smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

There are 'huge differences' from region to region in the quantity of subsidies and financial help available to SMEs, one business expert claims.

StartupCo says that the differences extend from the level of funding to the areas of assistance local authorities can help with, and can apply even between sub-regions.

John de Groot, director of StartupCo, points out that regional development agencies are more likely to target the specific areas of their region which will provide the best financial return.

'Therefore it may take the view that both extreme ends of the business spectrum require some support, which in turn creates unevenness in the levels of supports it provides across its patch,' he states.

'There just isn't enough public money to help everybody,' he concludes.

SMEs applying for grants outside of the UK, such as the European Social Fund, can also upset the financial balance, states the company.