£11m of EU funding available for business support

April 25, 2016

Organisations across the Marches are being invited to apply for a share of more than £11 million of European funding for schemes which will provide support to businesses.
Applications are being invited for projects focused on research and innovation, business competitiveness, the low carbon economy and environment and resource efficiency.
The four themes have been identified as priorities for funding in the Marches European Structural and Investment Strategy.
This was developed by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership following consultation with stakeholders, partners, the business community and the voluntary and charitable sector.
The funding is part of the Marches LEP region’s total allocation of around £92m and the maximum available for each priority area in this round of funding are:

  • SME Support and Competitiveness – £3.5 million
  • Research and Innovation – £4 million
  • Environment and Resource Efficiency – £1,725,490
  • Low Carbon – £2 million

The deadline for each funding call is May 27 2016 and the minimum application amount is £500,000. Projects will be delivered between now and 2020.
LEP Director Gill Hamer said: “Whilst minimum application amounts are set at £500,000, collaborative bids are very much welcome which makes this funding truly accessible to a wide range of businesses and organisations and we anticipate that there’ll be a lot of interest.”
Full details of each funding call is available on the Tenders and Opportunities section of the Marches Growth Hub website, which contains links through to the full specification for each funding call.

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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