As of last Sunday, a new web service where interested parties can search for subsidies awarded in the UK since 1 January 2021, is operational.

This move was to be expected and in fact welcomed, as one of UK’s obligations under the Subsidy Control rules in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU was to ensure transparency of any subsidy issued in its jurisdiction.

However, transparency is not the only reason why this move is significant as it also plays an important role in terms of the limitation period interested parties have in bringing a claim against newly awarded subsidies. In general, subject to some exceptions, such interested parties will have 1 month from the date of publication of the new subsidy on the web service, to bring a claim.

As of today, no new subsidies have been registered on the website.