Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)

What it is

Not a grant — EIS is a tax-relief scheme for raising equity: private investors buying new shares in your unquoted trading company get 30% income-tax relief, which helps you raise up to £10 million per 12 months (£24 million lifetime). The money is investors' capital, not public funds.

Verified 2026-08-21 on gov.uk (guidance last updated 6 Apr 2026): company may raise up to £10m in any 12 months and £24m lifetime across venture schemes ('specified companies' capped at £5m / £12m); gross assets ≤£30m before and ≤£35m immediately after the share issue; fewer than 250 FTE employees at issue. Investor relief of 30% and the £1m/yr investor cap (£2m if the excess is in knowledge-intensive companies) verified same day on gov.uk venture-capital-schemes-tax-relief-for-investors (also updated 6 Apr 2026). Knowledge-intensive companies have higher raise limits per gov.uk, but the exact current KIC figures were NOT re-verified today (the KIC guidance URL returns 404). Company must be unquoted and carrying on a qualifying trade — not fully expressible in engine fields. Route: optional HMRC advance assurance, then EIS1 compliance statement after shares are issued.