Business success is often driven by innovation. In the UK a wide range of initiatives are available to help small businesses make the most of their research and development programmes.
Schemes and networks supported by the government offer businesses access to expert advice from specialist organisations as well as other businesses. These include Chambers of Commerce and the Enterprise Europe Network as well as a number of online networks.
As location can also be a vital factor in the success of your business, science parks and assisted areas have been established to help companies grow and to promote science and technology.
This guide explains what support is available to businesses. It covers schemes and networks that provide practical advice or that can put you in touch with others that can help. It also explains how science parks and similar environments work and how they could benefit your business.
Table of Contents
Knowledge Transfer Support
The government offers a range of Solutions for Business products to help business benefit from the knowledge and expertise of other businesses and academic institutions:
- Networking for Innovation.
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) – see the page on Knowledge Transfer Partnerships in our guide on how to work with UK universities and colleges. Also, see the page on how the Technology Strategy Board can help your business in our guide on the Technology Strategy Board.
Solutions for Business is a Government Business Support Scheme that is only available in England. Support for businesses is different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Read more about Solutions for Business in our guide on government support for businesses.
KTPs
KTPs enable businesses to benefit from the expertise of organisations like further education colleges, universities or research institutes.
Recently qualified people at NVQ level 4 or above are recruited to work in the business as a Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate. Projects last between ten weeks and three years, and address product design, manufacturing, product or management processes, computing or management information.
You can find information on KTPs on the Technology Strategy Board website – Opens in a new window.
Find out about the range of support for business included in the government’s Solutions for Business portfolio.
Virtual support networks
Virtual support networks exist online to enable businesses to interact and to share ideas and tips for progressing. They can help you to contact other businesses or organisations within your own specialism or area of expertise that you might otherwise have been unaware of or have been unable to connect with.
There are a number of virtual business support websites available, which enable people involved in research and development to access other businesses for support and mutual advice.
Some businesses may prefer to create their own business network for their specialism or industry. There are organisations online that can help you to set up your own e-community, using their contacts and technical expertise. Find out about creating an e-community yourself on the Virtual Business Network (VBN) website – Opens in a new window.
There are websites offering mutual support in specific industry sectors. These include Business Innovation Link (BIL) which provides Northern Ireland’s inventors and innovators with assistance for new product ideas and the Innovator’s Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland (ICASS), which provides specialist advice and support for inventors and innovative companies.
You can:
- find information for businesses in Northern Ireland on the BIL website – Opens in a new window
- find advice and information for businesses in Scotland on the ICASS website – Opens in a new window
The Enterprise Europe Network
The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides support and advice to businesses across Europe and helps them make the most of the opportunities in the European Union (EU) and globally. The EEN:
- provides information on EU legislation
- offers help in finding a business partner
- provides access to innovation networks or information on funding opportunities
- brings together sellers and buyers of innovative ideas and products
- aims to help businesses promote new technologies or find new ways to meet a technology need
EEN partner organisations in the UK operate across the country. The partner organisations consist of Chambers of Commerce, universities and other qualified bodies.
EEN partners work by:
- visiting companies to discuss and assess their needs
- identifying technologies that could help businesses develop
- matching companies with suitable European partners or technologies and arranging visits to them
- helping companies promote their innovative technologies throughout Europe
- helping companies and research departments make innovative technologies available to each other – technology transfer
- advising on all stages of technology transfer, including valuing technologies, negotiating contracts, intellectual property and financing
- developing the research and innovation capacities of small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) by encouraging co-operation with other research bodies, fostering technological co-operation and holding brokerage events
- helping SMEs to share research results, participate in research programmes and apply for funding – particularly from the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7)
Find out about sharing ideas and solutions to problems on the EEN website – Opens in a new window.
You can also find a local EEN partner on the EEN website – Opens in a new window.
Business innovation centres
Business innovation centres (BICs) give support to innovative businesses and entrepreneurs. They aim to help young companies survive and grow during the start-up period when they are most vulnerable. This is known as incubation.
Services include:
- information about sharing premises with similar companies, such as in a science park – for more information see the page in this guide on science parks
- advice about management, strategy and planning
- technological help
- help with finding manufacturers and markets for innovative products and services
- expert partnership and mentoring
- access to training
- access to other sources of help
The European Community runs a scheme to certify BICs, of which more than 150 are gathered under the umbrella of the European Business Network (EBN).
