Small businesses wanting to tap into European funding opportunities will be given a helping hand today when the Small Business Service publishes a new guidance pack, "Access to EU Funding". The guidance is the definitive document for small firms wanting to know what kind of loans and grants are available in Europe. It helps them decide what they can apply for, and includes a comprehensive contact list for all the loans and grants mentioned in the pack.

The different sources of EU finance available to SMEs complements the Government's comprehensive support for business start-ups and established small firms. The money is primarily available to improve competitiveness, productivity and innovation.

The information is structured so that SMEs can identify the appropriate category for them. The themes include:

• Agricultural and rural businesses;
• Research and development;
• Information and communications technology; and
• Investment and loans;

Nigel Griffiths, Minister for Small Business said:"This guidance pack will become a valuable resource for thousands of small businesses across the UK so they can tap into funds available from Europe. Everyone knows that the EU has in place many grant and loan schemes to help SMEs, adding up to billions of Euros, but there are so many, and they are distributed in a variety of different ways, that it can be confusing for the small business man or woman.This booklet sets the record straight. It lists all the EU schemes available for British SMEs, and explains the basic criteria for each initiative."

To provide inspiration to SMEs the booklet lists five small firms in the UK that have already accessed European grants or loans. One company that has benefited from EU money is MW Polymer Products LTD, which successfully secured more than £250,000 for a major research and development project to develop high performance sealants for gas pipes.

The company's MD, Mike Wild said: "Although the application process was quite complex, and took a while to come to fruition, it was well worth the effort and hard work that we put in, because of the commercial rewards that will now follow".

Welsh SME van Helsing Ltd, a specialist software engineering consultancy, also bid for European funding, and was granted just over £150,000 towards a project that developed an e-commerce solution to food safety problems. The award made up 90% of the total project costs.

Dr Janet Wademan, company founder, said: "Without the £150,000 from the EU we would never have had the opportunity to get involved with a project of this nature. We are now regarded in Europe as experts in our field because of the exposure of the project.

Access to EU Funding is available from 0870 150 2500 (by quoting URN 02/324) and www.businesslink.org.