The LEP is supporting the search for proposals to help residents back into work.

The LEP is supporting the search for proposals to deliver activity to residents that will help them back into work as part of the seven-year European Social Fund programme.

Social Inclusion Pathways to Better Engagement is a call for projects and programmes which deliver interventions for those out of work and people who are most at risk of social exclusion in the Greater Lincolnshire area. Its aim is to bridge gaps between areas of need within the social inclusion provision and to bring forward activity that is not currently available in Greater Lincolnshire.

Organisations whose project ideas meet the specification and which have appropriate match funding can submit a proposal directly to the ESF managing authority. 

In summary:

  • Total ESF available is over £5 million
  • Minimum project value is £1,259,866
  • ESF contributes 60% of project costs. 
  • 40% must be provided as match-funding
  • More than one proposal can be successful

All ESF projects must be completed by 31st December 2023 and project costs cannot be incurred beyond this date.

To view the full specification and to find out how to apply, click here.

Meanwhile rural businesses in Greater Lincolnshire can benefit from a share of £35 million in Government funding to create new jobs, boost tourism, and unlock growth in rural areas.

The Government’s Growth Programme, which is now open for expressions of interest, provides grants for rural start-ups and businesses to purchase state-of-art equipment and machinery to grow their business or open up opportunities for tourism.

The grants aim to support business development, tourism infrastructure and food processing. The maximum grant for food processing businesses is £750,000, while for all other rural businesses the maximum is £180,000.

The scheme has already granted £99 million to 546 local businesses across England, creating 3,771 new jobs in rural areas.

For this funding round of the growth programme the threshold for minimum grants has come down from £35,000 to £20,000, meaning that more small or micro-businesses can be eligible for a grant for their projects.

The RDPE Growth Programme handbook contains information on which projects are deemed eligible for a grant and how to apply. Interested parties should send an expression of interest form to the Rural Payments Agency, outlining how they meet the criteria for the scheme – by creating new jobs, increasing business turnover or improving productivity.

If the Rural Payments Agency considers the project to be eligible, the applicant will then be invited to submit a full application. The deadline for all expressions of interest is Sunday 16th February 2020.

For further information contact Ashley Myers by emailing ashley.myers@lincolnshire.gov.uk.