HILLINGDON ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME LAUNCHES
Hillingdon Council, using funding made available via the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is launching the Hillingdon Enterprise programme.
Having successfully committed over £8m of ARG funding on sustaining and meeting the immediate needs of Hillingdon business during the covid crisis, the Council is now looking to target a further and significant element of funding to a smaller select number of Hillingdon based businesses, potentially bringing long term benefits in terms of jobs and business growth.
The Council has set aside £1.75m of ARG funding to support the Hillingdon Enterprise scheme and is looking for applications from businesses in the following categories.
Target sectors
The sectors have been kept as flexible as possible to ensure we do not exclude business with schemes that could deliver future growth or employment potential, but our priority would be for schemes which support the following focus areas.
- Green economy – this is a key area for Hillingdon Council, which it has previously demonstrated via the adoption of its Climate action plan. One of the Council’s key objectives is to work with business to develop ideas and to collaboratively work towards achieving climate change objectives. The targeted use of the ARG funding could serve to encourage businesses to engage and potentially support a range of ‘green initiatives, which create business growth and employment.
- Innovation – The borough is home to a growing number of small start-up businesses. Some for example are clustered around of the Old Vinyl factory in Hayes, taking advantage of the facilities and support the Plus X, Central Research Laboratory development affords. The ARG funds potentially afford the opportunity to invest in companies that will grow into commercially viable Hillingdon based concerns.
- Aviation / supply chains – Hillingdon’s economy has, as a result of being host to Heathrow airport, a high concentration of aviation sector support companies. For similar reasons, the supply chain sector is a major employer in Hillingdon. The Covid crisis has impacted on both sectors, which have traditionally provided employment for Hillingdon residents. As the aviation sector slowly recovers, these sectors could potentially be a useful source of growth and employment opportunities.
- Creative / media – This category reflects the increasing growth and future economic impact of the film and associated creative production sector in Hillingdon.
- High growth – This category, which should serve to ensure that the fund can support initiatives from businesses that don’t fit into any of the Council’s other priorities but are deemed to be worthy of support.
Qualifying criteria
Applicants should ensure they meet the following criteria prior to submitting a bid.
- Whilst collaborations are encouraged, the project lead must be an SME,
- The definition of SME for the application encompasses companies that have not more than 250 employees and a turnover of not more than £25.9 million and a balance sheet total of not more than £12.9 million
- Businesses must be based in the London borough of Hillingdon,
- Collaborative applications are encouraged – for example with a client or supplier, an academic organisation, charity, public sector organisation or research and technology organisation (RTO),
- Projects can last from 12 months up to a maximum of 18 months,
- Projects must demonstrate a potential economic and/or employment benefit for Hillingdon.
Grant awards
Anticipating that there will be a range of schemes and projects, the ARG grant awards will be flexible but grants will be in the region of £50k through to £200k for exceptional applications. We anticipate supporting a minimum of ten to fifteen Hillingdon based business.
Application access
The London Borough of Hillingdon has secured the services of West London Business (WLB) who will be managing the grant application process on the Council’s behalf.
The WLB will work with applicants, assess applications and present a series of recommendations to the Council. Hillingdon Cabinet members will make the final decision on the level of grant funding to be offered to each applicant.
The application form is available via this link: https://www.westlondon.com/hillingdon-enterprise-fund/
To download the form you will need to complete a simple registration form..
Application process
Once you have downloaded the application form, there are two options in terms of applying for support.
Either complete both Parts A and B of the application form and return to clara.haglund@westlondon.com
Or, and this is our preference, complete Part A only and return this.
Completing just Part A application allows businesses to submit a brief outline proposal, which the WLB will assess and provide comments on.
The WLB response will provide an assessment as to whether the bid is likely to be supported. Following advice from the WLB applicants will be in a position to decide whether to proceed with submitting Part B of the application form.
Part B of the application will require a full and detailed application.
For an informal discussion on a project or initiative you have in mind please contact Bill Boler at the WLB bill.boler@westlondon.com
Timetable
Please note the following timetable.
Part A applications must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 17 December 2021.
The full application Parts A and B must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 14 January 2022.
Assessment of applications will take place in mid-January / February 2022.
Grant awards will be offered / made in March 2022.
Terms and conditions
The application form also includes details of the terms and conditions relating to any grant award offer. You are advised to consider these terms and conditions carefully before submitting an application.
