Community Renewal Funding was allocated by the UK to Gibraltar in order to provide a transition from the EU Structural Funds it has previously received.
FAQs
Community Renewal Funding was allocated by the UK to Gibraltar in order to provide a transition from the EU Structural Funds it has previously received.
For the period 2021-2022, a total of £500,000 was allocated.
Most organisations may apply, including the public sector and SMEs i.e. practically all the firms in the eligible sectors in Gibraltar, together with individuals intending to set up a business.
YES.
There are five areas of business activity which are not eligible. These are;
• Wholesaling
• Retailing
• Financial services
• Mobile investments
• Franchise Companies
The financial assistance provided by UKCRF is exclusively in the form of grants.
This programme ends on 31 March 2022.
Amongst other things, UKCRF funds can;
• Assist new businesses to start up
• Assist businesses to expand and diversify
• Assist projects of an innovative nature
• Assist in the regeneration of “urban” areas
• Assist in measures to enhance the environment
A private sector project can receive up to 30% of the total certified eligible project costs, up to a maximum of £147,000. This upper limit is imposed by the “De Minimis” State Aid Rules.
In the first instance, you should contact the Gibraltar Expansion & Development Secretariat on tele. 20073255.
Prior to being in a position to fill-in an application form for UKCRF funding, applicants need to produce the following;
• A copy of the Company/Business Name registration.
• A trade licence (if applicable).
• The Employment Service Registration.
• A copy of the lease for the premises, where the project is to be located and which should be for a minimum of 5 years.
• Two quotations for each of the services and/or purchases which it is intended will form part of the project.
• A business plan or mission statement.
Upon submission of the above-mentioned documentation and provided that the proposed activity is eligible for UKCRF co-funding, the prospective applicant is in a position to fill-out an application form.
Prospective project applications are appraised, scored and evaluated by a committee that has been constituted specifically for this purpose.
To be successful, prospective UKCRF co-funded projects must demonstrate that they will:-
1. Proceed at a slower pace or be less effective without UKCRF funding support.
2. Provide good value for money.
3. Create sustainable employment.
4. Meet the objectives of the UKCRF Funds in relation to environmental enhancements.
Provided that the duly completed application form is accompanied by all the required supporting documentation (as detailed above), the approval process should not take more than approximately two weeks.
Applicants are initially informed of the decision by telephone, here a mutually convenient appointment is arranged with the GED Secretariat. During the course of this meeting the successful applicant receives a copy of the Grant Contract and the unsuccessful applicant is given the reasons why the application has been rejected.
This is the official document which sets out the terms and conditions of the grant offer. It also lists the project’s forecast “outputs”, which the successful applicant is committed to achieving, typically, upon completion of the project. Failure to meet the agreed outputs could render all funds given being “clawed” back.
It is very important to note that the project can only commence after formal approval has been received. Any expenditure that may be incurred prior to this time is automatically rendered ineligible for grant support and so, cannot be considered as part of the project’s approved costs.
It is a requirement that an “audit trial” must be established regarding all instances of “eligible expenditure” against which a claim for UKCRF funding will be submitted. For the avoidance of doubt, an “audit trail” is one which permits reconciliation of the amounts claimed with the individual expenditure record and supporting documents. Due to this, cash transactions are NOT acceptable. Payments may only be effected by banker’s draft or telegraphic transfer and the corresponding evidence of payment must accompany the Claims Form and the invoices and receipts.
Eligible expenditure is the approved project costs specified in the application form and the Grant Contract.
The grant, or a part thereof, can only be claimed after the expenditure has been incurred and payment has been effected by the applicant.
The duly-completed Claims Form needs to be accompanied by the following supporting documentation;
1. Invoice
2. Copy of cheque and/or counterfoil, banker’s draft or telegraphic transfer
3. Receipt
4. Bank statement
Without all the above, a claim is considered to be unreceivable and cannot be processed.
A maximum of 2 claims can be made during the life of the project.
Typically, the monies claimed are paid to the applicant within about four weeks of receipt of a “receivable” claim. The claim is prepared by the Treasury Department and paid to the Applicant’s bank account.
In Gibraltar there is 100% verification of claims. Therefore, each time that a claim is submitted, a visit is carried out to the project’s premises by an officer of the GED Secretariat in order to check on the project’s progress, verify the claim, if appropriate, and monitor the achievement of the forecast outputs.
All UKCRF projects must achieve specific targets or “outputs”. These are determined at the application stage and must include the creation of sustainable employment and environmental enhancements. Outputs must be quantifiable and achievable.
Yes. All UKCRF projects have a fixed start date and completion date. These are determined at the application stage by the applicant, subject to approval by GEDS. All projects must have ended by 31 March 2022.
Technically, all projects must be completed within the timeframe specified by the applicant on the application form. If it becomes apparent that the project completion date will not be met and an extension is necessary (within the UKCRF programmes lifespan), the GED Secretariat must be informed in writing as soon as possible, and certainly before the completion date of the project. A request for an extension must be made, giving the reasons for the same. The GED Secretariat will normally notify the applicant of its decision within one week of receipt of the formal request.
NO.
Yes, the UKCRF branding and publicity requirements must be strictly observed and can be found in the Fund Technical Requirements and Guidance document. They include that all project deliverers must ensure that the appropriate logo :–
is used in all communications materials and public facing documents relating to project activity – including print and publications, through to digital and electronic materials. Websites and printed materials must also include a clear and prominent reference to the funding from the UKCRF. A plaque must also be placed in a prominent location bearing witness to the support granted. Further details may be obtained from GEDS.
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