NWDA Innovation Voucher Scheme – funding for Northwest businesses owners, entrepreneurs and social enterprises in the creative and digital sectors
The Innovation Voucher scheme is open to anyone running a Small Medium Enterprise in the Northwest – covering Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria.
It is aimed at people already running one of the following ventures:
- Small or Medium business
- Social enterprise
- Not-for-profit organisation
Such ventures in the Northwest can apply for funding (a voucher) which can be used to purchase knowledge from one of the NWDA’s registered knowledge providers.
The aim is to improve your company’s innovation capability.
The key benefits are:
- Access the wealth of knowledge from the knowldge base, including public and private sector research and technology organisations
- Resolve a business issue, quickly, efficiently and through a source not previously utilised
- Easy to apply and ’spend’ the voucher
- The scheme is funded by the NWDA and ERDF, so is a credible and stable way to fund your organisation’s growth.
Creative and Digital Industries are one of the sectors where applications are being given a higher priority.
NWDA particularly welcome applications from women, minority groups and businesses in deprived areas. Please note that charities are not eligible to apply.
Application deadlines
The current application round is open until 28 August 2009.
The following vouchers are available in the current round:
- 250 x £3,000 vouchers
- 50 x £7,000 vouchers
More applications rounds are planned for December 2009, April 2010 and August 2010.
How to apply
The application form should be submitted online. If you are awarded an innovation voucher you can use it to purchase leading edge expertise to meet your innovation requirements.
You can apply online on the NWDA website. The application process will take about 20 minutes.
More information
Please contact the Innovation Voucher Team on 01925 400466 for further guidance, or visit the NWDA Finance for Business website.
