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KNOWLEDGE. GUIDANCE. CONFIDENCE.

Expert insight.
Practical understanding.

The UK subsidy control regime continues to develop through new guidance, advice and practical application. Staying informed is essential for public authorities, funders and organisations involved in designing and delivering subsidies.

Our Subsidy Control Hub brings together Sharpe Pritchard’s latest thought leadership, events and resources in a single location. From insightful articles and webinars to our Subsidy Control Advice Tracker, this page provides a comprehensive source of information to help you understand the latest developments and their practical implications.

Explore the resources below and stay connected with our specialist team as the subsidy control framework continues to evolve.

Upcoming webinars

Advice Report Tracker

Previous webinars

Latest articles

LEARN WITH OUR SPECIALISTS

Subsidy Control in 15

A 12-part series covering the basics of Subsidy Control, 15 minutes at a time.

In this free 12-part mini-series, Oliver Slater (Associate) and Beatrice Wood (Associate) explore the basics of Subsidy Control. Breaking down the fundamentals of the Subsidy Control Act 2022, from identifying what constitutes a subsidy and understanding exemptions, through to applying the subsidy control principles, navigating referral requirements, meeting transparency obligations and responding to challenges.

We will also explore subsidy schemes, streamlined routes, energy and environment considerations, key resources for practitioners, and what the future may hold for the regime.

More about the series

Whether you are new to subsidy control or looking to refresh your knowledge of the regime, our Subsidy Control in 15 series provides a practical, bite-sized guide to the key concepts every public authority should know.

Designed to be simple, accessible and practical, each session delivers focused insights in just 15 minutes, helping busy professionals build confidence and stay up to date with subsidy control developments.

Each webinar will finish with a chance for you to ask questions and speak directly with our experts.

If you are unable to attend on the day, please still register so you can get access to the recording.

FREE WEBINAR SERIES

Who can attend?

These free webinars are exclusively for lawyers and other professionals working in public authorities, the wider public sector, or organisations that advise public bodies on Subsidy Control. Registrations from individuals outside these groups may be declined.

Can’t join us live?
Please still register so you can access the recording.

SESSION 01 · FREE WEBINAR

What is a Subsidy?

This session unpacks the four-limbed test that determines whether financial assistance amounts to a subsidy, so you can more confidently identify subsidy issues at the earliest stage.

15 minutes + Q&A
27 October 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 02 · FREE WEBINAR

Automatically Unlawful Subsidies

This session will walk through the categories of subsidy that the Act prohibits outright or permits only where strict conditions are met.

15 minutes + Q&A
29 October 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 03 · FREE WEBINAR

Exemptions Part 1: Minimal Financial Assistance

In this session, we will explain how to know whether you have an MFA subsidy and what you still need to do to comply with the Subsidy Control Act when you do.

15 minutes + Q&A
3 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 04 · FREE WEBINAR

Exemptions Part 2: Wider Exemptions

In this session, we will examine these other forms of exemptions and set out when these might arise in practice.

15 minutes + Q&A
5 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 05 · FREE WEBINAR

Subsidy Schemes and Streamlined Routes

In this session, we will explain what a subsidy scheme is and the published “Streamlined Routes” — pre-assessed schemes made by the UK government.

15 minutes + Q&A
10 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 06 · FREE WEBINAR

Subsidy Control Principles

This session will take you through each one, discussing the practical four-part assessment framework that DBT suggest public authorities follow.

15 minutes + Q&A
12 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

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SESSION 07 · FREE WEBINAR

Energy and Environment Principles

This session covers what triggers the energy and environment principles and explores their requirements.

15 minutes + Q&A
17 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 08 · FREE WEBINAR

Award Requirements Part 1: Navigating Referral to the SAU

This session will explain the criteria for the mandatory and voluntary referral processes and will give practical tips on how to navigate the process should you need to.

15 minutes + Q&A
19 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 09 · FREE WEBINAR

Award Requirements Part 2: Transparency and the Subsidy Control Database

This session covers the obligation to upload subsidies and schemes to the publicly accessible Subsidy Control Database.

15 minutes + Q&A
24 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

SESSION 10 · FREE WEBINAR

Subsidy Control Challenges

This session explains the regime’s enforcement framework, including the role of the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

15 minutes + Q&A
26 November 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 11 · FREE WEBINAR

Subsidy Control Made Easier: Key Resources for Public Authorities

This session will be a practical discussion of the key resources available to help public authorities.

15 minutes + Q&A
1 December 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

SESSION 12 · FREE WEBINAR

What’s Next for the Regime?

This session looks at what lies ahead in 2027, including the practical implications for public authorities and how to stay informed of any future changes.

