Next round of ‘incredibly popular’ tech funding scheme to open for Leeds City Region firms

The government-backed Digital Enterprise programme in Leeds is urging City Region businesses to secure a slice of new funding for tech upgrades.

Digital Growth Vouchers of between £2,000 and £10k are available for firms in the area before the scheme closes in November.

Open for applications from Monday (October 1), the latest phase of the Growth Voucher initiative will aim to help businesses with spending on IT hardware and software or upgrading digital or broadband connectivity.

The funding could also be used for developing websites and installing new internet telephony.

Digital Enterprise said that eligible businesses must have been trading for at least 12 months and operate in a business-to-business environment.

Applicants must also employ between two and 250 people and turn over less than £43m.

Muz Mumtaz, head of Digital Enterprise, said: “This is phase four of the Digital Growth Vouchers scheme and it will only be open for six weeks.

“The vouchers have proved incredibly popular every time they have been made available and any businesses that could benefit from the funding would be well advised to get in touch as soon as possible to check whether they match the criteria – and apply before the vouchers are gone.”

He continued: “This time the scope of the funding has been widened so that businesses that have already received Digital Growth Vouchers or who take part in our Digital Knowledge Exchange programme will be eligible.

“The total technology project spend has also increased from £11,000 to £12,000. The vouchers cover at least 50% of the cost of a digital transformation project, so they can provide a real catalyst to help businesses boost their digital capability.”

The Digital Growth Vouchers scheme was rolled out across the Leeds City Region in October 2016. Since then, it has helped over 636 companies upgrade their digital technology with funding worth £2.8m.

Digital Enterprise is funded by the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), nine local authorities and the European Regional Development Fund.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →