Where capital grants or substantial grants for research and development are concerned, and some others, the application procedure and forms are complex. More importantly, the decision-making criteria with which civil servants both in the UK and the EU work are not in the public domain. It is thus difficult for outsiders to know or understand exactly what points would favour their application as opposed to those which would condemn it.

Grant bodies are invariably striving to give the minimum grant necessary, in their opinion, to assist the project. Whereas the consultant acting, on behalf of the client, will be striving to maximise the grant obtained.

Consultants can help senior management, which invariably has many other priorities, by saving time and effort by carrying out the application procedures on their behalf.

Consultants are most valuable where grants are issued on a "challenge" or competitive basis. Almost all EU R&D grants are issued on a competitive basis, i.e. applications are submitted, ranked in order of merit and only those deemed the most deserving will receive funds.

The UK has been moving strongly towards "challenge" grant awarding. In these instances the use of a consultant is imperative.