What is the Rural Enterprise Programme? The scheme in outline

The Rural Enterprise Programme will offer grants to sympathetically convert under-utilised buildings or to construct new rural workspaces, helping them increase productivity and/or create/safeguard jobs. The Programme will operate across Stoke and Staffordshire’s rural areas and hub towns (Cheadle, Leek, Rugeley, Stone and Uttoxeter). It is estimated that there are 11,500 SMEs (small/medium sized enterprises) in the Programme area.

• The total project fund is approximately £5 million and the programme runs until the end of June 2019

• Capital Grants of between £10,000 and £65,000 are available or up to 40% of the total eligible costs of the project, whichever is the lowest.

• Grant awards are discretionary and will be at the minimum required to enable the project to proceed

• You must be able to provide a minimum of 60% as matched funding.

• No advance payments can be made. Payments can be released when key stages of the project have been completed.

• Application must be made and approved before work starts.

What types of projects can get funding under this scheme?

• Eligible end uses will include (non-speculative) manufacturing, craft or service businesses and office premises. The grants are not available for retail, agriculture or tourism end uses. The end use cannot be residential.

• Applications can be submitted at any time

• Applications are particularly welcomed from SMEs operating in the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP’s) priority sectors, including advanced manufacturing. (*Advanced manufacturing activities includes energy generation, auto-aero, medical technologies, agri-tech and applied materials).

What costs are eligible for grant? The grant can be used for costs directly associated with the refurbishment or construction of workspaces; building works; installation of services (e.g. ICT and energy efficiency infrastructure); access, car parking and landscaping works required by planning permission. Funds are not available for property purchase, internal fixtures and fittings or excessive landscaping. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate an increased productivity and/or jobs created/safeguarded as a direct result of the grant. Who can apply? There are a number of criteria that you will need to meet in order to be considered for the grant:

• SMEs – Eligible SMEs include sole traders (self-employed), partnerships, limited companies, community interest groups, and companies limited by guarantee. Not-for-profit businesses, co-operatives, social enterprises and charities are also welcome to apply, providing they have a trading arm that fits within one of these legal definitions. SMEs must employ less than 250 people and have a turnover less than €50m (€43m balance sheet total).

• Applicants can be owner-occupiers, owners proposing to lease premises for eligible uses, or have a fixed-term lease with at least 5 years unexpired and written consent for the proposed works from the landlord.

• You are seeking a capital grant of between £10,000 to £65,000.

• You are providing a minimum of 60% of the total eligible costs.

• To be eligible as a business or linked business, you must not have collectively received up to the maximum of 200,000 Euros in government funding in the last 3 years (De Minimus Regulations).

How do I apply? First contact the Rural Enterprise Programme Team to discuss your proposal and to check whether you are in the eligible postcode area. The Rural Enterprise Team will advise on whether or not your project could be eligible for funding. You will be asked to complete a Stage One Enquiry Form, and if the details of your project meet the initial criteria and priorities of the scheme, you will be invited to complete a full application. You may also find it useful to contact the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub, who will provide business advice at no cost. The Growth Hub is able to provide signposting, diagnostic support and business improvement advice to SMEs wanting to apply to the programme.

Contacts Rural Enterprise Programme Team 2 Staffordshire Place Tipping Street Stafford ST16 2DH Hilary Foxley – Rural Enterprise Programme Manager 01785 895524 Julie Hall – Rural Enterprise Support Officer (Weds pm,Thurs,Fri) 01785 277283 Email: RuralEnterpriseProgramme@staffordshire.gov.uk Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub can be contacted on: Tel: 0300 111 8002.