Company Formation Grants
It is often the case that local bodies will be awarded funds from central government with the purpose of distributing grants to local businesses. The idea behind this approach is that local grant providers are better placed to ascertain which causes require funding and which companies will be most likely to achieve their stated objectives.
Some of the main areas where local (and central) grants may be provided are:
* Exploration in to new areas - the acquisition of new technologies by research and development is high on central governments priority list.
* Provision of support and information - these are primarily designed to indirectly aid companies who either can not afford or who can not access expert knowledge.
* Skills training - the retaining of people is becoming increasingly important in today's fast moving, technology driven society.
* Income support grants for employers and individuals to encourage the recruitment of staff and to provide incentives for absence workers to rejoin the employed ranks of society.
* Grants for young business people help to encourage the younger generation to explorer and initiate their business ideas. Various flexible options exist so that ventures can be undertaken without undue pressures on other areas such as family life.
* Regional grant seek to bring whole communities in line to national average standards. Assistance is usually provided following the failure or down sizing of a prominent local industry.
* Improvement funds may be available to encourage businesses to adopt best practices for example in health and safety