Free support and grants for local businesses through Eureka! Moment scheme
The Eureka! Moment, an innovative scheme run by Shropshire Council, has released a short film designed to make it even easier for local businesses in Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire to apply for free business support and grants of up to £10,000.
The film, which can be watched here outlines how small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can participate in the Eureka! Moment and explains exactly what they can expect to receive as a result of their participation.
Shropshire Council estimates that thousands of businesses in the four counties could be eligible for the Eureka! Moment scheme and is keen to encourage as many applications as possible.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for business growth, said:
“This new film is a brilliant way for businesses to find out more about this exciting project.
“The real advantage of Eureka! Moment is that many of the other regional and national grant schemes are just not suitable for our businesses. This is a very rural area, and a large proportion of potential innovation projects being proposed by our micro businesses are often too small to benefit from some of the other innovation grants available.
“The Eureka! Moment hopes to fill this gap, through grants to implement projects identified at a review, or by working with businesses to make new product ideas a reality.”
Helen Hunter-Hayes, project officer for the Eureka! Moment scheme with Shropshire Council, said:
“The Eureka! Moment is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to get an extra boost. If you’re planning any kind of change or project investment, talk to us and find out if you’re eligible for support.”
Paul Humphrey of Discovery Books in Ludlow, said:
“The Eureka! Moment has been wonderful. The application process is painless and the support we’ve received has been a really helpful boost. We’re on track to achieve our targets much more rapidly than if we hadn’t had Eureka! Moment support.”
(See below for a case study of Discovery Books).
The Eureka! Moment scheme is financed by the European Regional Development Fund, which has identified Shropshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire as rural areas that need an extra boost. The scheme is completely free to participating businesses.
In addition to the business support and grants offered by the scheme, the Eureka! Moment is a fantastic conduit to other business schemes and grant programmes that are available within the relevant regions. Businesses that participate in the Eureka! Moment can find themselves with much more support than they initially expected.
CASE STUDY – DISCOVERY BOOKS
Founded in 1992 by Paul Humphrey, Discovery Books of Ludlow has been growing ever since. To date they have successfully packaged over 1,000 children’s books for clients in the UK and USA, with subjects ranging anywhere from world cultures and social issues through to science and nature.
Discovery Books applied to the Eureka! Moment scheme for help identifying ways to accelerate their already rapid growth. They were especially looking for innovative ways to market their revolutionary online interactive resource for schools – Fiction Express. Their consultant, from the University of Wolverhampton undertook a completely free business review and advised that they could increase sales with a targeted marketing strategy.
In addition to the completely free strategic business advice, the Eureka! Moment provided Discovery Books with a grant to help them implement that advice. That grant has helped pay for a marketing consultant specialising in the education sector, they have identified some key events which Discovery Books need to attend. The consultant has help the company focus on its marketing activities and Discovery Books are really excited to be featuring in the Times Education Supplement later this month.
Paul Humphrey, founder of Discovery Books, says:
“The Eureka! Moment has been a positive boost for the business and has really helped us grow. Our advice to any business would be to pick up the phone and find out how the Eureka! Moment can help you.”
For more information on Discovery Books, please visit: http://www.discoverybooks.net
