Herald - Issue 397

29th October 2020 • The HERALD • Page 53 v SEND ALL YOUR NEWS TO THE HERALD v Sanders Design S E R V I C E S L T D BUILDING PLANS AND DETAILED DRAWING SERVICE Complete professional service for extensions, conversions, new houses and commercial projects • Computer Aided Design Drawings • Free Initial Visit and Quotation 95 Cedar Road, Hythe, Southampton SO45 3PX Tel: 023 8020 7195 Email: info@sandersdesignservices.co.uk Web: www.sandersdesignservices.co.uk ASK A PROFESSIONAL New Forest Rural SME Fund e New Forest Rural SME fund seeks to support the Solent economy by providing grants to rural small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) with potential for economic growth, leveraging in private sector investment, creating or protecting jobs and assisting the rural sector. e New Forest Rural SME Fund is a competitive fund managed by Natural Enterprise on behalf of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). is fund is for New Forest based rural SMEs that require capital investment to progress their project which will enable their business to expand and grow and is designed to continue the positive work of LEADER, supporting the New Forest rural economy. e rst round of funding (£82,000) will be committed by 31st March 2021 . e fund is looking to support the strongest bids which return best value for money, jobs and leverage in the rural economy and generate sustainable growth. Grants are available between £2,500 and £50,000 and need to create or safeguard jobs to be eligible. ose projects that can create or safeguard a higher number of jobs will be prioritised. All projects must also demonstrate a bene t to the rural economy. Grants from round 1 need to be claimed by September 2021 and jobs created by December 2022 . If you believe you have the potential to grow your business or safeguard jobs, but require some extra funding to do so, you may be able to bene t from the fund. Who can apply? To be eligible, applications must meet the following criteria: • e bid must be for between £2,500 and £50,000 of New Forest Rural SME support. • e bid needs to demonstrate it will create or safeguard jobs. Priority will be given to applications creating higher numbers of jobs. • e bid must raise private investment, whether through the company’s own resources, investors or borrowing. e fund can provide up to 50% of your total project costs, up to a maximum grant of £50,000. is means the bid must lever in at least £1 of private investment for every £1 of New Forest Rural SME support. Successful bids tend to exceed this. • Bids must come from a wholly private organisation such as a limited company. • Bids must come from SMEs from the rural sector based in the New Forest. • Bids must come from SMEs able to demonstrate how their project will bene t the rural areas. • Bids from third sector organisations, charities and community interest companies are eligible for consideration. • Bids must not involve the delivery of a public sector project or service. Many businesses have found a great way to put something back into their communities by supporting their local Rotary Club. ey can give this support in several ways, including sharing their expertise or resources, o ering to help with or sponsor local events, or making an annual donation to cover some of the overheads incurred with local fundraising. Hythe & Waterside Rotary Club play a vital part in the local community supporting good causes including charities and schools. is is enhanced by having Business Partners who can be relied upon to lend a helping hand from time to time. ere are so many ways you can support Hythe & Waterside Rotary Club, even if your spare time is limited. If you would like to know more, please email the club secretary at secretary@hytherotary.org.uk Businesses Make a Difference