The fifth round of applications to the Government's Regional Growth Fund, a scheme providing cash to help businesses grow, begins from October. The fund is specifically designed to help businesses grow outside London. Pearl & Coutts commercial property specialists routinely help small, medium and large businesses start up, relocate or expand into bigger offices to rent. They welcomed the latest round of cash injections as one more way for firms to expand.
Applications are to be formally accepted during October 2013 for this round of funding. The Government hopes that it will further boost economic growth across the UK by creating more regional jobs. Local Enterprise Councils will be able to bid for funds in partnership with businesses. Round 5 of funding will accept applications from 11th October and close on 9th December 2013. Firms are cautioned to check dates carefully for any changes and seek professional advice before applying. Minimum bids during this round are to be set at £1 million.
However, for small to medium companies looking for less, other help is still available. The Government issued an online press release in early September which included other ways to get cash help. Existing local schemes funded by the Regional Growth fund are still open in many areas, with funding available from a more modest £5,000 up to £1 million. In the meantime, industry research indicates that demand for offices to let around the UK reflects an economic upswing.
Offices saw capital values increase by at least 1% outside the capital, with positive growth noted for the first time since the autumn of 2011. And recent figures demonstrated more consistent demand for offices to rent as a general sign of the brighter economic outlook. Interestingly there seems to have been a move to create