ERDF and ESF National Reserve Funds

Calls should have been launched for bids to the ERDF and ESF National Reserve Funds, the last call on funds in the 2014-20 programme. In the current circumstances, the UK government has taken the?decision to defer the Reserve Fund calls to?allow partners and their own?teams to focus on the immediate tasks to respond to COVID-19 and to review the focus of the Reserve Funds in line with emerging priorities.

The intention now is?to work across Government and with partners to redesign the Reserve Funds to enable ERDF to support businesses to recover and grow once the current crisis subsides.

Further updates will be made when the new plans for the Reserve Funds are in place.

The D2N2 Growth Hub continues to offer support to local businesses in Derby/Derbyshire and Nottingham/Nottinghamshire.

It has now postponed all face to face Growth Hub events up until?June 2020?under recent government advice. If you have booked onto a Growth Hub event you will receive updates from our events team but if you are unsure please call 0333 006 9178. Advice on the government package of financial support for businesses is still available from the Growth Hub - contact details are available here: D2N2 Growth Hub.

The D2N2 Business Investment Fund is still available to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with projects that will directly improve their productivity, efficiency and/ or job creation. The fund will support projects such as digital developments, specialist consultancy advice and some equipment purchases. See here for further information.

The D2N2 Growth Hub will continue to provide updated information for businesses as it becomes available. If you haven't already done so please?Subscribe to the newsletter?for all the latest updates.

SME businesses are taking steps to improve their energy efficiency with an N2 Energy Grant. The grant programme is still accepting applications for energy efficiency projects that can be completed and claimed for by the end of June 2020.

Grants can provide financial support to invest in measures that lead to cost and carbon savings. Businesses have already used these grants to implement projects such as lighting and heating upgrades, insulation and purchasing new machinery.

Eligible businesses can receive up to ?16,000 to fund 40% of the cost of installing energy efficiency measures.

The N2EG Programme is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund and is delivered by Nottingham City Council.? The programme is open to businesses with fewer than 250 employees located in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

For more information, call?0115 876 4271?or email?[email protected]?