Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)
Open continuously
No deadline — apply whenever you are ready.
Most companies can raise up to £10 million in any 12-month period from venture capital schemes, and up to £24 million over the company's lifetime (£5 million / £12 million for 'specified companies'). Knowledge-intensive companies have higher limits. NOTE: like SEIS this is an INVESTOR relief — HMRC gives income tax and CGT reliefs to individuals subscribing for shares; the figures are caps on qualifying investment the company may take in, not a grant to the company.
HM Revenue & Customs
public · national
Deadline: rolling — No deadline; advance assurance available at any time, compliance statement (EIS1) filed after shares are issued.
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.
Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.
Who can apply
- Under 7 years old
- Up to 250 employees
- medium enterprises
- Stage: seed, series_a, growth
- Locally registered entity required
Shares must normally be issued within 7 years of the company's first commercial sale. Gross assets must be less than £30 million before the share issue and not more than £35 million immediately afterwards (£15m/£16m for specified companies). Fewer than 250 full-time equivalent employees. Knowledge-intensive companies have extended age, headcount and funding limits — exact KIC thresholds were not re-confirmed on the page read, so treat them as unverified.
How to apply
- Optionally apply to HMRC for advance assurance.
- Issue shares to investors.
- Submit compliance statement form EIS1 to HMRC.
- Issue EIS3 certificates to investors once HMRC authorises them.
What you will need
- Compliance statement (form EIS1)
- Business plan and financial forecasts (if applicable)
Source. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/venture-capital-schemes-apply-for-the-enterprise-investment-scheme — checked 2026-08-14
"Most companies can raise up to £10 million in total in any 12 month period ... up to £24 million from these sources in your company's lifetime."