FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Page 1
- How much is available in the Programmes?
- How much is available under each Priority?
- What are the grant intervention rates under each Priority?
- Is private sector match funding eligible?
- Which geographical areas are eligible?
- How often will the lists of eligible areas be reviewed?
- How flexible is the approach to geographical targeting?
- What sectors are eligible?
- Which organisations can apply for funding?
- What activities are eligible in the new Programmes?
How much is available in the Programmes?
Overall, Scotland will receive approximately £540.2 million in funding for 2007-2013. This breaks down into a total of about £423.8 million for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland ERDF and ESF Programmes.
How much is available under each Priority?
For the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland ERDF Programme:
- Priority 1 (Research and Innovation): €92.11 million (about £63.52 million)
- Priority 2 (Enterprise Growth): €122.19 million (about £84.27 million)
- Priority 3 (Urban Regeneration): €101.51 million (about £70.01 million)
- Priority 4 (Rural Development): €51.13 million (about £35.26 million)
For the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland ESF Programme:
- Priority 1 (Progressing into Employment): €121.19 million (about £83.58 million)
- Priority 2 (Progressing through Employment): €99.6 million (about £68.69 million)
- Priority 3 (Improving Access to Lifelong Learning): €42.65 million (about £29.41 million)
What are the grant intervention rates under each Priority?
The amount of EU funding that can go to individual projects is set by intervention rates. The rates refer to the share of Structural Funds support in relation to the total public funding in the project.
For Lowlands & Uplands Scotland ERDF
- Priority 1: 45%
- Priority 2: 40%
- Priority 3: 40%
- Priority 4: 40%
For Lowlands & Uplands Scotland ESF
- Priority 1: 45%
- Priority 2: 45%
- Priority 3: 45%
These intervention rates should be considered as maximum rates in all but exceptional circumstances.
Is private sector match funding eligible?
Private sector match-funding is not eligible for Structural Funds support and therefore cannot be used in calculating the intervention rate in a project, although private sector funding should be reported.
Which geographical areas are eligible?
All parts of the Lowlands and Uplands Programme area are eligible for funding. However, there are geographical restrictions under some of the priorities. Eligibility will be limited to particular parts of the region in the following three priorities:
- Priority 1 of the ESF Programme
- Priority 3 of the ERDF Programme
- Priority 4 of the ERDF Programme
How often will the lists of eligible areas be reviewed?
Annually. In advance of each round of the Programmes, the lists of eligible areas will be reviewed by the Scottish Government and published along with the other eligibility and application guidance on this website. The lists of areas will be updated using the most recent set of statistics.
How flexible is the approach to geographical targeting?
For Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, there will also be flexibility in how the spatial criteria will apply. First, it will only operate at Local Authority level. Project activity does not have to take place in the specifically-targeted areas within each eligible Local Authority - although applications will be expected to show that project activity will benefit these areas.
Second, where projects cover beneficiary groups and activities that overlap with immediately-adjacent deprived areas in neighbouring non-eligible Local Authority areas, up to 10% of project expenditure can take place in these areas, provided that:
- the adjacent areas demonstrate the same characteristics as the eligible areas (eg. one of the 15% most-deprived data-zone for ESF Priority 1 and ERDF Priority 3 or a 'remote'/'accessible rural' area under ERDF Priority 4): and
- the activity is functionally part of the same project.
What sectors are eligible?
There will be no sectoral targeting in the Lowlands and Uplands Programmes.
Is there a minimum project size?
For Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, eligible projects must have a minimum annual average total eligible projects costs of £200,000 or over. This threshold will apply for all priorities in the new Programmes and for each separate application for funding. It may be possible for several smaller complementary projects - either by the same applicant or by different applicants - to be joined together into a larger, eligible project.
Which organisations can apply for funding?
As a general rule, public sector, Local Authority, higher and further education, voluntary sector and similar bodies should be eligible to apply for funding. However, potential applicants should seek advice on their eligibility from us and must register for the new Programmes before making applications.
What activities are eligible in the new Programmes?
The lists of eligible activities for 2007-2013 are set out in the Lowlands and Uplands ESF and ERDF Operational Programmes. Under each of the priority descriptions in Chapter 4 in each of these documents, there is a section specifying eligible activities.
Scottish Government FAQ document (August 2007)
This PDF document has been put together to address the main issues raised by applicants and partners on the new Programmes. This updated paper covers the shape of the new Programmes, the funding available, the timetable for the first round, and key changes in the eligibility and delivery of the new Programmes.
