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09/06/2010
Grants could plug gap in your finances
Daily Mail article by Nic Paton
5th June 2010
Small firms have been turning to business grants as a secondary source of 'free' money while bank funding remains hard to find.
Specialist grants database GRANTfinder says enquiries from small businesses about how to secure grant funding have risen by a third in the past year.
The first challenge is working out what is on offer and where the firms are most likely to be successful. The European Union offers an array of grants, as do the Government, local and regional agencies and authorities.
There are also many specialist grant providers, particularly for green projects. Government-funded Business Link provides advice, while many local papers publicise details of funds available.
Rebecca Erskine, head of research and corporate services at GRANTfinder, says firms should focus on the desired outcome when applying - for example creating or retaining jobs, or improving local amenities. 'Some funders will want to come to your organisation and speak to people,' she says.
Another option is to use a specialist grants consultancy service. Chris Smith, joint managing director of fuel technology company G-Volution, based in Bath, Somerset, used PNO Consultants of Wilmslow, Cheshire, to help it find relevant grants. The £1 million turnover firm, which employs ten people and in 2008 won a £40,000 Shell Springboard Award, last year secured £70,000 of funding through the Carbon Trust.
'The past couple of years have been difficult for businesses, so if there is money available and people willing to help then it makes sense to make use of it,' says Chris, 48. 'But there is a real skill to applying. Some of the language can be hard to interpret.'
Chris Wilshaw, director at PNO, says small firms often fail to recognise that grants rarely provide 100 per cent of the funding.
He warns: 'Firms that don't stick to the reporting requirements laid down by the grants body risk losing out on claiming the full grant available.'
read more >> 09/06/2010
27 May 2010
Click here for original article
Manchester based, Byotrol Technology Ltd has been awarded a £443,824 Grant for Research and Development by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to develop an innovative bio-medical product.
Based in Collyhurst Manchester, Byotrol develop, patent and sell products based on highly innovative anti-microbial technology.
With NWDA assistance the company are able to develop a second generation solution that will kill bacteria on application and remain active, continuing to protect surfaces for a period of time.
Current anti-bacterial technology works by killing bacteria, but once the formulation dries it becomes ineffective, leaving the area prone to recontamination. The Byotrol formula will remain active after drying providing ongoing protection.
The project will safeguard 5 jobs and create 3 new roles by 2013.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive, NWDA said:
"As Europe's biggest Biomanufacturing region, this project will position England's Northwest as a leader in next generation anti-microbial technology. There is a clear commercial potential for the product, which could benefit large organisations such as the NHS and MoD."
Dr Gary Millar, CEO for Byotrol Technology commented:
"We are very excited and proud to have been awarded an Exceptional R & D grant by the Northwest Regional Development Agency. The confidence of NWDA in both our technology and our ambition to develop new anti-microbial products aimed at the Healthcare, Foods and Consumer sectors "is truly appreciated.
"The grant will help Byotrol to grow our technical resources at our laboratory at Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus and build good science around anti-microbial technology in a challenging and very topical market ."
The Grants for Research and Development scheme aims to help entrepreneurs and business owners introduce innovative products and processes including research trials and product testing. Grant for Research and Development is designed specifically to support innovative projects that have a solid commercial potential.
The NWDA is playing a crucial role in response to the current economic downturn, with a number of actions being taken to meet the needs of businesses during these financially challenging times. To keep updated on the range of support being offered by the NWDA go to - NWDA Supporting Business
For more information about how your business could access grant funding call 0161 488 3488 read more >> 28/05/2010
Vince Cable, newly named Business Secretary of the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition governement has given his support to the North West Development Agency, the West Midlands Development Agency and Yorkshire Forward at a recent visit to the NWDA headquarters in Warrington. As the government reviews the public sector budget with a view to cutting the UK deficit he stated that all RDAs will become ‘local enterprise partnerships’ between local authorities and business groups but will in essence be structurally the same in so-called ‘popular’ agencies.
The northern RDAs have proved popular with business leaders and councils. Mr Cable highlighted the North West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands as regions where the work of RDAs had a role “where there are serious structural problems and where there appears there is broad agreement they are doing a good job”. He said: “There seems to be a political will in support of this kind of structure in the North West. I have not come here wielding an axe. I want to support the North West”.
However there was is more concern for the East of England and South East Development Agencies with the Business Secretary statiing that these will face cuts as part of the £6 billion savings due to be announced by the Treasury. Mr Cable said: ‘It is very difficult to see the justification for RDAs in the south-east and east, prosperous regions with a large private sector.’
