Scale up opportunities
We believe that the UK is the best place in the world for science and technology businesses to start, scale and stay.
We are already the best home for technology within Europe, and we’re confident we’re the best place to scale and invest in science and technology due to a unique combination of world-class talent, R&D capability and pro-innovation regulation. We’re also perfectly positioned on the international stage as a gateway to both Europe and the United States.
We’re already market-leading in numerous sectors, including AI, FinTech and BioTech, and we are committed to supporting the digital economy and removing barriers to growth, ensuring that our technology ecosystem continues to thrive. We’re also excited to launch a new Scaleup Forum and pilot support service, so businesses can get the support they need to thrive.
The future is bright and we’re confident we’ll be at the forefront of the next generation of exciting innovations.
The best place in Europe to raise capital
£16.7bn was invested in UK technology in 2023, more than France and Germany combined.
[Sourced on: 13/2/24]
Home to four of the world’s top ten universities
We’re also rated second in the world for the quality of those universities.
Access to Horizon Europe
Our scientists, researchers and R&D businesses will have access to the world’s largest research collaboration programme.
Support
The UK government offers comprehensive support and advice for science and technology businesses looking to scale up. From Innovate UK resources to British Business Bank financing options you’ll find all you need to give you the confidence to scale up in the UK.
Innovate UK
The UK’s national innovation agency, supporting business-led innovation in all sectors, technologies and corners of the country.
Get advice and support on commercialisation, funding help and specific programmes that’ll help you scale up.
Find out how Innovate UK could help your scaleup
More information
Innovate UK Business Growth – Helping your business to make step changes towards scale
Innovate UK scaleup programme – Helps high potential businesses realise their ambitions
Innovate UK ICURe programme – Turn your research into new products, processes or services
British Business Bank
Explore finance options for your business. The government-owned British Business Bank is dedicated to making finance markets work better for smaller businesses. Whether you’re looking for finance to start a business, grow to the next level or stay ahead of the competition, they help deliver greater volume and choice of finance.
Find out how the British Business Bank could help you
Help to grow
Find news, information and advice from the government on growing your business.
Finance
From financing to tax relief, the UK government has a range of support to help your business to scale up.
Tax relief for investors using venture capital schemes (SEIS, EIS & VCTs)
No business should be daunted by regulation – our job in government is to ensure regulation provides the clarity and the certainty that businesses in complex science and technology sectors need to navigate and go forward and grow.
Currently, there are three government tax-advantaged venture capital schemes: Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), and Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs). Each of these is uniquely designed to provide a range of tax reliefs, encouraging investment into growing companies.
First up is EIS, which offers tax relief to individual investors who buy new shares in companies. It’s an effective tool for companies looking to raise money and grow their business ― up to £5 million each year and a maximum of £12 million in a company’s lifetime.
Next is SEIS, which also offers tax relief to individual investors that buy new shares in companies. Compared to EIS, SEIS is designed to help new companies raise the money they need when starting to trade.
Finally, a VCT is a company that has been approved by HMRC and invests in, or lends money to, unlisted companies.
Together, these schemes form a comprehensive system of financial support to the most innovative and exciting UK businesses.
Discover venture capital tax relief options
Research and Development Tax Reliefs (R&D Tax Credits)
R&D tax reliefs have been specifically designed to support companies that are working at the cutting-edge of science and technology. If eligible, these innovative companies could claim Corporation Tax relief if their specific projects are aiming to make a significant advance in science or technology. These credits are good for business and support society as a whole.
Discover research and development tax relief options
Business Finance Support
Discover all the government-backed financial support for science and technology scaleups. Businesses can get advice and financial help from over 120 government-backed schemes.
Discover business finance support options
British Business Bank (BBB)
The British Business Bank (BBB) is a government-owned business development bank dedicated to making finance markets work better for businesses. It boasts a comprehensive list of programmes and over 180 private partners.
Talent
We’re lucky to have a large, varied base of skilled, technical and entrepreneurial talent in the UK. They’re capable, agile and able to quickly respond to the needs of industry, academia and government. This wealth of talent is spread across STEM, digital and data, commercialisation and national security, fuelling the future of our Science and Tech ecosystem.
Exceptional education
With four of the world’s top ten universities in the UK; including world leaders in fundamental and applied science, the best and brightest from all over the world choose to study in the UK.
And it’s not just further education. England was one of the first G20 countries to introduce coding into the primary curriculum. Plus, we remain committed to nurturing homegrown talent, with plans in place to fund 1,000 PhDs in artificial intelligence and 1,000 scholarships for master’s degree conversion courses in AI and data science.
A thriving jobs market
On average, there were 1.9 million jobs filled in the digital sector between Jan-Dec 2022. This represents an increase of 325,000 (20.9%) filled jobs compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic), and 73,000 (4.1%) filled jobs since the 2021 calendar year.
This doesn’t cover digital roles outside the sector either, where up to a third of digital roles are estimated to be.
International talent
We believe in the United Kingdom, but we also know the value of global collaboration. That’s why we offer a number of highly attractive visa options for the most skilled talent. With the Global Talent Visa, Innovator Founder Visa and Scale Up Visa, you can get the right people in the right place for success.
