Advice and Support

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Visit Business Link Northwest to access independent advice and guidance on the best support for your business.

Alternatively call
0845 0066 888
to speak to an advisor

Ineligible Activities

Please note that the Northwest Regional Development Agency is not accepting any new grant applications, or processing existing ones, at the present time.

Government has required us to substantially reduce our expenditure and as a result we have embarked on a comprehensive project review, including how we provide financial support for the region's businesses.

We appreciate this may cause some uncertainty, particularly if you have an application underway; if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact your usual Agency contact. More information is available on the NWDA website.

Ineligible Activities

The Innovation Voucher may not be used to cover the costs of:

  • training courses (standard or bespoke)
  • software purchases
  • any form of website design or development
  • business support activities that would normally be carried out by Business Link e.g. basic business planning, support for expansion of a business, new start up advice, etc
  • aid that would promote/ subsidise the cost of exports
  • internships for students of knowledge institutions
  • design and production of advertising materials
  • sales activities
  • purchase of equipment e.g. computers, printers etc.

The Innovation Voucher Scheme operates under 'De Minimis' State Aid rules. This means that a private company cannot receive over €200,000 worth of public sector support granted under 'De Minimis' from whatever source in any three year rolling period. Please contact innovationvouchers@nwda.co.uk for further information.

Due to changes in criteria of Innovation Vouchers in February 2010 all Innovation Voucher brochures are now out of date. The information on this website is up to date, is final and binding and overrides information in the brochure.