What is Regional Selective Assistance?

Scottish Enterprise’s Regional Selective Assistance grants (RSA) are one of the most commonly known discretionary grants. Regional Selective Assistance is awarded to businesses seeking to create or safeguard jobs in Scotland and encourage capital expenditure.

Projects must be located within an assisted area of Scotland and not fit within one of Scottish Enterprises’ other funding programmes. Use the postcode checker on the Scottish Enterprise website to check which funding level may be available.

How to meet the criteria for Regional Selective Assistance grants

Scottish Enterprise has a list of criteria that a business must exhibit to be eligible for RSA grant funding. The project must take place in an Assisted Area, it must be financially viable, and it should include both capital expenditure and create or safeguard employment. Other required criteria include meeting net zero targets and ensuring that the project requires RSA to proceed.

Consilium’s Corporate Finance team possesses over 35 years of combined experience submitting hundreds of successful applications for Regional Selective Assistance grants. This includes companies establishing a new presence in Scotland as well as the expansion of existing Scottish businesses. Our record speaks for itself; 100% of the full RSA applications that we have submitted have resulted in the award of a grant.

For advice on applying for Regional Selective Assistance grant funding, please contact Corporate Finance partner, Linzi Wilson.

Take a look at the range of Scottish Business Grants available and learn how Consilium Chartered Accountants could help your business secure valuable grant funding.

How much funding is available through Regional Selective Assistance?

Regional Selective Assistance grants are available for up to 35% of eligible costs for SMEs, and 15% for larger enterprises. In all cases, the minimum grant considered is £100,000 with at least 10 jobs created or safeguarded.

For Scottish Enterprise grants, SMEs are categorised as:

• Small business: under 50 employees and either under €10m turnover or under €10m total on the balance sheet
• Medium business: under 250 employees and either under €50m turnover or under €43m total on the balance sheet. 

Thinking about applying for a Regional Selective Assistance grant?

Consilium’s Corporate Finance team have generated over £136m of successful grant awards for businesses, with the majority coming from RSA grants. Based on our experience, we will advise on a company’s eligibility for grant funding and, thereafter, the appropriate level and structure of the RSA grant for which a company should apply.

Consilium has developed an efficient and cost-effective process for executing Regional Selective Assistance applications, ensuring minimum disruption to management teams. Combined with our detailed understanding of Scottish Enterprise’s expectations this can ensure that the grant application provides the quality and quantity of information required to facilitate an award.

To discuss Regional Selective Assistance grants further, please contact Linzi Wilson to arrange an informal in-person or virtual meeting.

Alternatively, learn more about business grants available in Scotland or the Grants advisory services provided by Consilium Chartered Accountants.

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Page last updated: January 2024