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£9k funding available to Devon and Somerset SMEs to support international growth

SMEs across Devon and Somerset are being urged to apply for funding by December 2022 to help propel their growth in international markets.

The Department for International Trade’s Internationalisation Fund provides match funding between £1,000 and £9,000 to help SMEs grow in international markets.

£390k funding, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is still available for eligible SMEs in the Heart of the South West area, which includes Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.

The funding is available to SMEs with international growth potential, who have a product or service suitable for export overseas. The fund aims to help SMEs in England overcome barriers to enter new markets, grow their overseas trading, and strengthen their business.

Interested businesses are invited to get in touch with the Heart of the South West Growth Hub to find out if they’re eligible.

Find out more about the Internationalisation Fund here.

Contact the Heart of the South West Growth Hub to check your eligibility and apply: info@heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.