Growth and Funding

All WEAF members, together with the aerospace and advanced engineering sector in general, have one thing in common – a desire to sustain and grow their businesses.

Finding new prospects, increasing orders with the existing customer base and accessing the right kind of funding and finance are key to any business’ success.

Whatever challenges there are in the political landscape, there are still new contract opportunities out there, as well as access to grants and other funding sources; Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) websites in particular are great places to start exploring local options.

What’s more, WEAF events are specifically designed to help you learn about new technologies, OEM products and upgrades, as well as to highlight how procurement strategies are developing throughout the supply chain. The aim of these events is to provide insider information and present new opportunities.

The information and links below are offered to help navigate the growth and funding landscape.

Tendering

Search for information about contracts worth over £10,000 with the government and its agencies.

Find overseas contracts, tenders and projects.

Join over 30,000 businesses already registered for free on MOD Defence Contracts Online (DCO).

Research and development

Businesses and research organisations can enter national and European funding competitions to help develop innovations.

Established as part of the UK Aerospace Growth Partnership, the institute invests in technologies consistent with aircraft updates, new aircraft and the sector’s strengths. Its aim is to sustain and advance the UK’s internationally-competitive aerospace industry.

Advice on finance

(with thanks to GFirst LEP)

Access To Finance Guide (PDF)
Accountant Directory – Find a local accountant
BBA – The Voice of Banking & Financial Services
Business Funding & Debt – Business funding and debt advice
Business Tax – Includes corporation tax, self-assessment, capital gains tax and VAT guidance
Business Finance Support Finder – Search for publicly-backed finance or business support
Which finance is right for your business? – Business finance that takes into account business size, turnover, shares and funding required
Business Finance Explained – A guide on finance options
Better Business Finance – Impartial information and support for business customers that would like to increase their finance
Business Finance For You – Helps businesses in the UK quickly and easily access finance suppliers
Gov.uk Business Finance and Support Finder
HMRC help & support for SMEs product catalogue
The ICAEM Business Finance Guide – Useful guide, from start-up to growth, provided by the Institute of Chartered Accountants
SME Finance – Best practice finance guide (PDF)
UK Export Finance – UKEF has provided over £176 million worth of export contracts under its short-term products since May 2010, while offering support of £5.97 billion across its entire product range

Local Enterprise Partnerships

The following links will take you to the LEP ‘funding pages’ for local opportunities, grants and business finance arrangements.

It’s always worth exploring the ‘business zones’ on the LEP websites too.

Further funding information

One of the most influential independent business leadership organisations in the UK, representing and working with over 18,000 businesses across the south west.

Established in 2011 to help Britain’s growing small- and medium-sized businesses. Backed by five of the UK’s main banking groups – Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, RBS and Standard Chartered – BGF is an independent company with up to £2.5 billion available for long-term equity investments.

Lloyds Bank is a valued member of WEAF and is committed to backing the ambitions of UK SMEs, both at home and abroad.

…with the help of a government-backed Start Up Loan and free business support. A great alternative for individuals looking for business loans to fund their start up.

Over 46,000 business ideas supported with more than £300 million worth of loans. We offer low-interest personal loans to help fund your business ideas and free business support to give you the confidence to succeed.

“NatWest is a proud member of WEAF and a dedicated supporter of the aerospace and defence industry. We recognise the importance of the broader manufacturing sector to the UK economy, and we’ve been dedicated to supporting UK manufacturers for over 200 years.”