This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Euro funding for East of Scotland
25/10/2004
Twenty projects across the East of Scotland have been awarded European grants worth a total of £2,058,821 in the latest round of funding.
Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, said :
"This Executive is clearly focused on growing the economy. We have to ensure that Scots get opportunities to contribute to, and benefit from, economic prosperity.
"These grants will help drive forward projects that are delivering new opportunities for people and for business. They are wide-ranging and include a 'Business Angels' initiative that invests in small, innovative businesses and a neighbourhood centre that helps local people into training and work.
"The Executive is also committed to ensuring that all Scots are enabled to realise their potential. The type of projects supported in this round of European funding helps us achieve this aim."
Projects to benefit include:
£190,918 for the Charleston Neighbourhood Centre in Dundee. The Charleston estate is one of the most excluded in Dundee but only a small percentage of its 5,000 residents can access the support within the Neighbourhood Centre. The grant will be used to build an extension and refurbish existing space so that more people have access to the advice, training and meeting facilities.
£108,209 for Employment Connections, Stirling. The grant will enable the project to build on current success, including the development of outreach activities to reach those furthest from the jobs market. The project aims to safeguard five jobs, support 50 employers a year, with 100 people gaining employment, 10 becoming self-employed and 120 going into training.
£298,517 for East of Scotland Business Angels. This is the only public-interest angel network in Scotland, investing private capital in, and bringing business expertise to enterprises with high growth potential. It has already facilitated over 250 deals worth more than £40 million helping to create thousands of jobs. The grant will help build on this success, and enable new initiatives in syndicate formation and co-investment.
£214,240 for RADICAL at Heriot Watt University. RADICAL (Research and Development, Innovation, Knowledge, Adoption and Liaison) provides technology expertise in innovative manufacturing for small and medium sized enterprises. This helps businesses increase sales and also encourages them to invest in research and development.
The money announced today is the 11th Round of the East of Scotland Objective 2 programme of the European Social Fund.