That doesn't suprise me to hear. Most businesses in our region aren't aware of the funding and benefits that are available to them.

There's alsorts available here in the West Midlands. Anything from financial funding to support certain growth areas to indirect funding in the form of services being supplied free to recruitment and employment assitance and knowledge exchange.

Almost every business I know round here has a link with funding/assistance. Even my own produces work for small businesses in which they get £1000 worth of work services of charge.

Also if you graduate from the university here and go into business you can rent office space for half price and have access to tons of resources.

Even established engineering businesses can seek funding for certain areas which should promote growth.

I will admit there can be downsides, the system can be slow due to paperwork and in some cases you aren't 100% in control of what's happening. For example in the case of business link they tendor out work and chose who does it.

But I know of many many cases where the client has been absolutely delighted with the results and saved up to thousands of pounds.