Clay Shaw Thomas :: Helping Hands

CST has an excellent track record of helping its clients prepare, submit and negotiate Public Sector support under the Single Investment Fund (SIF). Financial support obtained is maximised by CST's in depth knowledge and negotiating skills resulting in historic offers of between £50,000 and £8million in individual cases.

Clay Shaw Thomas's expertise is aimed primarily at UK Manufacturing or Service sector companies and is very relevant to those overseas companies who are contemplating setting up or expanding an existing business in the UK perhaps as an alternative to location in another country.

Clay Shaw Thomas is happy to provide one-off, or on-going answers to the what if questions posed when considering the funding of proposed investment or other business expansion projects: CAN we get a grant? What FUNDING sources are available? Am I eligible for grant aid?

No fees are incurred for these initial enquiries and any work is undertaken on a no-win, no-fee basis i.e. our fees will only become payable if an offer of support is successfully secured. We are therefore taking all the financial risks associated with the application process. We are happy to do this as it reflects not only our confidence in being able to secure you a grant, but also our commitment to your project.

Public Sector Assistance for Welsh based Business Expansion

The Single Investment Fund (SIF) is aimed at encouraging investment and job creation in certain areas of Wales (Tier 1 and Tier 2). It can assist businesses of all sizes with start-up, expansion, restructuring or to help with the development of new products, processes or services.

Eligible project costs can include:

Plant and machinery;
Some associated one-off costs such as patent rights and professional fees;
Associated land, site preparation and buildings.

The amount of support awarded will depend on the area, the needs of the project, the number of jobs safeguarded or created, and the impact the project will have on the economy. Each application is individually assessed, and should demonstrate that the project would not go ahead without the grant assistance. Projects must be commercially viable, safeguard employment, and offer a direct regional benefit.

The support for capital investment projects starts when there is a demonstrable need for funding in excess of £5,001. For financial support below that amount there is the potential for Local Authority support together with other initiatives that Clay Shaw Thomas would be pleased to advise on.

How can Clay Shaw Thomas Help?

Any support provide is discretionary and requires an applicant to prove a genuine need, and that a project for which funding is sought will create and/or safeguard jobs. Financial support cannot be claimed as a right - it has to be the result of an application for aid.

Our intention is to provide the following services:

Assessment of your eligibility and potential for SIF funding
Management of the grant application process: from registration to submission. Including preparation of:
- Business plan with assumptions and relevant appendices
- Detailed financial forecasts and Accountancy requirements form
- SIF application form
- Accounting annexes
Liaising with commercial funders to agree in principal finance and facility letters
Business planning to ensure that you meet the qualifying criteria and maximise any potential support
Ongoing communication with the Welsh Assembly’s key case officers:
- Discussions of you proposal
- Submission of the application form
- Liaising during the formal appraisal process
- Negotiations to achieve offer of grant

The current team has been involved in business planning for over 25 years. As a team we see each client as a separate project and a funding jigsaw so that given the added ingredient of innovative tax planning a financial model can be commercially delivered to enable the business to grow.

Clay Shaw Thomas have extensive experience with the SIF application process. In addition the business has close links with Finance Wales, the commercial funding arm of the Welsh Assembly, but run as a completely separate entity, and International Business Wales.

Talk to Clay Shaw Thomas First

The discretionary nature of the support and strict criteria by which eligibility is determined suggests that you should speak first with Clay Shaw Thomas or other professionals rather than to the authority or other government body to avoid giving information prematurely which could then prejudice your potential case when final application submissions are reviewed during the formal appraisal process.

Once a project is started a company can not retrospectively receive state aid. By advance discussion the project aims may well be greater and fundable by a jigsaw approach. All projects need to be outlined in brief to ascertain the most appropriate resources that should be pursued. To obtain our help please register on our site: on submission of a project specific questionnaire Clay Shaw Thomas will be pleased to provide a carefully considered appraisal on your case for state aid support. All this information received is in strict commercial confidence.

We also feel that it is important to consider tax planning at the project stage as this will allow the correct structure to be put in place for the project and there may be tax breaks for equity investors plus share option schemes which would consider all appropriate sources prior to a state aid application. At Clay Shaw Thomas we have a dedicated team of 10 specialising in tax who work closely with the CF team.

To register an interest and obtain a free no obligation appraisal of your project, please complete the fields below:

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