Search a list of EBN members on the EBN website – Opens in a new window.
You can also keep up to date with all the latest news about incubators on the UK Business Incubation (UKBI) website – Opens in a new window.
Science parks
A science park brings together a group of knowledge-based businesses, along with support and advice to help the businesses grow.
The support each science park offers varies, but typical services include:
- help with premises
- technology expertise
- business services ranging from advice on intellectual property to security and cleaning facilities
How science parks differ
Supported through a variety of local, regional, national and European Union funds, the structure of science parks can vary and there is no common formula for ownership. Universities, local authorities, private companies and property developers can all be involved in different ways and to different levels.
The UK now has over 100 science parks. ‘Science park’ is the umbrella term used for research parks, technology parks, incubators, innovation centres and technoparks. Different types of science park have different aims, for instance:
- an incubator supports new businesses during their early years
- some science parks specialise in a particular industry, such as biotechnology or information technology
- a research park may only allow research and development businesses on it
Science parks have formal and operational links with centres of knowledge creation, such as universities, in areas such as:
- technology transfer
- sourcing venture capital
- student placements
- marketing assistance
For example, businesses in the science park can tap into a university’s resources and may be able to commercially exploit research being carried out there.
Chambers of Commerce
The British Chambers of Commerce form a network of 100 quality-accredited chambers throughout the UK.
Becoming a member of a chamber gives a business access to services such as:
- training
- information
- resources
- networking
- savings on essential overheads
Some services are available online. Larger chambers may offer schemes to encourage innovation and foster best practice. Many areas also have more informal networks, some supporting particular industries.
You can also find business networks on the bFORA website – Opens in a new window.
Assisted areas
One of the ways in which the government’s development agencies help particular areas to develop is by creating assisted areas.
Assisted areas are those locations where regional aid may be granted under European Union legislation. Businesses based in regions classified as assisted areas may benefit from a grant if they stimulate regional development, urban regeneration or an improvement in employment prospects.
There are two main assisted area grant schemes in Britain:
- The Grant for Business Investment (GBI) helps fund new investment projects that lead to long-term improvements in productivity, skills and employment. The scheme is now closed for new applications, except for large exceptional projects and offshore wind equipment. Read about the GBI on the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) website – Opens in a new window.
- Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) Scotland is aimed at encouraging new investment projects, strengthening existing employment and new job creation. Find out about RSA Scotland on the Scottish Enterprise website – Opens in a new window.
Current Assisted Areas Map
The current Assisted Areas Map came into effect on 13 February 2007, and remains in force until 31 December 2013. You can view the Current Assisted Areas map on the BIS website – Opens in a new window.
Regional Growth Fund
The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) operates across England from 2011 to 2014. It supports projects that create economic growth and long-term employment. RGF aims particularly to help areas that are currently dependent on the public sector.
Read about the RGF on the BIS website – Opens in a new window.
Business clusters
The success of an industry in a particular geographical area might not just be related to the cost of production. For example, businesses can benefit from the presence of local expertise, a pool of skilled labour, or research and development facilities. The cluster concept aims to build on this idea.
Clusters are geographically close, interconnected companies and specialised suppliers within certain fields that work and co-operate with each other, as well as being competitors.
Support for these clusters includes helping companies access a skilled workforce, quality universities, good sites and investment capital. Growth in these clusters also attracts suitable suppliers and even customers to the area. Read about business clusters on the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) website – Opens in a new window.
The Small Business Research Initiative
The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) is run by the Technology Strategy Board and aims to stimulate the creation of innovative new products and services. See the page on the Small Business Research Initiative in our guide on the Technology Strategy Board.
Through the SBRI, government departments run competitions to seek solutions to specific issues. For example, could you look into ways of reducing the weight that soldiers have to carry or could you create new energy-efficient technologies?
Successful applicants to these competitions receive fully funded development contracts with the relevant government department rather than a grant. The business retains intellectual property rights.
The SBRI process
Once applications have been processed, the most interesting ideas are selected. There are then two main phases.
Phase 1 – demonstration of scientific, technical and commercial feasibility. This lasts six months and is worth about £50,000-£100,000. Projects are then assessed for Phase 2 funding. Not all projects will go through to the second phase.
Phase 2 – prototype development. This lasts about two years and is worth £250,000-£1 million. Businesses can then commercialise their product and offer it to government departments and others under normal procurement processes. See our guide for an overview on selling to government.
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