Rural Affairs

Section I: Economic and Social funding

      1. What shape will the socio economic measures under the new programme take?
      2. The RDAs have not been able to support economic and social activity during the delay to the start of the Programme.  When will I be able to apply for funding from the socio-economic measures under the new programme?
      3. What does the strategic approach referred to in Q1 of this section mean in practice for businesses and communities within the regions?
      4. This facilitated approach may mean fewer, larger projects. Does this mean that fewer people will be able to benefit?
      5. Does the emphasis on proactive work and collaboration mean that I cannot put forward my own project idea as an individual business?
      6. Will there be a new Rural Enterprise Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme and Processing and Marketing Grant?
      7. Will all the regions be using programme measures in the same way?
      8. Will the project idea I am currently working on be eligible?
      9. What will the RDA’s national approach be?  I have a national (or cross-regional) project idea.  Will the new programme be able to deal with this?
      10. How do I contact my Regional Development Agency about the new socio economic funding?
1.  What shape will the socio economic measures under the new programme take?
  • The Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) will deliver the socio-economic elements of the next Programme.
  • RDAs have agreed objectives and priorities for the socio-economic measures with regional partners regional and these are set out in individual Regional Implementation Plans (RIPs) (See Section E for further information on RIPs).
  • RDAs are also looking to integrate the support under the Rural Development programme more widely with other public sector investment and to focus it through a strategic approach, addressing longer term needs, through proactive project commissioning working with and supporting entrepreneurial businesses. 
2. The RDAs have not been able to support economic and social activity during the delay to the start of the Programme.  When will I be able to apply for funding from the socio-economic measures under the new programme?
  • Now that the Programme has been approved, each RDA will be publicising the specific regional arrangements for full implementation of the economic and social elements of the Programme in their region.
  • For links to each of the RDAs’ websites, please see: http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/rdpe/rda.htm
3. What does the strategic approach referred to in the first question of this section mean in practice for businesses and communities within the regions?
  • RDAs have worked with partners to develop a clear picture of the needs and priorities for the regions and sub-regional areas under the Rural Development Programme.
  • It has been important to identify the issues that the Rural Development Programme can address which fall outside the remit for other public sector funds, and therefore identify the most effective focus for the programme within the broader suite of public sector support. 
  • RDAs will also seek to align the investment as closely as possible with other funding to maximise the opportunities and effectiveness of public sector support in rural areas.
  • With this in mind RDAs will be operating a different approach to the totally application led basis of the previous programme.  With the clear focus on needs and priorities, in particular where different local areas within a region may have similar needs, the RDAs will be able to manage investments more efficiently to ensure that the maximum number of businesses may benefit from a shared project.
  • This means that the RDAs will be taking a proactive approach to project development under the new programme and may well be working through commissioning projects or working with groups of key businesses and/or community partners to develop projects which deliver multiple outcomes, as well as discussing projects with entrepreneurial businesses.
4.  This facilitated approach may mean fewer, larger projects. Does this mean that fewer people will be able to benefit?
  • Not necessarily. Individual projects may be larger than under the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) 2000-2006 project based schemes, but this will be owing to a more deliberate emphasis on sharing objectives and adding value through collaborative working.
  • It is likely that single projects may benefit a large number of businesses.
5. Does the emphasis on proactive work and collaboration mean that I cannot put forward my own project idea as an individual business?
  • RDAs do not wish to exclude entrepreneurial ideas from the new programme where they clearly meet the priority objectives and can demonstrate wider benefits for the locality and for the region. 
  • RDAs would wish to discuss any project ideas you may have at the earliest possible stages. 
  • This means that you can receive an early and clear answer as to whether or not your project idea meets the objectives for the programme and may save time wasted on unsuccessful project development. 
  • For entrepreneurial ideas which meet or may be developed to meet key objectives, RDAs will work closely with customers to ensure that they are aware of what is required for a detailed application.  
6. Will there be a new Rural Enterprise Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme and Processing and Marketing Grant?
  • No.  The RDAs will not be continuing with the Rural Enterprise Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme and Processing and Marketing Grant.  These schemes closed to new applications in June 2006. RDAs are managing the ongoing commitments under these schemes.
7. Will all the regions be using programme measures in the same way?
  • Not necessarily.  There is considerable diversity in the needs and priorities of the different English Regions.  RDAs and their partners have developed regional approaches, which address their own needs and priorities through appropriate solutions.
  • This means, for example, that some particular Rural Development Regulation measures have higher priority in some regions than others, and that delivery mechanisms are different in different regions.
  • However, all regional activity will be within the national framework of priorities, set out in the National Strategy Plan for England, and the framework set by the Rural Development Regulation.
8.  Will the project idea I am currently working on be eligible? 
  • You should not assume that your current idea would attract funding. 
  • There will be changes in the approach and priorities for funding for the next Programme, based on the lessons learned from the previous programmes and tailored to suit regional circumstances. 
  • Therefore, in your area, although the new Rural Development Regulation may allow support for similar types of activities as under the ERDP, funds may not be available for exactly the same activity or be delivered in the same way. 
  • You should contact your RDA and familiarise yourself with the priorities and objectives of the Programme and those of your region. We would also strongly advise you to have more detailed discussions with your RDA about your ideas.
9.  What will the RDA’s national approach be?  I have a national (or cross-regional) project idea.  Will the new programme be able to deal with this?
  • The socio-economic elements of the next programme will be effectively run on an individual region basis.
  • The RDAs, however, currently work together in other areas of their activity where projects demonstrate that they can offer sufficient value and benefits to more than one region.
  • They expect to operate in the same way for this programme.  If you have an idea which you believe is relevant cross border or covers multiple regions then you should contact all the regions involved for an initial discussion. Alternatively, you may wish to approach the lead RDA for this activity, which is currently The East of England Development Agency 
10.  How do I contact my Regional Development Agency about the new socio economic funding?
  • If you want to discuss your ideas or the new programme in general then most RDAs have a contact point or number you can use – please see the Annex to this Q & A for further detail.

 

Page last modified: 7 February, 2008
Page published: 21 July, 2005

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs