FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Page 1
How much is available in the Programmes?
The Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes have been allocated around €645m.
How much is available under each Priority?
Details on the availability of funds under each Priority can be found under the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund pages of the website.
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:
- ESF Priority 1- Progressing Into Employment
- ERDF Priority 3 - Urban Regeneration
- ERDF Priority 4- Rural Development
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 their organisation 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.
