Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can attract higher levels of assistance than large companies.

Small enterprises employ fewer than 50 people and either:

• Have a turnover of less than €10 million (£6.7 million) or
• Have a balance sheet total (net assets) of less than €10 million (£6.7 million).

Medium enterprises employ fewer than 250 people and either:

• Have a turnover of less than €50 million (£34 million) or
• Have a balance sheet total (net assets) of less than €43 million (£29 million).

The European Commission's definition of an SME

All partner and linked enterprises must be taken into account.

Partner enterprises

A partner enterprise occurs when your business holds 25 percent or more but no more than 50 per cent of the shareholding/voting capital of another enterprise or 25 percent or more but no more than 50 per cent of your shareholding/voting rights are held by another enterprise. In such circumstances, the relevant percentage share of the other enterprise(s) data must be included in your SME calculation.

Linked enterprises

A linked enterprise occurs where your business holds more than 50 percent of the shareholding/voting capital of another enterprise or more than 50 percent of your shareholding/voting rights are held by another enterprise. In such circumstances, all of the other enterprise(s) data must be included in the SME calculation.