The first in a set of Low Carbon workshops helped businesses and organisations learn all about £5.8million of European funding which is now available for ‘green’ projects, via the D2N2 LEP.
As part of D2N2’s €250m European funding allocation, £5.8m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is now available for businesses in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) area to bid for a share of funding from, for projects which would help promote the environment.
D2N2 is the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and works to grow its areas economy. As part of this, it has received an allocation of €250m European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF), which is split into the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which is used for business infrastructure projects, European Social Fund (ESF), which is used for tackling access to employment and social exclusion and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), which is used to promote and develop rural economies.
When creating a plan, detailing how it would boost the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire economy, D2N2 identified eight key industry sectors, which have good existing businesses and opportunities for new business and investment to be created. One of these is Low Carbon and to encourage bidders to come forward, and help them understand how to bid, D2N2 is holding a set of events in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The first was today at Derby University’s Enterprise centre and the next will be held at Mansfield’s i-Centre (NG18 5BR).
Today’s event was split into several sections which were Managing Flood Risk, ERDF style Green Infrastructure and Call and LEP priorities. Each of these was followed by a question and answer session and featured key speakers. These were Paul Lockhart, from the Environment Agency, Martin Moss, from Natural England and Richard Kirkland, from the D2N2 LEP (pictured).
Businesses with ideas for projects which look at resource efficiency, managing climate change and environment preservation can apply for a share of the £5.8m fund, which can cover up to 50% of the total projects cost. The other 50% would need to be from a source that was not the European Union.
The minimum single bid which can be made to the D2N2 fund is £500,000, meaning projects costing less than a million pounds in total would not be considered. The project funding is designed to last for up to three years. The deadline for applications is Friday May 27.
David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Part of D2N2’s mission is to move its area’s economy towards operating in a more sustainable way, so that future generations can enjoy a strong economy and healthy environment.
“These latest major ‘calls’ are for projects to tackle climate change’s effects, protect the environment and support business growth. D2N2 is looking for large scale projects which will have a lasting impact.”
For more information on the climate change call, visit www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/climate-change-call-in-derby-derbyshire-nottingham-and-nottinghamshire-oc08r16p-0314
For more information on the resource efficiency call, click www.gov.uk/european-structural-investment-funds/environment-and-resource-efficiency-call-in-derby-derbyshire-nottingham-and-nottinghamshire-oc08r16p-0315
Queries about the two funding ‘calls’ should be directed to Richard Kirkland, ESIF Co-ordinator for D2N2, on email: richard.kirkland@d2n2lep.org
For further information on how D2N2 is investing its European Structural and Investment Funds see its web link at www.d2n2lep.org/EUFunding
For more information about this news release contact Sam Burbage, Social Media and Marketing Officer at the D2N2 LEP, on 01159 578254, or by email: sam.burbage@d2n2lep.org.
