2. The University of Derby and its delivery partners have been awarded £7.5m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. This funding has been awarded from the D2N2 LEP’s European Structural and Investment Funds allocation.
Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

4. TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING
For businesses operating within or wanting to access the aerospace, rail and automotive sectors
Develop new products, processes and services
A company diagnostic to help you develop your innovation and growth plans
Fully funded access to support and facilities from the University of Derby and Loughborough University
Funding towards external costs relating to company based research and innovation projects
* Support is available for SMEs in the D2N2 area only

5. ENSCITE
For businesses operating within or wanting to access the aerospace, rail and automotive sectors
Developing key staff and rising stars in your business
Implementing new processes to make you more competitive
Key themes explored are:
Logistics and Operations Management
Excellence Through Quality
Sustainable Supply Chains
The Agile Leader
Activity includes competitiveness assessments and action planning, workshops, events & topical seminars, one-to-one consultancy and peer networking
You will also be given the opportunity to utilize the FabLab facility at the iHub for rapid design and prototyping
* Support is available for SMEs in the D2N2 area only

6. D2 ENERGY EFFICIENCY Energy Smart Business Grants
Carbon Smart Innovation
Carbon Smart Input for your Businesses – Low Carbon Business Capability Assessment
Make carbon savings and support the move towards a low carbon economy
Support with Supply Chain Accreditation and Environmental Management Plans to access new markets
Support to deliver low carbon goods and services
Research and development providing technical support for low carbon :-
production
process and product design
new product development
prototyping
* Support is available for SMEs in the D2 area only

7. ENABLING INNOVATION
Access key enabling technologies underpinned by a comprehensive ‘ladder’ of innovation and technology support activities
Equipment and technical expertise to be used by SMEs supported through this project
Technology for design, prototyping and testing
Access modern manufacturing equipment, including state-of-the-art engineering computer software needed to design products and processes efficiently, and optimise manufacturing operations
A student or new graduate could help your business to innovate
Funding to support graduate recruitment into your innovation project through Knowledge Exchange for Innovation
Find out how the innovation process can be managed through to commercialisation
* Support is available for SMEs in the D2N2 area only

8. CREATIVE AND DIGITAL INDUSTRIES
Targeting fast growing digital subsectors: IT, software, games & apps advertising & marketing, product design and film, TV, others adopting new digital processes
Brings partner support together into the ”Big-House” to ensure that businesses, entrepreneurs and pre- stars get the right service for their needs
Floor 1: New start businesses and pre-start support
Floor 2: Early stage & stable SMEs – specialist themed workshops, support and mentoring to support business, technical development and new product design
Floor 3: Faster Growing SMEs – access to growth & accelerator activities focussed around innovation, marketing, talent management & management development, access to finance
* Support is available for SMEs in the D2N2 area only

9. D2N2 Growth and Innovation Programme
Invest to Grow
D2N2 Growth and Innovation Programme
Invest to Grow is an East Midlands RGF Loan and Grant fund
Growth and Innovation is a new D2N2 ERDF Grant fund*
Funding is available for projects that will create new jobs that can be sustained for a minimum of 3 years
Award size is £15k-£250k.
Maximum award is typically 30% of project costs (i.e £15k for a min. project cost of £50k)
Eligible costs: land & building, equipment, training costs to introduce the innovation, research & technical knowledge, additional operating & overhead costs as a result of the project
Non-eligible costs: staff costs, revenue costs
* Support is available for SMEs in the D2N2 area only

11. TO FIND OUT MORE Speak to a member of our Business Engagement Team:e: