Sources of Funding (at Autumn 2014)
The Gov.uk website is a superb starting point for everything you need to know about business
finance: www.gov.uk/business-finance-explained.
This guide offers a snapshot of the following financing options:
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Investment Finance
Crowdfunding
Loans & Overdrafts
Support for Innovation and Technology
INVESTMENT FINANCE
Xenos – the Wales Business Angel Network
http://www.xenos.co.uk
Angel CoFund
The fund invests across the UK and will consider proposals for businesses at all stages of
development and in most sectors, provided they qualify as an SME
www.angelcofund.co.uk
Angels Den
Where experienced Angel investors and the crowd combine to fund great businesses
www.angelsden.co.uk
The British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
VCs (or private equity firms) invest in high-potential growth businesses in order to generate a
return in the event of an IPO or trade sale. Visit the British Venture Capital Association website
to see a list of members.
http://www.bvca.co.uk/
European Investment Fund (EIF)
For entrepeneurs looking for finance, the EIF lists a number of fund managers in EU countries.
www.eif.org/what_we_do/where/gb/index.htm
CROWDFUNDING
List of the top crowdfunding websites (by traffic)
http://www.crowdfunding.com
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Crowdfunder
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/about/about-us
Kickstarter: Funding for creative projects
https://www.kickstarter.com/hello?ref=footer
LOANS & OVERDRAFTS
Bank loans and overdrafts
Visit the banks’ own websites to view up-to-date information on loans and overdrafts
British Business Bank
The British Business Bank is a state-backed economic development bank, bringing together
public and private sector money to create more effective finance markets for smaller UK
businesses.
http://british-business-bank.co.uk/applying-for-finance/
Finding Finance
Website to find local finance options for Small Businesses unable to borrow from banks and
building societies, and people who may otherwise use High-cost Loan Companies. Provided by
the Community Development Finance Institutions.
http://www.findingfinance.org.uk/
Carbon Trust Financing
The Carbon Trust can help your business put cost-saving energy efficiency strategies into
practice, with leases, loans, finance and implementation support to make energy efficiency easy
www.carbontrust.co.uk/cut-carbon-reduce-costs/productsservices/financing/pages/financing.aspx
New Enterprise Allowance (NEA)
A scheme available to help Job Seekers start their own business.
www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/new-enterprise-allowance
SUPPORT FOR INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
EU funding: Horizon 2020
An EU Programme for funding research and innovation.
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/how-get-funding
Eurostars
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The EUREKA's Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be
specifically dedicated to SMEs helping them lead international collaborative research and
innovation.
www.eurekanetwork.org/activities/eurostars
Technology Strategy Board (TSB)
The TSB encourages innovation and provides a number of awards, grants and innovation
vouchers
https://www.innovateuk.org/funding-support
Includes (but not limited to):
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SMART funding for SMEs
The Smart scheme tackles the funding gap often experienced by many small and early-stage
companies with innovative ideas and high growth ambition and potential. It offers cofunding to UK-based pre-start-ups, start-ups, micro businesses and SMEs, to carry out
science, engineering and technology R&D projects which could lead to successful new
products, processes and services.
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Innovation vouchers
Innovation Vouchers are designed to encourage businesses to look outside their current
network for new knowledge that can help them to grow and develop. Start-ups and small
and medium-sized businesses from across the UK can apply for an Innovation Voucher.
Themes for each round are available on the Innovation Vouchers site. A grant of up to
£5000 is available to businesses to work with a supplier for the first time and is used to pay
for knowledge or technology transfer from that supplier.
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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) are a tried and tested method of enabling
companies to obtain knowledge, technology or skills which they consider to be of strategic
competitive importance, from the further/higher education sector or from a research.
www.innovateuk.org/-/knowledge-transfer-partnerships
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SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative)
SBRI provides innovative solutions to challenges faced by the public sector, leading to better
public services and improved efficiency and effectiveness. It generates new business
opportunities for companies, provides small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) a route
to market for their ideas and bridges the seed funding gap experienced by many early stage
companies. It supports economic growth and enables the development of innovative
products and services through the public procurement of research and development (R&D).
Welsh Government Support
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If you are thinking about implementing new ideas in your business, creating new, dynamic
products, or improving your existing services, you might be eligible for support from WG’s
innovation programmes.
http://business.wales.gov.uk/growing-business/welsh-government-support-1/supportinnovation-0
Royal Society Enterprise Fund
The Royal Society Enterprise Fund is a new initiative aimed at providing equity finance and other
support to start up companies with outstanding commercial potential founded on excellent
science and technology.
www.royalsociety.org/investment
NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
An innovation charity supporting ideas that improves lives
http://www.nesta.org.uk/get-funding
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON BUSINESS FINANCE
Research Engagement Innovation Services – Swansea University
researchandinnovation@swansea.ac.uk
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)
Working through local business organisations EEN helps companies understand and exploit their
IPR, develop business in new markets, source or licence new technologies and access EU finance
and funding.
www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/about/branches
Great Business
Website providing advice and guidance on staffing, finance, expanding and running a business.
Sign up for e-newsletters or look at some of the further linkages and resources provided.
www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/financing-a-business
FundMap
FundMap provides easy navigation to the grants and funding for businesses in the UK technology
sector.
www.fundmap.co.uk
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