Devon County Council - Funding & Support
Invest in Devon provides assistance and support to those seeking to invest in Devon. They have established a wide range of contacts within local councils, business enterprise organizations, and regional development agencies.
Additionally, Invest in Devon serves as a first point of contact, available to answer questions about the county and the opportunities which are presented in the Devon economy. For further information, contact Invest in Devon directly here.
Financial Assistance/Grants
There are two major sources of grant funding and financial support available in Devon.
The Grant for Business Investment provides support for sustainable business investment and job creation projects. The grant is administered directly by the South West Regional Development Agency and is part of the Solutions for Business programme. Projects which are deemed suitable for the grant can receive anywhere from £1,000 to £1 million. Further information is available here.
As a replacement to the Grant Research and Development, the Technology Strategy Board has taken the role previously filled by that programme. It is a government-funded initiative to boost UK growth and productivity. A range of potential opportunities for funding are available, and these may be found here.
For further information, please contact Invest in Devon directly here.
Loans
A range of loan programmes are available for Devon, currently administered by the South West Regional Development Agency.
The Enterprise Finance Guarantee is a government funded scheme which can provide anywhere from £1,000 to £1 million for viable businesses in order to provide working capital and investment funds. For further information on the scheme, please click here.
The South West Loans Fund is administered by Business Link. This is a programme for businesses which have been unable to raise funds through traditional sources. Loans of up to £50,000 are available. For more information, contact Business Link South West here.
A full list of the potential loans funds available in the South West which are supported by the South West Regional Development Agency may be found here.
Incentives, Tax and Others
Devon has a proven track record of business success, with the highest business survival rate in Britain, and overheads which are up to 5% lower than the UK average. Workers in the South West also enjoy the UK’s highest levels of happiness, motivation and pleasure in their surroundings.
For further information regarding incentives to invest in Devon, contact Invest in Devon directly here.
Venture & Equity Capital
Capital for Enterprise Ltd are a professional asset management company which specialises in the design, implementation and management of finance to support small and medium sized enterprises across the UK, including Devon.
In total, more than £500 million has been committed to 40 venture funds, making them the largest single investor in UK venture capital funds. A further £1.5 billion is expected to be handed out by 2015.
The South West Regional Development Agency can provide support in applications for this funding.
More on Capital for Enterprise.
Business Accommodation Assistance
As part of the process of investing into Devon, assistance may be granted with locating, visiting and negotiating for property in the region. Devon has a wide range of industrial and commercial property which is available for investment, as well as undeveloped land.
A database of property is maintained by Invest in Devon here. Potential investors are also encouraged to contact the agency directly with their enquiries.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Invest in Devon has a wide network of contacts in both the public and private sector, and can recommend a variety of sector specific support services for the needs of individual investors. For more information, contact Invest in Devon directly here.
