Below is a brief list of public sector support available from other agencies. There are very few grant schemes at the moment and new businesses should not rely on grants to help them start up their business.

CALLING ENTREPRENEURS IN SEARCH OF FUNDING

‘Understanding Finance for Business’ workshops – January – June 2010
including 28 January at IP City Centre

If you are starting or growing a business and you’re looking for funding of more than £10,000, you may need help to work through the different options to identify which type of funding will work best for your business.  Grant? Bank? Friends & Family? Business angel? Venture Capitalist?  There’s a bewildering choice of options, some of which come with strings attached, begging a host of questions. 

Sign up for “Understanding Finance for Business” and you’ll get the answers you need from experts in business finance.  The programme is free of charge and starts with an informative and interactive workshop before progressing to more detailed workshops and/or mentoring.  There are spaces on workshops in Harlow, Ipswich, Hethel, Cambridge, Stevenage, Luton, Chelmsford and Norwich.  Follow this link for testimonials, dates/venues etc or to sign up: www.eeda.org.uk/finance

Do you need funding for a large capital investment such as purchase of land or buildings, installation of large machinery or new processes? Selective Finance for Investment in England is a discretionary scheme designed to support businesses intending to make investments in order to grow.

The primary objective of this scheme is to drive growth in the East of England's businesses by improving productivity and creating or safeguarding skilled jobs.

Grants will, on average, cover 7.5 per cent to 15 per cent of the project's total cost. £10,000 is the minimum grant value available. For further information click here.

Are you looking to develop an innovative process or product, make a prototype or run a feasibility study? Then the Research & Development Grant can provide a significant amount of funding to help you. For further information click here.

Having trouble raising a loan from your bank because you do not have enough assets for security? Then the Small Firms Business Loan Scheme can help. This government funded scheme can help to guarentee business loans up to £250,000.

Business Link East

www.businesslinkeast.org.uk
The latest information on  any grants, financial support and advice for all types of businesses based in Suffolk

Foundation East

www.foundationeast.org This organisation lends money to new businesses, existing businesses, self employed people and social enterprises that can’t get a loan from a bank or need additional funds to match bank lending.

The Carbon Trust

Interest-free energy loans
Help and advice for businesses looking to reduce energy consumption, reduce carbon emission and develop new technologies.

Eastex - Suffolk Materials Exchange

www.eastex.org.uk
Help to reduce your waste by advertising and selling your surplus materials.