Have you delayed applying for Voucher Scheme funding? Do you have an idea for your business, but are unsure whether it will be eligible? Now is the time to get in touch.
The Council of the Isles of Scilly has successfully secured an additional 6 months to extend the Isles of Scilly Voucher Scheme until June 2022. The programme extension will give businesses the additional time to continue projects impacted by the effects of the pandemic, or put on hold due to low confidence in the market. These funds provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) give the opportunity for local businesses and start-ups to receive match funded investment to enable them to accelerate growth, create positive step changes and drive revenue.
First drafts of new applications to the Isles of Scilly Voucher Scheme should be submitted by 15 November 2021. We encourage anyone considering applying to contact us as soon as possible. Apply here.
Welcoming the news, the Council’s Lead Member for Place, Cllr Steve Sims, commented: “This is great news for local businesses, but it’s very much a case of use or lose it. If you have any ideas or plans for your business then please do contact the team. You may think that your idea doesn’t meet the criteria or be unsure of the eligibility but it is always worth talking it through. We have a very experienced team now who want to hear your ideas so do please enquire.”
Programme Manager, Milena Fallows, said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to continue the Voucher Scheme for another 6 months. The added project time should help mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on local projects already underway. I need to emphasise that the project extension is conditional on the interest we receive from local businesses and the projects we have in the pipeline as we approach the end of the year. If you are interested in making use of this opportunity, please submit a first draft of your application by 15 November to ensure we have enough time to process it."
The Voucher Scheme project initially started in 2016, following by the Extension Project which has so far benefited from a £2.6 million of investment from the ERDF and with additional contributions from the companies involved, has generated an overall investment to the island economy upwards of £3.1 million to date.
Under this round of funding, the IOS Voucher Scheme aims to support 55 businesses and create 22 jobs by June 2022. Applications are now being accepted for new projects across the Isles of Scilly. For more information, visit: www.iosvoucherscheme.co.uk.
--
European Regional Development Fund
The Isles of Scilly Voucher Scheme has received up to 2.6 million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF. Established by the European Union ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding