Funding
Whether you are thinking about developing a new product, event or marketing activity or doing some staff training, there may be funding support available. Every funding source has different rules and application procedures, so our top tip is to get in touch with the appropriate organisation as soon as possible.
If you need some advice, get in touch with ETAG at admin@etag.org.uk
Scottish Enterprise Innovation Fund
The SE Tourism Innovation Fund (TIF) provides innovation support that can include matched funding of up to £30,000 and professional one-to-one advice to enable tourism operators to deliver innovative projects to market. The support is awarded via a competitive process that incorporates an initial Expression of Interest, followed by an application form and subsequent presentations to a judging panel.
Support is aimed at individual or collaborative project ideas which offer a new and genuinely innovative experience and which encourage people to visit Scotland. For more information on eligibility and online applications visit http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/tourism-innovation-fund
VisitScotland Growth Fund
The VisitScotland Growth Fund is a marketing fund available to support new collaborative marketing projects. VisitScotland accepts applications from groups of tourism businesses operating at a local, regional or national level who will be able to assist the tourism industry in achieving tourism growth. The Growth Fund can support groups with 50% of approved total marketing costs over a one year period – with a minimum award of £5,000 to a maximum of £65,000 available. Further information regarding eligibility and how to apply is available at:
Event Funding
Event Scotland’s International Events Programme has funding available on an annual basis for major events which meet its criteria of ‘generating substantial economic benefits for Scotland through increased visitation including tourists, spectators and participants’, and which help EventScotland to deliver its overall strategy. For further information see http://www.eventscotland.org/funding-and-resources/international-programmes/
Year of Creative Scotland 2012
The Year of Creative Scotland in 2012 will celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative vibrancy, shine a spotlight on our creative assets, provide a test-bed for new initiatives and a launch platform for activity to support Year of Homecoming in 2014. It will provide a chance to work together to promote Scotland’s festivals, our great cities, to get Scotland dancing and to shine a spotlight on the contribution that people and places play in making us a leading creative nation. It's a chance to recognise our great historic names of culture, to celebrate our contemporary icons and an opportunity to create a platform on a world stage for the talent of today.
Funding for collaborative projects between the tourism and cultural sectors is available through Creative Scotland, with awards of between £15,000 - £80,000 for successful projects. For more information go to http://www.creativescotland.com/2012-2014/overview