15 minutes + Q&A
3 December 2026 | 12pm-12.15pm

Book Now

A RESOURCE TO RETURN TO

The Subsidy Advice Report Tracker

Sharpe Pritchard’s Subsidy Advice Report Tracker provides concise summaries and practical commentary on reports published by the Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU). Designed to help public authorities, funders and advisers stay informed, the Tracker highlights key findings, emerging themes and important lessons from referred subsidies and subsidy schemes, offering valuable insight into how the UK’s subsidy control regime is being applied in practice.

Subsidy Advice Report Tracker

STAY INFORMED

Subsidy Control Digest – Quarterly Newsletter

Never miss an important subsidy control development. Our quarterly Subsidy Control Digest brings together the latest legal updates, expert insights, articles, webinars and upcoming events from Sharpe Pritchard’s specialist team, delivering everything you need to stay informed about the evolving subsidy control landscape in one convenient newsletter. Subscribe today to receive the latest developments direct to your inbox.

Subscribe to the Subsidy Control Digest

WATCH ON DEMAND

Previous Subsidy Control Webinars

Our previous subsidy control webinars provide on-demand access to expert insights from Sharpe Pritchard’s specialist team. Covering key developments, regulatory updates, practical challenges and emerging trends, these sessions offer valuable guidance for public authorities, funders and advisers seeking to understand and apply the UK’s subsidy control regime with confidence.

Published subsidy control recordings will appear here as they become available.

ANALYSIS & PERSPECTIVE

Subsidy Control Articles

Our subsidy control articles provide expert analysis, legal updates and practical guidance on the issues shaping the UK’s subsidy control regime. Covering legislation, case law, policy developments and emerging trends, our insights are designed to help public authorities, funders and advisers understand the latest developments and navigate subsidy control requirements effectively.

Proposed £67m Subsidy to Ryanair: What did the SAU Make of it and What’s Next?

The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has advised Invest Northern Ireland to improve its case for a £67 million grant to Ryanair, including in respect of how the subsidy could affect competing airlines. Below, Oliver Slater and Beatrice Wood explore what the SAU said and what happens next. The proposed subsidy Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI)...

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Subsidy Control, 3.5 Years On: BIST Commit to Evolution, Not Reform

The CMA published its first periodic monitoring report on the UK's subsidy control regime at the end of June this year - a weighty 168 pages of it. Oliver Slater, Beatrice Wood and Aakash Vadher break down what this means for public authorities and businesses alike, including what we can expect a the regime continues...

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Subsidy Control Case Law Update: Durham (Again), Ofgem, and What Might the Court of Appeal Make of it All?

Oliver Slater and Beatrice Wood explain the latest Subsidy Control case law update and what you need to know. Introduction Paragraph 462 of the impact assessment for the Subsidy Control Bill must be one of the most frequently quoted paragraphs in impact assessment history. Based on a quantitative analysis, the author of the assessment estimated...

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The Housing Streamlined Subsidy Scheme: What Public Authorities Need To Know

Beatrice Wood, Oliver Slater and Melodi Mangan review the new housing streamlined subsidy scheme, which smooths the path for awards of up to £75m on relevant housing projects. The Housing Streamlined Route Streamlined routes are a type of subsidy scheme made by government for voluntary use by any UK public authority. This article explores the...

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Permission for Take Off: £205m Cardiff Airport Subsidy Authorised by the CAT

Authors: Beatrice Wood, Sophie Read, and Oliver Slater This week saw the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”) hand down judgment in the case of Bristol Airport Limited v Welsh Ministers [2026] CAT 30. It’s a subsidy control case of particular interest, as it is the first to interrogate the level of detail required from the assessment...

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£150m Clean Maritime Grant Competition Opens – Critical Subsidy Control Steps for Applicants

Authors: Beatrice Wood and Oliver Slater Innovate UK and the Department for Transport (DfT) has just launched the second round of its flagship clean maritime programme: “Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure 2 (ZEVI 2): Energy Efficiency”, offering up to £150 million in grant funding for large‑scale demonstration projects aimed at accelerating the deployment of zero‑emission...

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View all Subsidy Control articles

YOUR SPECIALIST TEAM

Want to know more about our subsidy control team?

Sharpe Pritchard is recognised as one of the UK’s leading public law firms, with a specialist subsidy control team that has been at the forefront of the regime since its introduction.

Our experts advise public authorities, government bodies and funding organisations on some of the most complex and high-profile subsidy control matters, combining technical legal expertise with practical, commercial advice. Discover how our team can support your organisation and explore our full range of subsidy control services.

Find out more about our subsidy control team
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