Entrepreneurs to benefit from £100m tax break

London: George Osborne will announce a £100 million (Dh568.92 million) plus tax break for entrepreneurs willing to invest in Britain's fastest-growing businesses.

Following the green light from the European commission, the chancellor is to go ahead with proposals floated in the budget to expand the Enterprise Investment Scheme. The plan involves raising the income tax relief from 20 to 30 per cent for EIS investments, backdated to April 2011, and doubling investor limits to £1 million, which will come into effect in April 2012.

Osborne said: "We want to make the UK the best place to start, finance and grow a business. These changes will give a bigger tax break to those who take risks for growth and jobs in Britain by investing in the small companies that have the potential to be fast growing."

At a time when growth is slowing and unemployment rising, the government is keen to help businesses with the potential to expand rapidly.

Deepest recession

The Treasury said high-growth companies account for only 6 per cent of businesses in the UK employing more than 10 people, but in the past three years had been responsible for creating 54 per cent of all jobs in firms with more than 10 staff.

In 2008-09, a period when Britain was experiencing its longest and deepest recession, the EIS supported more than 1,800 businesses, raising £500 million in investment. Figures for later years are not yet available but Osborne is confident the move will increase the pool of capital available to small businesses and provide an alternative to bank credit. Treasury sources said the law would be changed to provide the tax break as soon as Parliament returns from recess.