EMI got bigger. Is the business ready?

The UK government expanded EMI as part of the Autumn Budget 2025 to make the scheme more accessible to larger companies.

The goal is to help more growing companies attract and keep top talent as they scale, and to make the UK a more competitive place for innovative businesses to grow and stay.

From 6 April 2026, the main changes include:

• Employee limit increase: from 250 to 500.

• Gross assets limit increase: from £30 million to £120 million.

• Company‑wide option pool: the total value of unexercised EMI options increases from £3 million to £6 million.

• Option life (exercise period): extended from 10 to 15 years.

• EMI grant notifications to HMRC will no longer be required from April 2027.

These expansions widen the range of companies that can qualify.

All-in-one equity management. Deep expertise. Five-star support. Fully digital. UK-focussed.

Vestd is also the UK’s only platform with two-way Companies House integration, FCA regulation, ISO certification, and B Corp accreditation.