State Aid - Advice
State aid advice on what the BIS State aid branch can help you with and sources of advice
Our key message is - seek advice early. State Aid rules can be complex and getting it wrong can mean recovering aid from business. You should seek advice at the earliest 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
- save time, effort and worry.
Please complete the State aid assessment form (DOC, 530 Kb) if you are planning to fund a project.
Sources of advice
The remit of the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) State Aid Branch is to advise public authorities on the State Aid rules (except agriculture, transport and regeneration).
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 should be directed to the public authority providing that funding. Queries about access to finance should be directed to Business Link.
Also 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.
BIS State Aid Branch has lead responsibility within UK government for co-ordination and development of State Aid policy.
