What is our 'Finance for Business' programme?
'Finance for Business', or FFB, provides financial help for businesses to develop and provide more local permanent jobs. Funding is usually in the form of a capital grant but assistance may be possible through a loan or even shares in your business. Our FFB scheme is separate from Business Start-Up grants, Innovation Support, E-Business or marketing assistance, which are all fully explained in separate pages.
How can we help?
We may be able to help your company in a number of ways. Grants - we can give help in the form of building or development grants. Eligible items for assistance include investment for capital expenditure, such as improving buildings or purchasing machinery. It can also include investment in marketing too.
Loans and Equity
Consideration can also be given to the provision of loans at a fixed rate of interest. The loan might include delayed repayments or offer interest free periods. Under certain circumstances we can offer to take shares in your business and so provide the funds you need for development.
Property
We may also be able to help with property. We have various industrial units throughout Skye and Lochalsh that may suit your needs. We can combine any or all of these types of help to give you a 'development assistance package' in a combination that makes best use of our budget while improving the chances that your project will be a success, therefore helping the economy of Skye and Lochalsh.
How can you qualify for help?
Assistance may be available if:
- You can demonstrate your business proposition is viable.
- It has a good prospect of creating additional jobs in the Skye and Lochalsh economy.
- Your business is in one of the following sectors: tourism, manufacturing production, food and drink production - or knowledge, information and telecommunications.
- Your business is in the Skye and Lochalsh area.
- Helping you would not displace or threaten other similar local businesses.
What next?
Contact us now. Make an appointment to meet with one of our development managers who will be able to let you know if your project is eligible for FFB assistance.
If it is, we will help guide you through the application process. We can provide advice on preparing your business plan, cash flow and financial projections. We can also give you marketing advice.
If your application is approved we will let you know in writing, giving full details of any conditions that may apply to the assistance.
If we cannot provide financial help we will try and tell you who can. Even if we cannot provide financial assistance we may be able to give some useful objective advice - and it's free.
Who to contact?
Calum MacPherson - head of development Tel: 01478 612841 Email: calum.macpherson@hient.co.uk |