Seminar offers advice on improving bids for RGF funding

WEST Midland businesses hoping to improve their chances of a successful bid for finance from the Government’s £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund have been invited to attend a seminar on the subject.

The State Aid and Green Book Briefing, organised by social enterprise The Change Consortium CIC (TCC), aims to explain to business leaders how existing guidelines operate and advise them on how to put together high quality bids.
 
TCC, an organisation that seeks to increase opportunities and service provision in local communities, arranged the event to address problems faced by local businesses during the first round of bids for the fund.

Sarah Marshall, director of the Halesowen-based organisation, said the first round, which closed in January, was highly competitive but a high number of bids were being reported to have failed due to a lack of understanding of state aid restrictions.
 
“It’s such a shame for organisations who have dedicated resources to submit bids to lose out through a lack of understanding of these important issues,” she said.
“I hope we can go just a little way to helping companies put in high quality submissions in the future.”
 
Speakers at the event, on March 2 at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce building in Edgbaston, include Paul Hanna, director of Economic Development & Partnership at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce; Alexander Rose, chairman of the United Kingdom State Aid Technical Group; and Rob Weaver, development director of c3 Connected Consulting Ltd.
 
Mr Rose, a solicitor, will offer an overview of State Aid law to enable potential bidders to structure their projects within the parameters of the legislation, while Mr Weaver, who provides specialist advice to businesses including business support, will provide an insight into how businesses can submit bids in accordance with the HM Treasury Green Book.
 
“The briefing will also highlight to businesses the benefits of LEP endorsements and the role the chamber of commerce can play as well as informing companies how state aid restriction and green book analysis may affect bid submissions,” added Ms Marshall.
 
Tickets for the event, which takes place from 1.30-4.30pm, cost £50 per delegate and are available by registering at sarah@thechangeconsortium.org

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