What can BIS do for Public Authorities?
The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) State Aid Branch aims to advise public authorities on the State Aid rules (except agriculture, transport and banking which are covered by DEFRA, DfT and HMT respectively), and develop the UK’s State Aid policy.
Our key message is - seek advice early. State Aid rules can be complex and getting it wrong can mean you have to recover aid from businesses. You should seek advice at an early stage. This will help you to avoid problems later on.
Advisers can help you to:
- design aid to avoid or minimise the element of State Aid
- avoid giving illegal State Aid and the penalties for this
- select and use the most suitable available vehicles for State Aid
- handle notifications and procedures for getting State Aid approval
Please complete the State aid assessment form if you are planning to fund a project and contact us. You may find the State Aid Beginners Guide and then our Frequently Asked Questions useful references.
BIS will of course help you as much as possible but ultimate responsibility for aid lies with the aid giver. Aid givers must become familiar with the rules and organise themselves to deal with the notification process.
Where can Private Organisations get advice?
If you are a private sector organisation and have a State Aid query you should seek independent legal advice. Any concerns you may have about public funding that you are receiving or being offered should be directed to the public authority providing that funding. Queries about access to finance should be directed to Business Link.
Please see the related documents listed on the right, and the information on other pages in this section of the BIS web site, particularly the Notification Procedures.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) advises on State Aid rules for agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture.
Department for Transport (DfT) advises on State Aid rules for transport.
Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) can advise on State Aid schemes for land and property regeneration.
Devolved Administrations: The Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department for Enterprise, Trade & Investment in Northern Ireland can provide initial advice and liaise with BIS, Defra, DfT and DCLG on your behalf if necessary.
