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Final call for Devon and Somerset SMEs to boost growth with £9k funding

The Heart of the South West LEP is urgently reminding SMEs across Devon and Somerset to apply for funding by the end of December to help boost their growth in international markets.

The Department for International Trade’s Internationalisation Fund, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, provides match funding between £1,000 and £9,000 to help SMEs grow their products or services internationally. The last chance to apply for the fund is the end of December, 2022.

£550k total funding 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 who have a product or service suitable for export overseas, to help them overcome barriers to enter new markets, grow their international 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.

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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.