There will normally
be two levels of grant package:
(i) Up
to £3,000
(ii)
£3,001 up to £50,000
both to a maximum of 50% eligible costs.
These grants are aimed at ensuring small rural
businesses take advantage of new technology. This
can be about ICT or other forms of new technology. Applicants
will have to demonstrate how the adoption of
new technology will help their business.
The lower level of grants will be aimed mainly
(but not exclusively) at ICT usage by rural businesses. It
must be demonstrated that this is not simply
a computer for use in an office for administrative
purposes or an upgrading of existing equipment
or software but a means of moving a business
forward to new processes, markets or ways of
working. There will be a particular emphasis
on e-commerce and business use of websites.
The higher level of grant will look at all forms
of new technology (including ICT). The
applicant will need to demonstrate how the new
technology will help them drive innovative and
sustainable developments within their business. It
should not be about replacing existing older
machinery or equipment but encompass new approaches
to their particular sector. The concept
of technology transfer to small rural business
is one we wish to encourage.
In addition an element of one-to-one support
may be offered to successful applicants. This
will consist of 1 to 4 days support from a professional
advisor in association with the Local Enterprise
Agencies. This will help ensure that rural
businesses maximise the impact of Leader+ assistance.
The Leader+ programme cannot fund projects which
are exclusively retail, wholesale, distribution
and accommodation. There must be an element
at least of production, providing a service,
craft or creating a product.
Only a limited number of grant packages are
available and these will be offered on a competitive
basis. |
