State Aid - 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; and

• save time, effort and worry.

Sources of advice

BERR's State Aid Branch advises government departments and agencies on the State Aid rules (except agriculture and transport).

If you are a private sector organisation, you should direct your State Aid queries in the first instance to your Regional Government Offices (see link to Business Links), however if you are unable to contact these offices you can contact the BERR enquiry unit.

Also see the related documents listed on the right, and the information on other pages in this section of the BERR 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 Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department for Enterprise, Trade & Investment in Northern Ireland can provide initial advice and liaise with BERR, DEFRA, DfT and DCLG on your behalf if necessary.

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