§ Mr. HendryTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what assistance is available from his Department to help companies with fewer than 100 employees.
§ Mr. LeighMy Department operates the following measures of support for small and medium-sized firms:
- the Enterprise Initiative Consultancy Scheme;
- the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme;
- the Small Firms Merit Award for Research and Technology;
- Support for Products Under Research;
- Regional Enterprise Grants (Investment);
- Regional Enterprise Grants (Innovation);
- Export Marketing Research Scheme;
- Your Business Success;
- Graduate Enterprise;
The criteria for determining the eligibility of a company to take advantage of each of these forms of assistance varies from scheme to scheme.
My Department also provides funding for development work which aims to benefit small firms and produces a wide range of publications aimed at small businesses.
During 1993 my Department will start support for up to 15 pilot schemes which will provide businesses with a single point of access to information and advice.
From April 1993 my Department will take over responsibility from the Employment Department for funding training and enterprise councils (TECs) to provide a wide range of business support services to help small businesses.
In addition, small businesses can, of course, take advantage of other business support programmes provided for firms of all sizes.