Please find below answers to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about our service. Please contact us if your query is not covered in this FAQ page.
Our FAQ section covers the following list of questions
- skip to section What kind of businesses do we support?
- skip to section Do you provide support in every region of the UK?
- skip to section How will you work with me?
- skip to section Does our support cost anything?
- skip to section How much time do we benefit from?
- skip to section What is the relationship between Innovate UK Business Growth and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)?
- Subsidies
What kind of businesses do we support?
Typically they have witnessed, or are expecting, strong growth but they can be an early stage, growth stage or scaling business with up to 250 employees. As such, they can be pre-revenue or already earning millions. They can come from any sector but in every case their leaders are ambitious to grow further and scale.
They may or may not have been in receipt of Innovate UK funding: Whilst we provide specialist ‘wrap-around’ activities to businesses in receipt of Innovate UK funding to maximise the value and impact of a grant or loan, other innovative high growth potential and scaling businesses that may not need our funding can benefit from Innovate UK Business Growth support.
Do you provide support in every region of the UK?
Our innovation and growth specialists are located in every region of the UK, bringing a wealth of domain knowledge and regional and national connections to client engagements.
How will you work with me?
Our innovation and growth specialists are at the heart of our offer, alongside tools, events, peer-to-peer networks and programmes that foster the connectivity and knowledge that drive innovative businesses forward.
Our specialists offer one-to-one, bespoke and intensive support and coaching. They provide an external perspective and a structured approach to help senior management teams identify and address critical issues and achieve growth and scaling. They also catalyse business partnerships and enable new market entry. We deploy hundreds of such specialists with backgrounds in a number of sectors, so you can be sure of dedicated support that is local to you, with access to an extensive pool of domain experts.
Secondly, we can bring an array of resources to bear to help our clients unlock global business partnering opportunities. We can connect innovative businesses across borders through our partnerships tool and our connections to an expansive network of specialist advisers overseas, whilst we arrange intensive programmes supported by our specialists such as the Global Business Innovation Programme and highly focused and productive brokerage events.
Does our support cost anything?
No, our advisory support is funded by the UK Government, although some aspects of the offer such as IP Audits attract a grant from us, with a minority contribution from the client.
How much time do we benefit from?
Our innovation and growth specialists and scaleup directors can spend a number of days supporting each of our clients over a shorter or longer period, according to need and potential, typically between 5-15 days.
What is the relationship between Innovate UK Business Growth and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)?
Until December 30th 2020, you would have had support from an EEN innovation and growth specialist. After that date, your support is provided by an Innovate UK Business Growth innovation and growth specialist.
The change reflects the fact that Innovate UK has placed growth and scaling support at the centre of its strategy for business innovation in the UK. From jointly funding the services provided under EEN with the EU, it completed a transition to become the sole funder of these services from January 2022.
Subsidies
Innovate UK Business Growth aims to support business development services. We may provide financial and non-financial business development support to enterprises at a 100% for up to £315,000
