1. User Guide

4. Application Process

The Fund application process has been split into four stages with the last one seeing your project being implemented and the benefits being realised; the Delivery Stage.

4.1 Open Call

An 'Open Call' will be raised for enterprises to come forward with their ideas for our consideration. Open Calls will be widely advertised across a number of communications channels to optimise their reach as far as possible.

Whether you become aware of the fund through the Open Call or not, you must have an initial conversation with our Fund Management Team. They will discuss the fund parameters with you and establish whether your ideas meet with the general aspirations of the fund. If they do, then you will be formally invited to submit a 'Viability Proposal.'

Your project must not have started before we invite you to submit a proposal. Any costs incurred for work done up to that time cannot be included.

Any application for grant under this Fund will be in competition with other projects.

4.2 Viability Stage

If invited, you will have a maximum of 2 months in which to submit your 'Viability Proposal.' Your proposal must be submitted using our Viability Proposal Form, attaching any necessary additional information to this.

Once we receive it, we will assess your application within 1 month. Following assessment, it will be assigned to the next scheduled decision meeting.

If we decide not to invite you to submit a 'Developed Proposal,' we will explain our reasons why. You may reflect on these and seek to enhance your application but must wait until the next Open Call before resubmitting anything.

Accepting an invitation to submit a 'Developed Proposal' does not guarantee that you will receive a grant award.

4.3 Development Stage

You should allow adequate time to work through your proposal in more detail and ensure it is fully considered by the time you submit a 'Developed Proposal.' Your proposal must be submitted using our Developed Proposal E-Form, attaching any necessary additional information to this.

You should gain a better understanding of the costs, resources, timeline, and the needs of your enterprise (which may also require consultation with your customers) and use this information to inform your proposal.

You will have a maximum of 6 months in which to submit your 'Developed Proposal'. Once we receive it, and all the necessary supporting documents, we will assess your application within 1 month. Following assessment, it will be assigned to the next scheduled decision meeting.

Bid development work is likely to include:

consultation with people outside your business
review of your governance
business planning
detailed design and planning work
any surveys or investigations needed.

If your 'Developed Proposal' is approved, we will make a Provisional Grant Award to you. If we decide not to approve your proposal we will explain our reasons why.

4.4 Delivery Stage

This will occur post-grant award and principally entails the creation of the new facilities we have agreed to support (typically incorporating RIBA Stage 4 to 6 activity). We will discuss your Project Delivery Plan with you during the Development Phase. You should provide detailed information about your delivery proposals in your application.

Once RIBA Stage 4 is completed we will ask you to confirm that you remain in a position to proceed with the project and deliver the stated outputs and outcomes. Once you have confirmed this to us you will receive a Final Grant Award.

You will have up to two years to complete the Delivery Stage (including RIBA Stage 4) unless we have agreed a longer project duration with you.