Join our September Innovation Sprint

During the month of September we're inviting rural businesses to book a slot for an online innovation consultation with us where we'll assess your eligibility to apply for a £5k grant to help speed up the development of a new product, service or process.

• Are you a small or medium sized business based in the Outer Hebrides, Skye and Lochalsh, Lochaber or Argyll and the Islands?
• Do you have the spark of an idea for a new product, service or process?
• Would £5k grant funding help test feasibility or speed up development?

You could use the grant to purchase materials to create a prototype, to commission third party testing, or to engage a technical consultant or contractor, for example.

Innovation is essential to long-term business sustainability and growth, but it involves risk and sometimes a helping hand is required. We can objectively assess your idea and your development plan and give a quick indication of funding eligibility.

To be eligible for funding you must demonstrate:

• that your proposed product, service or process is innovative within the market in which you operate
• market demand and a route to market
• the economic benefit it could bring to your business
• that the £5k grant is required to accelerate its development

Terms and conditions

Grant applications must be submitted by the end of September and you must be in a position to complete the project by the end of November.

You must undertake an innovation advisory session prior to grant application; this is to help assess eligibility and for us to provide guidance that will enable you to make a strong application. This will be online.

The advice element of this support is provided through the Co-Innovate programme, supported by the European Union's INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The grants are supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

Company staff time/salaries are not eligible for grant support.

If you are not eligible for our grant, we will signpost you to more relevant funding and/or support.

Complete the short form below to book an online consultation to see if you're eligible. Once completed, one of the team will be in touch with you soon!