Be quick off the mark to apply for a Creative England business loan
You will have to move fast for this - the the South West B2B Investment Fund is offering match-funded loans of between £30-70,000, but the closing date is this Friday.
The Fund supports the development strategies of creative businesses in South West England looking to grow their companies by producing innovative technology, content and services, for the business market.
It is targeted at companies with demonstrable high-growth potential, which want to make a step change in their development.
The B2B Investment Fund will support the financing of talent, infrastructure and /or resources. This is a private sector-led scheme designed to stimulate growth in creative and digital companies which deliver to business clients and customers.
The aim of the fund is to invest in innovation which enables companies to exploit new business opportunities with either existing or new clients.
As an example, this might include:
* The development of a new product/service which can exploit an emerging customer demand;
* The development of existing technology or content to provide a significantly better service which delivers a competitive edge;
* The leverage to encourage a client to invest in an innovative product by being able to offer co-funding and reduce the financial commitment and risk they would otherwise face.
The overall intention of this fund is to support the development of new technology, products and services which will meet the emerging client demands over the next one to two years.
Round 1 of the B2B investment fund totals £250,000 and will be made available via interest free loans of between £30,000 to £70,000 per application.
Details of the Round 2 Fund will be published in early 2013.
The investments are not grants. They should be matched 50/50 by the company sharing the development costs.
This scheme is open to digital and media businesses in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol and Bath - in line with the Regional Growth Fund objectives.
Application is a two stage process: applicants are required to complete a simple on-line Expression Of Interest. Once eligibility has been confirmed, you will be invited to submit a full application (no more than four pages) to illustrate the business case for investment
The deadline for registrations of interest is 5pm on Friday 14th December 2012 with Shortlisted Applicants being notified by Friday 21st December 2012.
Email questions or requests for further information to [email protected]
