Around 110 businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire were given advice on submitting high quality applications for a slice of a multi-million pound government funding scheme.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) organised a roadshow to discuss submissions for grants from round six of the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) at Coventry University’s Engineering Computing Building in Gulson Road, Coventry.
The initiative allows limited companies and universities in England to bid for at least £1 million of £200 million of funding which has to be matched pound for pound by private investment. The closing date is noon on Tuesday, September 30.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) supports the grants from the RGF which encourage owners to strengthen and invest in their businesses while creating or protecting jobs.
Guest speaker Lord Storey, who is a member of the RGF Independent Advisory Panel that helps to determine which businesses receive funding, gave the 110-strong audience advice on preparing a successful bid.
Jonathan Browning, chairman of the CWLEP, said Lord Storey had given valuable tips to help businesses gain grants from the RGF.
“The clear message to businesses was that they must highlight the number of jobs which would be created by the funding in their submissions,” he said.
“That re-inforces the aims of the CWLEP of boosting jobs and the economy which RGF has a direct impact on.
“Businesses which can show their projects will be up-and-running quickly will also stand a much better chance of being successful with their applications.
“The purpose of the roadshow and the follow-up meetings with advisers is to give expert guidance to businesses starting the application process.
“It was a really positive session and everyone who attended gained plenty of ideas and advice on how to make the most of this opportunity to secure government funding.”
Andy Povey, from the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI), also gave a presentation on the £100 million of funding available to help UK companies strengthen their domestic supply chains, bring work back to the UK and create thousands of new jobs.