Administrative funding
LEPs will be expected to fund their own day to day running costs. Government will not be providing funding for administration. Local authority and private sector LEP members will need to provide necessary staff support and office accommodation.
LEP Capacity Fund
What is the funding for?
Bids must be for projects that meet one or more of the following objectives:
- Address a gap in the intelligence available to LEPs on business needs and barriers to growth
- Facilitate business engagement and interaction with the LEP
- Boost board capacity to prioritise actions which will support business-led growth and jobs within the LEP area. We will not be considering bids for secretariat support.
Who can apply?
All recognised LEPs can apply.
How much money is available?
£1 million per year over the Spending Review period (2010-2015).
How do they access it?
First round applications submitted to the BIS LEPs mailbox by 31 March 2011. Second round to be launched later in the year.
Is match-funding required?
High levels of match funding would help in demonstrating the strength of the bid and partners’ support. This match funding could take the form of in kind resource but greater weight will be given to a monetary match.
Further information
LEP Capacity Fund
LEP Start-up Fund
What is the funding for?
To help LEPs to put their core operational capacity in place and to become self sustaining. Funding proposals should be for current expenditure to be spent during 2011-12 and could be used to support new posts; new office rental; new equipment, training or IT support; activity to engage the wider business community; or other new activity.
To be successful, partnerships should be able to demonstrate:
- That they are without sufficient existing institutional capacity. The fund will not be available to support existing posts, existing contracts, or other ongoing activity;
- That local partners will be co-funding activity;
- How the activity will be put on a self-sustaining basis in the near future, and that it will not need further central Government administrative funding;
- That the activities are related to start up, and are essential to the LEP’s ability to set priorities to drive private sector led growth and jobs in their area; and
- That activities are going to achieve the maximum efficiency, demonstrating innovative ways to do more with less.
Who can apply?
All LEPs who have been asked to put their boards in place by Ministers.
How much money is available?
£5 million in 2011-12 as a one-off fund.
How do they access it?
Forms can be found here (DOC, 474 Kb) and should be submitted electronically by midnight on 30 June to LocalEnterprisePartnerships@bis.gsi.gov.uk
For help or advice in completing the application form please send an email to the above address, or speak to your BIS Local office.
Is match-funding required?
Partnerships which can demonstrate the commitment of the partners in terms of a high level of co-funding will be given greater priority.
Further information at: http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/economic-development/leps/lep-start-up-fund or speak to your BIS Local Relationship Manager (PDF, 99 Kb) .
