Interest Free Loans and Grants to aid the Purchase of Capital Equipment

Microdat within our own business have developed expertises in accessing government grants and loans to develop Microdat into its new role as a high tech productive business. Our team of experts in this field are happy to assist any brewery considering purchasing new plant or services from Microdat or M-Projects in finding and accessing grants and loans.

The critical factor you must first consider is the size of your business and who owns the business. Whilst large business can receive grants and loans the small business can usually receive higher levels of grants. 

The micro business enterprise

• You must be independent, not own by a large group,
• You must employ less than 10 employees
• Your turnover or balance sheet must not exceed 2M euro’s

The small business enterprise

• You must be independent, not own by a large group, 
• You must employ less than 50 employees
• Your turnover or balance sheet must not exceed 10M euro’s

The Medium-sized business enterprise

• You must be independent, not own by a large group, 
• You must employ less than 250 employees
• Your turnover or balance sheet must not exceed 50M euro’s

The above guide is an approximation if you are close to a threshold please check further.

The next key element is location. The largest grants are available in Tier 3 areas in Tier 1 areas; grants may only be available to SME’s with more usually being available to small business.

A city or rural location is also a key factor as some grants are channelled through DEFRA

Start up businesses can also attract different funding it is important to know when your business started trading under 1 year old and under or under 3 years old?

To search for grants your best stating place is your regional Business Link you can find this by going to www.businesslink.gov.uk and entering your postcode, this will deliver you to your regional business link from whom you can request assistance, however as with all organisations there is good and not so good. There are many other sources of grants available some from your local city council and others via the regional development agencies but in most cases be careful to research the grant and your application before submission.

If you require assistance from Microdat please send us your basic details and we will search for you and report back the available grants and any other options for low cost loans and interest free loans to assist you.

Below are examples of the range of assistance programmes available...

GBI (Grants for Business Investment) (RSA) Regional Selective Assistance

England & Northern Ireland Scotland & Wales

These are available to all businesses in a Tier 1 assisted areas small and medium sized businesses can get grants in Tier 2 & 3. Yorkshire and Humberside has Tier 2 and 3-area status. Tier 2 status is mainly South Yorkshire and Humberside but not all. The level of grant is up to 25% from a minimum of £10K.

These grants are for capital investments ie new plant, buildings etc

Grants are also available from City Councils like Leeds City Council who can provide up to £10K for capital expenditure when additional local staff are employed.

Rural Grants

In rural areas there are grants both for new business start-ups and expanding businesses

(REIP) Rural Enterprise Investment Programme, this can provide grants from £25K for 30% to 40% of a project.

There are also grants for small rural start up businesses The Rural Business Start-Up Programme grants up to £10K are available for businesses less than 1 year old.

Manufacturing Advisory Service

Grants are available to provide consultancy services to improve and develop small businesses. These can often be used to cover cost associated with brewery developments ie architects and process consultant costs, typically M-Projects process design fees can be covered this way often providing 50% grant. This is regionally controlled and does vary from region to region. M-project has currently worked with MAS in the West Midlands and are in discussion with MAS Yorkshire & Humberside.

Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA’s)

These can help reduce your corporation tax bill; the high efficiency drives used on Microdat machines often qualify for ECA’s.

Interest Free Loans

Where a project can deliver significant energy or green house gas emissions saving the Carbon Trust can supply interest free, unsecured loans up to a maximum of £200K. Many of Microdat’s current fillers and washers can qualify under this scheme. For example if a microbrewer is washing casks with an industrial pressure-washer-steam-cleaner the energy consumption will be much higher than a modular cask washer, hence a loan could be applied for. Larger breweries replacing an old cask washer for a new Microdat washer can also apply for a loan. M-Projects and Microdat can assist with energy calculations and in completing the paper work.