Funding 

The Scottish Government 2018/19 Budget has made a commitment of £10 million in additional resources to support the work of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SoSEP) and inclusive growth in the South of Scotland.
These resources will help deliver a fresh approach to economic development in the South of Scotland. 

Applying for funding support

If you have a potential project which you are seeking funding for, you can submit your ideas to us for consideration.  We will consider initial enquiries and the potential for those projects to progress to a formal funding application.  A flowchart describing the funding process is available to download.

Projects progressing to a formal funding application will require a business case setting out information about the project and its contribution to inclusive growth.

Criteria

Applications will be assessed against the agreed criteria for support, specifically:

1. A clear link to the agreed priorities set out in SOSEP’s operating plan, specifically which Theme the application relates to
2. Be additional, over and above business as usual, clearly activity that could not otherwise have happened
3. Be ambitious – projects should aspire to make a significant difference
4. Involve partnership – projects should ideally involve more than one SOSEP partner
5. Other funding sources – be the least amount of new resources necessary to deliver the project and identify partners’ funding

Process

Funding enquiries should be submitted to and can be in any format. All enquiries will be considered and their viability to become a firm funding application agreed in each instance. 

Funding awarded to date

The South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SOSEP) has awarded £7.68 million to projects across Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders, to provide careers opportunities and build community resilience.

Project	Applicant	Project aims	Funding amount
Annan Regeneration	Dumfries and Galloway Council	To support the cost of a team to drive forward the Annan Action Plan developing projects to mitigate the impact of job losses in the town following Young’s closure of its Pinney’s seafood processing plants.  Team will be set up to cover business advice, planning, property, capital projects and community development.	£250,000 (over two years)
Centre of Excellence in Textiles	Scottish Borders Council	This project seeks to address a business critical skills issue in the textiles sector by the provision of a training centre to deliver skills training to local textile companies.	£610,000 (over two years)
South of Scotland Skills & Learning Network	Borders College and Dumfries and Galloway College	Hub and spoke model to provide new facilities across the South of Scotland that will facilitate digital learning in rural locations.  Initial focus on training in care, renewable energy and engineering and construction. Involves construction of physical and digital centres and hub and spoke infrastructure.	£6,601,919 (over two years)
Strengthening Communities Programme	Highlands and Islands Enterprise	Match funding for seven sustainable communities projects in Peebles, Newlands, Tweedsmuir, Stranraer, Eskadale, Kirkcudbright and Kirckonnel & Kelloholm. Funding will primarily support project officer posts to assist with the delivery of asset based income generating activity for each community.  Officers will support communities to identify their needs/opportunities, agree actions, and project plan to deliver.	£220,710 (over two years)