2007-2013 Programmes : ERDF Priority 2 - Enterprise Growth
The aim of the Priority is to improve enterprise formation and growth rates by enhancing the enterprise support environment, particularly with regards to access to finance, entrepreneurship, e-commerce and resource efficiency.
There are three areas where the Programme can make a significant difference:
Access to finance: Development finance has been a key market failure for new and existing enterprises seeking to grow. The provision of risk capital has shown itself to be a sustainable financial instrument for supporting the creation and growth of the SME base in Scotland. Eligible activities include:
- Investor readiness programmes
- Support for risk-capital funding for the region as a whole, where such schemes can demonstrate market gaps and build on the experience of past schemes
- Investment funding for early stage and start-up new enterprises
- Targeted services for sign-posting enterprises to potential funding sources
- Initiatives that raise the capacity, skills and readiness of enterprises to assess their funding needs, manage new funding and general investor readiness
Entrepreneurship support: For entrepreneurs and new firms, resources will be used to support more pre-start events to stimulate action and provide the necessary skills, role models and informal networks. The Programme can also usefully support promotional events to address fears and lack of knowledge to improve the networks between potential entrepreneurs and key sources of support, advice and finance. Special attention will be given to groups which may face particular barriers to developing new enterprises, particularly women entrepreneurs, those from ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities and those experiencing multiple difficulties. Eligible activities include:
- Addressing gaps in pre- and post-start up provision of advice
- Promotional events for would-be entrepreneurs, particularly in more remote or deprived parts of the region
- Projects that promote start-ups from groups with relatively low rates of entrepreneurship, such as ethnic minorities and women
- Projects that encourage the greater conversion of would-be entrepreneurs to start-up
Enterprise Business Processes: e-business can continue to be improved throughout the region by supporting efforts in familiarising enterprises with the potential of the technologies, investing in their capacity to incorporate e-commerce into their businesses and addressing particular bottlenecks in their e-commerce potential. In keeping with the region’s sustainable development aspirations the Programme should also support activities that contribute to an increased embedding of environmental sustainability by encouraging greater application of renewables technologies within business processes and initiatives. Eligible activities include:
- Projects that encourage the take-up of e-business among enterprises
- Support for the development of e-commerce strategies by enterprises
- Development and implementation of environmental and carbon use/foot-printing audits by enterprises
- Introduction of more environmentally-sustainable production systems and business processes, including more efficient use of resources and energy
- Small scale adaptation of businesses to renewable energy technologies
Delivery
All of ERDF Priority 2 will be challenge funding, open to all eligible applicants.
Spatial Targeting
Applications for funding under ERDF Priority 2 are not subject to spatial targeting and therefore applications will be accepted from any part of the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland area.
The Maximum Grant Intervention Rate is 40%
Programme Manager
To discuss possible funding opportunities under ERDF Priority 2 please contact:
Susan Tamburrini
0141 241 6158
stamburrini@esep.co.uk
