Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI)
Open continuously
No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.
Tax-advantaged share options: employees can hold EMI options worth up to GBP 250,000 in a 3-year period; no Income Tax or National Insurance on exercise if bought at no less than market value at grant. The company grants options; it is not a cash grant.
public · national
Deadline: Open all year — Available continuously; options are granted by the company and notified to HMRC.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Moderate — a form and supporting documents.
Who can apply
- Stage: idea stage, pre-seed, seed, Series A and growth
- Locally registered entity required
Most companies qualify if they have assets of GBP 120 million or less and fewer than 500 full-time employees (on or before 5 April 2026 the limits were GBP 30 million and 250 employees). Excluded activities include banking, farming, property development, legal services and ship building. Employee must work at least 25 hours a week or 75% of working time.
How to apply
- Company agrees EMI option terms with employees and checks eligibility (assets and employee limits).
- Company registers the scheme and notifies HMRC of the grant via the gov.uk employment-related securities service. — link
What you will need
- Option agreement
- Valuation of shares at date of grant
Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work · R&D tax credit vs. grant: the difference that changes your claim
Source. https://www.gov.uk/tax-employee-share-schemes/enterprise-management-incentives-emis
"Most companies can offer you Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI) if they have both: assets of £120 million or less; fewer than 500 full-time employees. EMI give you share options up to the value of £250,000 in a 3-year period."
Last checked against the official page on 5 October 2026
Source: www.gov.uk
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