What difference does the industry I am in make?

Certain industries or types of industry tend to be excluded from the grant system, thus banks, estate agents and insurance or financial service industries are typically not eligible. Often, but by no means always, businesses which have a purely local impact e.g. individual retail shops, local builders, local service companies are excluded from the national grant system. Such businesses may well benefit specifically from local grants from economic development units, enterprise agencies and other local initiatives. Certain industries, where there is a marked over-capacity in the European Union, are also unlikely to receive assistance e.g. textiles, steel, coal, shipbuilding, ship repair, manmade fibre and yarn and some fisheries, agriculture, food and drink products. Exceptions are often made for SMEs.

Equally some grants are targeted at specific industries or technologies. E.g. tourism; energy industry or nanotechnology.

Can you only get grants if you are in specific locations?

No. Location is rarely of importance. "Grants" for research & development, export, training, consultancy and advisory services are available throughout the United Kingdom regardless of location. The major exception concerns grants for capital investment. These grants are highly location specific, but over 34% of the United Kingdom working population is employed in an area for which major capital project assistance is available. Also, of course, grants or schemes provided by local or regional bodies are usually only available to those enterprises located within the relevant catchment area. Many EU grants are location specific.