This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Regional Selective Assistance
12/11/2002
Scottish companies and entrepreneurs are being encouraged to take advantage of grants available under the Regional Selective Assistance scheme.
That was the message from Enterprise Minister, Iain Gray, at the launch of new measures designed to ensure that there is greater public reporting and awareness of the benefits the scheme has to offer.
Further measures will streamline the application process for smaller grants of up to £50,000, meaning quicker decisions can be made.
As well as launching a new report - the first of a regular series listing accepted RSA offers totalling some £35m, the Minister unveiled the scheme's new website located at www.rsascotland.gov.uk.
Together with a new brochure, the website provides comprehensive details about RSA, the types of projects which may be eligible, and how to apply.
Mr Gray said:
"Regional Selective Assistance is one of our key tools to encourage company development and stimulate economic growth in Scotland. It is therefore critical that businesses and entrepreneurs are aware of what type of support the scheme can offer. The measures I am announcing today are designed to do exactly this.
"Not only are we making information about RSA easy to access - through the new website and the publicity materials - we are changing the way in which we report the details about the companies who have been offered support. In doing this we will increase public awareness of RSA and encouraging other potential applicants to find out more."
The Minister continued:
"These initiatives are therefore aimed at focusing RSA towards growing Scottish firms and supporting more quality projects.
"However, the website and other measures will also be targeted at international firms. The message to this audience is clear - Scotland is still looking to attract inward investment from companies that offer high-quality products or projects.
"What this also does is clearly demonstrate the Executive's commitment to openness and transparency on how public money is spent. Previously, details of RSA projects were generally only published for grants worth more than £75,000 - and only then once the first instalment of a grant had been paid.
"Obviously we still need to protect the commercial confidentiality and competitive position of RSA assisted businesses - so there is a limit to what we can reasonably disclose about individual projects. We believe this initiative strikes the right balance between openness and commercial confidentiality.
"All in all, these measures I am announcing today will make RSA more open, more transparent and more readily accessible to Scottish companies and inward investors. "
Firms accepting RSA offers so far this year include:
Thom Micro Systems Ltd
Thom Micro Systems Ltd specialise in the development of software for the business, education and CAD/CAM market. An RSA grant of £120,000 was offered to the company to enable it to construct a purpose built facility in Larbert, to update existing products and increase its range of new software packages.
Applied Sweepers Ltd
Based in Falkirk, Applied Sweepers Ltd is a world-leader in the design and manufacture of small sweeping machines for inner city pedestrian areas. RSA of £150,000 was offered to enable the company to bring into production a new series of machines, to be sold both in the UK and overseas.
Thomas Taylor (Bowls) Ltd
Founded in 1796, Thomas Taylor (Bowls) Ltd is one of the oldest manufacturing companies in Scotland. It produces lawn, crown and indoor bowls for export world-wide, and has been particularly successful in Australia. An RSA offer of £50,000, is geared to help it increase production capacity.
Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) is a national grant scheme, geared to help create and sustain employment in thosee areas of Scotland designated for regional aid under European Community (EC) law (the Assisted Areas).
Businesses of all sizes can apply for RSA, whether they are Scottish or foreign-owned. The scheme is administered by the Executive's RSA Scotland unit.
In the five years ending March 2002, projects creating and safeguarding Scottish jobs, have benefitted from over £300 million in RSA payments.
Payment of RSA is made in instalments, typically over several years as job and capital expenditure targets are met. The amounts quoted in the report represent the maximum grant potentially payable if the project is satisfactorily completed, and not the amount actually paid to date.
While the first edition of the RSA bulletin covers the six months to end September 2002, future editions will be issued on a quarterly basis and will be available on the RSA Scotland website.
An annual report, the first of which will be published next year, will provide additional detail on the Executive's use of the scheme.