EU funding

for tourism Gavin Talbot and Jeremy Brown

29th February 2016

LEADER Programme Overview

• A grants programme for rural businesses and organisations

• Support to create jobs and business growth.

• 6 priorities:

1.Support for increasing farm productivity

2.Support for micro and SME’s and farm diversification

3.Support for rural tourism

4.Provision of rural services

5.Support for cultural and heritage activity

6.Support for increasing forestry productivity

• As well as the tourism priority, others may be relevant to tourism

businesses

Process and timescale

• 2 stage application process

• Outline application form

• Full Application form

• LAG decision

• Match funding

What is eligible? (1)

Some examples:

developing high quality visitor products and services that encourage

tourists to stay longer, link tourism providers together and extend the

tourism season;

developing quality accommodation where there are clearly defined

wider benefits to the local tourism economy and where activities do

not displace existing accommodation;

supporting tourism activities / niche products linked to quality local

food, culture, heritage and rural crafts / assets such as heritage

events and festivals promoting local culture;

supporting shops, catering services- restaurants and cafes where

there are wider benefits to the local tourism economy;

What is eligible? (2)

• developing access infrastructure to help people connect to the

natural environment such as paths and cycle –ways;

• supporting tourism information centres and associated visitor

information;

• developing and associated marketing and signposting of culture,

leisure, heritage, visitor activities or attractions;

• supporting events and festivals; and

• developing innovative technology that enhance collaboration

between businesses and provides information to attract visitors.

What isn’t covered? (1)

• computers, software and printers used for the general running

of the business such as processing orders and accounts;

• moveable fittings such as soft furnishing, beds, tables, chairs,

curtains, television and audio equipment, crockery, cutlery,

small kitchen equipment;

• tourism brown signs and motorway signage;

• landscaping – unless it is part of ‘making good’ for an

application for a major attraction or accommodation expansion.

In which case, only the landscaping contractor’s fees would be

eligible excluding the costs of plants, seeds, turf or trees;

• projects to meet statutory requirements for disabled access, fire

regulations or emergency exits, unless the costs of providing

access, exit and complying with regulations forms part of the

normal costs for a major expansion project; and

• salaries and office overheads of applicant staff employed to run

events and festivals.

What isn’t covered? (2)

Heritage Coast (Suffolk & North Essex)

Awarded £1.845m

Objectives

• Agricultural and other rural businesses to

develop and diversify their businesses

• Support the growth and sustainability of

tourism and leisure businesses

• Increasing the volume and value of food

production and the development of local

supply chains

• Activities designed to maximise the efficient

use of natural resources

• Increasing the supply and diversity of timber

products and supply chains

• Increasing opportunities for young people to

access local employment and skills training

• Effective rural services

Wool Towns

(Suffolk and North Essex) Awarded £1.792M

Objectives

• Developing a coherent and distinct

tourism branding for the area

• Agricultural and other rural businesses to

develop and diversify their businesses

• Maintaining and attracting local services

that provides employment for young

people

• Existing community facilities to provide

more services that promote public

access to the countryside

• Improving and enhancing woodland

management and its supply chain

• Innovative methods to conserve natural

resources

EAFRD 2014-20 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

Eligible activities include:

Knowledge and skills in rural areas

Support for new and growing micro and small

businesses

Support for investment in broadband

Support for small scale renewables

Tourism activities in rural areas

Allocation in New Anglia: £13.015m / £11.5m* (TBC)

Private match needed * Following revaluation in Sept 2015

Examples of specific measures

Specific Measure 6.4 Specific Measure 7.5 Specific Measure 16.3

Investment in rural tourism

(including accommodation)

and farm diversification

activities linked to economic

growth, facilities and

premises, crafts, leisure and

recreational activities

Investments that link

people with the natural

environment, develop

cultural, leisure and

heritage products, retail

and catering services,

events and festivals that

attract visitors

Support to promote co-

operation in the tourism sector

to bring forward integrated

projects to develop a better

co-ordinated local visitor

economy (example only)

£1.95m allocation over

programme period

Likely minimum grant value

of £35k.

£1,3m, up to 100% of costs

though typically a

contribution expected

£1,3m , up to 100% of costs

though typically a contribution

expected

Interreg funding

Project value £1m to £5m

(£100,000 to £500,000 per partner).

Intervention rate: 50% to 69%

Revenue (plus some small scale capital

for demonstration or testing purposes)

3-5 year project duration

Match funding public/private cash, time,

contribution in kind

EU funding: Cross Border Cooperation

Priorities: Smart, Sustainable and

Inclusive Growth

Specific Objective

3.1

Activities Outputs

Realise the potential

of the common

natural and cultural

assets to deliver

innovative and

sustainable growth

Proof of

concept/validation

Demonstration /

tests

Implementation

Increase tourist volume

Increased tourism spend

Job creation (direct /

indirect)

Quality of life

Education / training

Specific Objective 3.1 - Tourism

Evidence of success shown on pg 58 of FCE Programme Manual

Example of actions (1)

• Develop innovative cross-border products and

services for tourism and cultural sectors, with particular

emphasis on eco-tourism

• Enhance cross-border routes linked to, for example,

common historical, geological, natural or existing

heritage assets

• Joint innovative events or communication measures

Example of actions (2)

• Joint training initiatives for natural and cultural heritage

stakeholders

• Exchange good practice between public sector and

economic development stakeholders to develop future

policy on regeneration and service provision

• Reuse of derelict buildings and industrial sites

Project partners (beneficiaries)

• Third-sector, cultural and environmental organisations

• Universities / research centres

• Businesses, trade associations/bodies/networks,

• Local Authorities

• Tourist boards/offices/development agencies

• Nature conservation bodies

• AONBs /agencies managing sensitive and protected

natural areas

CBC = Cross Border Cooperation

Source: Paula Maclachlan (Interreg N.W.E. facilitator)

What you’ll need to demonstrate…

Projects be demand led and

need evidence

Genuinely innovative and

additional

Clear and concise

Added Value

Cost effective

Exit strategy

Match funding

Need Project Fund

Advantages Test and trial new ways of delivering services

Opportunity to engage universities, private sector and public sector in

a joined up way

Gain comparative perspectives from cooperation with partners

Receive external funding from EU sources at a time when internal

budgets are constrained

Disadvantages Application process 6-7 months (2 stage) application process.

Capacity needed

Retrospective financial claims (6 months in arrears)

Administration and record management

Case Study: BALANCE

• 5 organisations from the Netherlands, Flanders and UK

• Total Project Budget of € 7 million

• Total EU Funding for the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB:

€254,400 / £219,000 (including Interreg 2 Seas Programme)

• A Visitor & Tourism Strategy - raising awareness of

landscapes and leading to informed choices regarding future

visitor areas.

• Improvements to the Suffolk Coast Path, Sandlings Walk and

Stour & Orwell Walk

• 55 information boards and Explorer guides to help you enjoy

the AONB

• Promoting car-free itineraries for visitors.

Here to help…

INTERREG

Dominic Munro-McCarthy

& Jeremy Brown

Dominic.Munro-McCarthy@Suffolk.gov.uk

Jeremy.Brown@suffolk.gov.uk

LEADER & EAFRD

Gavin Talbot

Gavin.Talbot@Suffolk.gov.uk

Advice & guidance

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