Arfor Innovation Fund
The Arfor Innovation Fund is a £2 million scheme funded by Welsh Government to pilot innovative approaches in promoting entrepreneurship, business growth, community resilience and the Welsh language in the Arfor region of West Wales (the counties of Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Gwynedd and Anglesey.).
The objectives of the scheme are to:
- Promote enterprise and support business growth in areas where a high percentage of the population speaks Welsh;
- Ensure better paid jobs to keep local people in these areas and to encourage those who have left to return;
- Promote the value of speaking Welsh and bilingualism in businesses and create an exciting sense of place;
- Encourage businesses and people moving to rural areas to value and use the Welsh language.
There are two support packages available:
- ‘Business Start Up’ – This grant is to support new business start-ups and encourage entrepreneurship.
Total grant and Maximum – £10,000
Grant rate: 80% - ‘Going for Growth’ – This grant is to support existing enterprises to encourage growth and development.
Total grant – £10,000 – £40,000
Grant rate: 70%
Key points to consider:
You will need to read the guidance document for candidates attached below for full details:
- The two support packages will apply to small-scale revenue and/or capital expenditure as part of an approved proposal.
- Innovation is a key principle in relation to the Arfor Innovation Fund. The proposal should be new and additional to the specific area, rather than the continuation of any previous business activity. Innovation can mean new products and services, a new process, new partnerships or new ways of working.
- Both packages will target the following specific sectors: food and drink; creative industries; the digital sector and tourism. However, it is not limited to these sectors if an innovative idea is proposed.
- There is no lower limit or upper limit set for a project timetable but the activity must be completed and the expenditure claimed by December 2020.
- In order to measure effectiveness, all candidates will have to carry out research and evaluation work.
Useful Links:
https://businesswales.gov.wales/
https://cymraeg.gov.wales/business/business/swyddogion/?lang=en
https://www.menterabusnes.co.uk/en
https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/your-council/partnerships/growing-mid-wales/