global economic problems, it’s never been more important to choose your offshore investments carefully.

Tax dilemmas

Every small business should make their business tax as efficient as possible, this guide will help ensure you’re not paying HMRC too much.

Emergency Budget Breakdown

It's generally agreed that SMEs emerged largely unscathed from the Emergency Budget. Here SmallBusiness.co.uk picks out the main points for owner-managers.

Small Business Finance News

Businesses struggle to recruit skilled finance and accounting staff

Top finance and accounting staff hard to come by

Businesses are struggling to recruit skilled finance and accounting employees despite an anticipated growth in headcount, research finds.

Top finance and accounting staff hard to come by

Businesses are struggling to recruit skilled finance and accounting employees despite an anticipated growth in headcount, research finds.

Smaller enterprises suffering more than large ones

More small and medium-sized enterprises have seen a quarterly reduction in sales volumes than large companies, research finds.

Small-caps on the up

Fund manager David Clark is upbeat about the prospects for smaller quoted companies.

Forum shuns insolvency U-turn

The Forum of Private Business has condemned a government announcement that legislation to improve the so-called ‘pre-pack insolvency’ sales process will now not go ahead.

Charting a course

Daniel Bastide, a partner at law firm Thomas Eggar, talks to James Harris about new finance structures and a ship called the Hebridean Princess.

Cash flow pressures ease for small businesses

Late payment improved in the final quarter of 2011 with the biggest difference coming from the largest firms, research finds.

SMEs warned of tax return deadline

UK small business owners could lose £45 million on 1 February by failing to complete their tax returns by the 31st January deadline.

Car tax hike could hit SME owners

A new emissions scale for company car tax could mean hefty increase in charges for many, warns an accountant.

Credit unions now able to lend to SMEs

Small businesses struggling to access funding have been given an alternative option with the introduction of legislation allowing credit unions to lend to them.

Businesses call for VAT reduction

A year after the contentious rise in VAT from 17.5 to 20 per cent, businesses are calling for the rate to be reduced to help their company move forward in 2012.

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FT Guide to Personal Tax

The FT Guide to Personal Tax is published by Pearson Education. Written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc and John Bloxham, this unique guide gives step-by-step advice to completing your tax return as well as over 230 tax-saving tips.

Growth Company Investor

Growth Company Investor is widely recognised as the leading magazine for investors interested in AIM and smallcap companies. Published 10 times per year, and brought to you by an award-winning analyst team, it offers subscribers unrivalled insight into high-potential smaller companies. Subscribe today with a 50% discount in your first year.

FT Guide to Business Start Up

The FT Guide to Business Start Up 2012, published by Pearson Education, is written by Sara Williams, CEO of Vitesse Media Plc. This unique guide has sold over two million copies. It offers practical advice about starting and running your own business.

What Investment

What Investment is the leading and longest-established investment magazine in the UK.

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Government grants Questions & Answers

Register or login to ask a question to our panel of experts...

Tax and Finance

Chas Roy-Chowdhury, ACCA

Tax and VAT expert

Clive Lewis, ICAEW

Business funding advice

Mark Endersby, Funding Solutions

12 posts

Latest questions answered

Q: Grants for starting a recruitment business? Q: Available grants for health & safety measures Q: Grants for starting a care home business Q: Business start-up grants Q: Government grants Q: Grants for an ailing business Q: Info on government grants

FREE Legal, Financial, Accountancy & HR Help

Aska Professional understands the challenges faced by small businesses. That’s why we provide instant access to professional advice and legal templates. FREE access to Solicitors, Accountants, Financial Advisors & HR Specialists. Ask our experts a question and get a personal response within 60 minutes. Sign up now to ask a question - FREE.

Barclays Business Start Up Account

Get everything you'd expect from a Barclays Business account…Free business banking for up to 2 years (Ts&Cs apply). Free day-to-day support from our Barclays Business Team by phone 24/7 and Mobile Banking, manage your account quickly and easily from a web-enabled phone. Apply online.

If you’ve decided to go it alone, we can help you get started.

18 months free* day-to-day business banking
Free Sage Planning for Business software

We can also introduce you to a local business manager who can provide insight and guidance to help you get your business started and find the right finance options to suit your needs. Find out more.

Blogs

Winners and losers

Ben Lobel 24/01/2012

It seems that despite the government’s assurance that the Olympics will provide a long-lasting economic legacy for the UK, businesses remain unconvinced. Have your say »

Deciding on your financing needs

Small Business Finance 06/12/2011

Rory Earley, CEO of Capital for Enterprise, looks at the ramifications of getting a bank loan to fund growth opportunities. Have your say »

Winning new business in 2012

Guest Blogger 02/02/2012

Shaun Thompson, CEO of Sandler Training, explains how growth is possible in frugal times. Have your say »

Government grants Resource Centre

Government Grants & Business Loans

Q: I want to start a small business. Where do I go for funding when my bank won’t help?

Get a grant for your business

GUIDE is a pan-European grants database aimed at giving organisations a convenient single source for updated and comprehensive information on grant funding across Europe.

Business Grants

Q: I run a butcher’s shop and am looking for a small grant in order to print some leaflets and advertise the business. What business grants are available?

Apprenticeship Grants

Q: I'm taking an apprentice for my joinery company. Am I entitled to any grants?

Energy efficiency grants

The UK Government funds schemes providing up to £2,700 to households to improve their heating and energy efficiency. Do you work from home?

Advice for grant applications

Govgrantsglobal.com offers instant connections to Official Aid from national, regional and local awarding bodies for all aspects of running and building a business enterprise.

Information for young entrepreneurs

If you are a business starter under 30, the Princes Trust can help you. With free advice, guides and tips, as well as various grant opportunities.

Grants for artists

The Arts Council England provide grants for artists with money sourced from the National Lottery. Apply for a grant today.

More Government grants Resources

Other Small Business Finance Resources

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Video

Selling on eBay

Ebay trader Chris Dawson gives his tips to selling through the trading website.

A business credit card with 0% interest on purchases for 3 months*

That’s on top of up to 56 days of interest-free credit**. When it comes to supporting your cashflow, it all adds up to a lot of extra breathing space. Also, by separating your business and personal spend it helps you keep track of your costs and identify areas where you can save money. Find out more today. *From date of account opening. **When you pay off your balance in full and on time each month.

QuickBooks. It’s about time.

Whether you are self-employed, a sole trader or run a small business, Intuit QuickBooks helps you do the expenses faster with no financial experience required. Our easy-to-use accounting software will keep you on top of the books, freeing up more time for you to spend elsewhere. Start your free online trial today.

Grow your business with factoring, an alternative to business loans

Balance your cashflow with factoring and use the funds to grow your business. The more you invoice the more you can borrow, no need to re-negotiate with the bank. Compare factoring quotes online.