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Register now for our free ERDF info event on 11th July in Exeter

New ERDF funding opportunities for the Heart of the South West are expected to be launched at the end of June.

In support of these ERDF calls for project proposals, the HotSW LEP is holding a free ‘ERDF Info Event’ from 14.00 to 16.30 (registration from 13.30) on 11th July in Exeter. The event will feature speakers from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) who manage the ERDF Programme and aims to help prospective ERDF applicants get to grips with the latest funding opportunities as well as what is needed for a successful application.

The session will particularly focus on the following anticipated upcoming ERDF calls for proposals for business support and innovation activities:

 

  • £5.156 million ERDF ( £3.456 million for the ‘Transition’ area of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay and £1.7 million for the ‘More Developed’ area of Somerset) for capital and/or revenue proposals which lead to improved levels of innovation within enterprises in the Heart of the South West.
  • £6.912 million ERDF ( £3.479 million for the ‘Transition’ area of Devon, Plymouth and Torbay and £3.433 million for the ‘More Developed’ area of Somerset) for proposals which support business start-ups and/or small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow and increase their productivity in the Heart of the South West. Workspace initiatives are expected to be eligible under this call, but to be of lower priority compared with proposals offering business support.

For further information on and to register for the ERDF Info Event, please click here. For any queries in relation to the event, please e-mail HotSWESIF@somerset.gov.uk

Registrations  for the event will close at 5pm on Friday 5th July or when places are full – whichever is the sooner.

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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.