The entire Tendring District is covered by Selective Finance for Investment in England (SFI). Small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) intending to invest in capital projects may be eligible for grants of up to 15% of project costs. Sector, location and the size of a company will have a bearing on the amount of grant potentially available. Grant eligibility will depend on productivity and training levels.

The Scheme is administered in the East of England by the the East of England Development Agency.

What is SFI?
SFI is discretionary and normally takes the form of a grant or occasionally a loan. 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.

Who Qualifies?
Most manufacturing businesses are eligible to apply, as are businesses in service industries that supply a national rather than local market. Applicants can be companies, partnerships or sole traders. Grants are not available simply to 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.

European Commission restrictions apply in some sectors, including synthetic fibre, vehicles, steel, coal and agricultural products. Restrictions may also apply where projects are in sectors of the UK market which are already fully served and where support would simply displace or reduce existing jobs in similar businesses elsewhere.

How much?
The amount depends on the needs of the project and its impact on productivity and skills. Successful businesses typically receive around 10-15% of a project's total eligible capital expenditure but support can vary widely either side of these figures depending on the need and quality of the project. There is a minimum application threshold of £10,000 assistance. Grant is normally calculated as a proportion of eligible capital investment. However, where this expenditure is insufficient, grant may be assessed against new jobs created.

Funds are normally payable in instalments on reaching fixed capital expenditure and job targets, which are set out in a formal offer of support.

For further details and an application form visit the East of England Development Agency website or contact Sally Looker,
Inward Investment, Tourism and Business Liaison Manager, Tendring District Council,
Council Offices, Thorpe Road, Weeley, Essex CO16 9AJ

Tel: 01255 686351 E-mail: slooker@tendringdc.gov.uk