This news makes it important for businesses in the South of England to apply for grants for planned project as soon as possible as the budgets for funding 2010 in place- they may not be in 2011. read more >> 30/03/2010 The NWDA has made available £2m of funding for SMEs to develop and demonstrate innovative Carbon emission reducing technologies, under the auspices of the Climate Change Action Plan. This money is available through the Grant for Research and Development (GRAND) scheme, with grants of between £20k and £250k being available up to a total of 40% of the overall project costs. Projects investigated new and innovative technologies from the following categories are invited to apply for grant funding: waste treatment and recycling, water pollution, air pollution, land remediation and energy generation and energy efficiency devices. To find out if your project is suitable contact one Helen Carr (0161 488 3488).
Research and Development grantsIf interested in this article you might be also interested in information on Research and Development grants. 27/01/2010
What are R&D Tax Credits?Introduced by the UK Government in April 2000 for SME’s and subsequently extended to include Large companies in 2002, it is a tax incentive scheme that can reduce a company’s tax liability by offsetting appropriate qualifying R&D expenditure. The credit is made available either as a tax deduction based on R&D spend or it may be possible for certain loss making SME’s to surrender their losses in return for a cash payment from HMRC. The Governments aim with this scheme is to stimulate innovation through Research & Development activity within businesses in the UK and attract non UK companies who may be looking to locate an R&D facility to the UK.
FactIt is a sad fact that less than 7,500 (data published Dec 2009 by BIS) out of an estimated 150,000 businesses take advantage of this scheme.
Important changesFrom 1st April 2008 HMRC extended the SME scheme to companies with more than 500 employees (previously 250) with an annual turnover not exceeding €100 m and/or an annual balance sheet not exceeding €86 m. This brings many companies who would have previously applied through the Large Company scheme into the more beneficial SME scheme.
Next stepsLearn more about the R&D Tax Credits or contact James Craven or call on 0161 488 3488. read more >> 02/04/2009
Arnhem, 3 March 2009
Grant consultancy PNO today unveils its new corporate identity, designed by 2D3D from the Netherlands. Thanks to this new look and feel, the communication is in line with the objective of being Europe’s number one in grants consultancy.
With the new pay off “Inspire Improve Impact”, the company communicates exactly what grants consultancy represents for organisations. “First we inspire clients with our ideas about the strategic implementation of grants. Then we improve their projects, because of awarded grants. Finally, there is this huge impact on the society, because thanks to grants, products, investments and processes are organised in a more innovative or sustainable way”, CEO Willem Zandbergen explains.
From now on, econet in Spain, CiaoTech in Italy and PNO in the rest of Europe are communicating as one and the same company. The endorsed identities econet and CioaTech are visually linked to PNO, which strengthens the overall brand identity.
There was an urgent need to adapt the brand identity of the company since the acquisitions of the Spanish econet, the Italian CiaoTech and, recently, the Romanian Regioconsult.
The entire corporate identity project includes the launch of a totally new website in 13 countries.
PNO is an international company focused on advising organisations in the area of grants. The company assists organisations in obtaining and implementing grants. Furthermore, the company provides advice to companies in structuring their grant processes. PNO provides services throughout Europe to a wide range of organisations, from multinationals to SME companies, non-profit organisations, universities and governments.
Its 500 employees work in 13 European countries in one of PNO’s 40 branches. In Spain PNO operates under the econet brand name and in Italy under the CiaoTech brand name.
End of press release
Download read more >> 02/04/2009 Arnhem, 2 July 2007
PNO has acquired the grant consultancy department of Ernst & Young in the Netherlands. With this purchase, PNO consolidates its position as major independent grant consultancy organisation in the Europe.
Joint forces
By July 1st, 2007, the Dutch grant consultancy PNO integrates all grant consultancy activities as well as grant advisors and consultants from Ernst & Young Tax Advisors. Most important reasons for PNO are a further consolidation of the number one-position in the Netherlands, and a stronger position on the European market for grants consultancy. “Thanks to 50 new colleagues, we raise additional knowledge and expertise. This means an important advantage in the market of grants, that is known for its high level of expertise. Furthermore, this purchase is in line with our European ambitions”, Willem Zandbergen, CEO of PNO says.
European number one in grants consultancy
PNO have the ambition to be number one in grants consultancy in Europe. Therefore, from the year 2000, the Dutch company has launched its own offices in several European countries. International clients with different European establishments are locally serviced by one and the same company for all their grant-aided funding.
Independent
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Besides European coverage, clients seem to appreciate more and more the independent, specialised advice of grants consultancy. CEO Zandbergen explains: “This reinforcement by 50 new colleagues is very important for us. Finally, grant schemes, grant applications and their implementation in the organisation turn out to be complicated. That is the reason why organisations prefer hiring independent grant experts in stead of missing out on this grant aided funding. The profession ‘grant consultant’ has grown to maturity.”
