The Sage Gateshead, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear

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Handling your project

Your Guide to the Funding Process

This section of the website explains the way requests for project funding are processed by us. Our project handling framework also sets out the criteria for awarding funding, within the context of the Regional Economic Strategy and our Corporate Plan.

Setting the Strategic Context

Our main focus is to continue to deliver fewer, bigger and more strategic initiatives and projects that will have the greatest impact on the productivity of the North East. Strategic priorities have been outlined in four key documents. The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) sets out the region’s priorities, the Corporate Plan for 2008-13 defines the Agency’s priorities, the North East England ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 sets out the priorities for the ERDF programme and the Rural Development Programme for England sets out rural investment priorities.

The RES is the region’s plan to deliver greater prosperity for everyone in the North East. Identifying Business, People and Place as its three key priorities.

Our Corporate Plan is based on the priorities identified in the RES and explains how we will work with our partners to deliver the key priorities on behalf of the region. 8 Programmes are identified to help us achieve this. 24 Key Activities then sit within the identified Programmes determining the way in which we intend to deliver our priorities in support of the RES.

Further information is available on our website explaining our programme activities. If you would like additional information on our Activities or Programmes, please contact the appropriate Activity Manager identified in the contact table here.

Single Programme

Our main funding source is termed Single Programme funding. This will deliver our mainstream programmes and activities within North East England, and is currently running at over £200m per annum.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

ERDF forms part of EU Cohesion Policy and supports sustainable economic development in regions across EU Member States. The North East is eligible for support as one of the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Regions.

The North East England ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is bringing over £250m into the region to support investment in the priorities set out in the Regional Economic Strategy (RES).

The UK Government has delegated the responsibility for the day to day management and implementation of the programme to One North East. ERDF is focusing on two key priorities, closely aligned with the RES and reflecting the EU Lisbon Agenda to promote growth and employment in European Member States:

Priority 1 - Enhancing & Exploiting Innovation:
Promotes and embeds ‘opportunity’ by advancing science, technology and innovation within the region’s business base and broader communities linked to the region’s Strategy for Success and three pillars approach.
Priority 2 - Business Growth & Enterprise:
Promotes measures that develop the enterprise and business base of the region, including in disadvantaged areas, to address the relative underperformance of the North East in terms of business formation, sustainability and environmental performance.

Up to 50% ERDF contribution can be attracted towards eligible activity. Project applications come from a range of partnership organisations directly involved in the delivery of these priority activities. Under EU rules, ERDF is not available directly to individual SMEs. Potential applicants should carefully consider ERDF compliance requirements and ensure that they have the capacity and expertise to manage these effectively.

For further information on ERDF requirements, visit our ERDF pages at: www.onenortheast.co.uk/erdf

Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)

The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is worth £7m per annum until 2013.

RDPE investment will deliver against a range of priority themes. Access to RDPE funds is dependant on the type of project seeking support.

Rural Business Support is available through Business Link North East under the following areas:

Micro-Enterprise Development
Collaborative Processing and Marketing Fund
Land-Based Skills Programme
Bio-energy Supply Chain Development.

Additionally, there are two strands of activity to help rural communities take an active role in their economic development:

New LEADER, which will give local partnerships (Local Action Groups, or LAGs) in specific geographic areas, the chance to develop and deliver RDPE priorities in a way that addresses local needs.
Sustainable Communities, delivered by our Sub Regional Partnerships (SRPs) in Northumberland and County Durham, which will focus on Business and Community Asset Development.

Business Link, SRP and LAG contact details are available on the RDPE website: www.rdpenortheast.co.uk

>> Program Support Structure and Contacts

>>Your Project Proposal

Supporting Documents and Downloads