MTC Funding Support for SMEs

MTC's Funding for SMEs service helps manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises navigate the funding landscape and identify appropriate routes to support innovation, productivity improvement, scaling or investment in new technology. MTC states it can help businesses understand what funding is available and assess eligibility, covering options such as fully funded support, part-funded programmes, grant-funded innovation projects, regional initiatives, or commercial support where funding is not available. The page explains the standard SME definition (fewer than 250 employees, and either turnover below £50 million or a balance sheet total below £43 million), noting that group ownership structures can affect whether a business qualifies for certain funding, and that MTC can help assess status. Two broad routes are described: innovation programmes, supporting feasibility studies, prototyping, technology validation and collaborative R&D projects for businesses developing new products or processes; and scale-up programmes, supporting businesses moving from prototype/pilot to full-scale production, including manufacturability, capacity and process improvements. MTC positions itself as an advisory intermediary rather than a direct grant-giving body for this service.

Aimed at manufacturing SMEs (broadly fewer than 250 employees and turnover below £50 million or balance sheet below £43 million), though group ownership or affiliations may affect actual eligibility for specific funding routes; MTC assesses individual business status.