Funding opportunities for local businesses to enhance their technology offering

NEW funding opportunities are now available to eligible businesses and social enterprises within the Derry City and Strabane District Council area as part of the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund (DTFF).

Derry City and Strabane District Council hosted a successful workshop to inform local businesses of the funding that has the capacity to transform their business.

Delivering the workshop alongside the William J Clinton Institute at Queens University Belfast, members of council’s Business Team offered tailored advice and information about DTFF.

The information session, hosted in the Everglades on Thursday 1offered advice on the types of technology funded, the application process and the importance of leveraging this unique opportunity to address financial barriers to the adoption of advanced digital technologies.

Eligible businesses can apply for capital grant funding between £5,000 and £20,000 to support their business transformation journey to accelerate digital ambitions.

Danielle McNally, Business Officer at council encouraged businesses across the city and district to consider the funding opportunities available.

“We are delighted to announce these funding opportunities to our local businesses," she said.

"Digital technology plays an increasingly important role in helping businesses to grow and it is transforming the way in which our business landscape operates.

"We want to ensure our local businesses have access to every opportunity to grow as possible, giving them the chance to gain a competitive edge and achieve long term success.

“We understand it can be slightly overwhelming for businesses to understand the eligibility and criteria, as well as the overall application process, which is why we will be hosting an information session for local businesses on Thursday, March 14 in the Everglades Hotel.

"There will be a networking lunch, followed by a presentation on the opportunity by the DTFF delivery team.

"This information is invaluable and we would encourage everyone who is eligible or interested in the DTFF to come along and find out more.”

The DTFF capital grants are worth between £5,000 and £20,000 ex VAT and are designed to help small and micro businesses accelerate their digital transformation ambitions.

If eligible, the grant can fund up to 70 per cent of the cost of a project with 30 per cent match funding from the applicant.

Businesses wishing to access the DTFF must be based in Northern Ireland and operate within one of the 11 local council areas, be a small or a micro business and be VAT registered.

They must also be actively trading for a minimum of 12 months and focused on one or more of the six funded advanced digital technologies.

The Digital Transformation Fund (DTFF) is delivered by all local authorities in Northern Ireland under the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI) and supported by Invest NI.

The project is part funded by the NI Executive, UK Government, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and all local authorities in Northern Ireland.

Applications are open until Frida,y March 29 at 12pm. For more information or to complete an Expression of Interest form, visit:

www.derrystrabane.com/dtff