Grant for Business Investment in England (GBI)
The aim of the GBI scheme is to encourage capital investment in projects that lead to long-term improvements in productivity, skills and employment. GBI is one of a number of products developed under the “Solutions for Business” banner, for more details on this, please visit the BERR website.
GBI is a discretionary grant and most manufacturing businesses are eligible to apply, as are businesses in service industries that supply a national rather than local market. Applicants can be all sizes of companies, partnerships or soletraders; however the grant is not available to simply transfer jobs from one part of the country to another. Assistance can be provided to:
- Establish a new business
- Expand/ modernise/ rationalise an existing business
- Set up research and development facilities
- Enable businesses to take the next step from development to production
The map shown below shows the Assisted Area coverage for the North East from 1 January 2007. The maximum grant rate available is:
- Small companies (50 employees or less); 35%
- Medium companies (between 50 and 250 employees); 25%
- Large companies (more than 250 employees); 15%
You can check if you fall within the Assisted Area by using the BERR postcode database
All projects must meet the scheme criteria and in each case the amount and terms of assistance will be negotiated as the minimum necessary for the proposed project to go ahead. There is a minimum threshold for applications of £10,000 grant.
The GBI scheme succeeds the Selective Finance for Investment (SFI) scheme.
For further information, please follow the links below:
Grant Criteria
All GBI applications are assessed against these criteria
How to Apply
Information on how to make an application for the Grant for Business Investment Scheme
How to Claim
Information on how to make a claim for a live Grant for Business Investment project
Information for Independent Accountants
Information for accountants certifying a Grant for Business Investment claim