End of press release
Download | 02/04/2009 Arnhem/Bucharest, 12 September 2008
Grant consultancy PNO acquires the Romanian grant consultancy RegioConsult. This is the fourth acquisition of PNO, after having integrated the Dutch Grants and Incentives department of Ernst & Young and the Spanish grant consultancy econet in 2007 and the Italian grants consultancy CiaoTech in April 2008.
Romania key country for European Cross Border Enterprises
The acquisition of RegioConsult is an essential step in PNO’s strategy to offer grants consultancy services throughout Europe. As Romania is the second largest country of Central Eastern Europe, many foreign companies consider investments in this country, both because of impressive economic growth figures and the potential of the internal market.
Bob Stassar, Board member of PNO Group and responsible for the CEE-region within the company states: “In 2007, we started our company in Bucharest under the brand of PNO. The current integration of RegioConsult gives us now the chance to increase our service level and to offer grant consultancy throughout the entire country, out of 4 offices with a team of 20 people. Clients like Heineken, P&G, Microsoft and Schweighofer appreciate local grant consultancy services, and that is the main reason to expand our business.” Country manager of the Romanian branch is Szabolcs Ilyes, former director of RegioConsult.
PNO is an international company focused on advising organisations in the area of grants. The company assists organisations in obtaining and implementing grants. Furthermore, the company provides advice to companies in structuring their grant processes. PNO provides services throughout Europe to a wide range of organisations, from multinationals to SME companies, non-profit organisations, universities and governments.
Its 500 employees work in 13 European countries in one of PNO’s 40 branches. In Spain PNO operates under the econet brand name and in Italy under the CiaoTech brand name.
End of press release
Download 02/04/2009 Arnhem/Rome, 3 April 2008
Grant consultancy PNO acquires the Italian grant consultancy CiaoTech in order to deliver grant consultancy services throughout Europe. This is the third acquisition, after having integrated the Dutch Grants and Incentives department of Ernst & Young in July 2007 and the Spanish grant consultancy econet in October 2007.
Local presence, European service
The acquisition of CiaoTech is the next step in PNO’s strategy to offer grants consultancy services throughout Europe. Both companies have been cooperating in several projects in the past around CiaoTech’s specialization in innovation projects with EU funding. “Local presence in Milan, Rome and Pescara is an important added value in the international market for financial services”, CEO Willem Zandbergen states. “The integration of CiaoTech will lead to a better positioning at the Italian market for grants consultancy.”
PNO is an international company focused on advising organisations in the area of grants. The company assists organisations in obtaining and implementing grants. Furthermore, the company provides advice to companies in structuring their grant processes. PNO provides services throughout Europe to a wide range of organisations, from multinationals to SME companies, non-profit organisations, universities and governments.
Its 500 employees work in 13 European countries in one of PNO’s 40 branches. In Spain PNO operates under the econet brand name and in Italy under the CiaoTech brand name.
End of press release
Download 02/04/2009 Arnhem, 2 October 2008
PNO today announced the acquisition of Deloitte’s Grants & Incentives Division in the Netherlands and Belgium. Deloitte’s 25 employees will be integrated into PNO’s business units in these countries. Deloitte is withdrawing its activities in this market segment in order to emphasise its independence as an audit organisation. The acquisition allows PNO to strengthen its market position in the Netherlands and Belgium. No financial details were disclosed.
PNO Consultants, a grants consultancy company, acquired Deloitte’s Grants & Incentives Division in the Netherlands and Belgium on 1 October 2008. The acquisition perfectly aligns with PNO Consultants’ strategy to become a major independent grants consultancy company in Europe. Last year PNO acquired Ernst & Young's Grants and Incentives Division in the Netherlands. PNO is the only party capable of providing guidance to highly ambitious clients throughout Europe. CEO Willem Zandbergen: “This acquisition once again emphasises the need for independence in providing grants consultancy services. We continually demonstrate to our clients that we are 100% committed to them, across Europe, and that we are improving our services by investing in creating added value for our clients.” Liesbeth Kraaijveld, Country Director for the Netherlands, is positive about the step taken by PNO. “Previous acquisitions, such as the integration of Ernst & Young’s Grants & Incentives Division in July 2007, have made our company stronger. I expect this acquisition to have the same effect.”
PNO is an international company focused on advising organisations in the area of grants. The company assists organisations in obtaining and implementing grants. Furthermore, the company provides advice to companies in structuring their grant processes. PNO provides services throughout Europe to a wide range of organisations, from multinational to SME companies, non-profit organisations, universities and governments.
Its 500 employees work in 13 European countries in one of PNO’s 40 branches. In Spain PNO operates under the econet brand name and in Italy under the CiaoTech brand name.
End of press release
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