7. Funding

SARF Funding

The SARF project vision and objectives contributes to delivering one of SCC's key priorities of realising growth in the restaurant sector.

  • There is strong evidence that there is a need for the SARF project and there has been consultation with DMP, Tourism, SCC and BLSY. 

funding

  • The SARF project has a good fit with the Council’s 'Heart of the City' objectives and there is acknowledgement that the City’s food and drink sector requires comparative growth to match other sectors.  SARF is well represented by industry professionals and will collaborate with knowledge and experience as to what is required in terms of tools and finance funding.
  • The SARF project promotes strong involvement in supporting young people's aspirations to working in the industry.  SARF acts as a conduit to pursuing industry skills through education and training.
  • The SARF project will address performance indicators and there will be measurable outcomes/outputs.
  • SARF will deliver projects that should improve the overall performance of the sector; however, the project still requires both public and private funding if it is to sustain operations.
  • The SARF project will eventually become self funding and there are identified sources of income generation that should start to mature by the second quarter of 2008.
  • From SARF's inception there were a number of possible sources of income identified, so far funding has been secured from two public sources: 
  1. Destination Management Project (DMP) £25,000 pa
  2. Food Innovation Programme (FIP)  £7, 500 pa
  3. No exit strategy is required


Goal
SARF’s vision, objectives and project events will add towards raising industry profile and generate increased income for our regional restaurant sector.  To achieve the majority of our objectives including the hosting of a ‘Food, Drink and Music Festival’, we have set a 2007/2008 target to secure a base minimum £250,000.  (A full financial appraisal will be made available shortly).

 

Funding and Support for Food Businesses
There are numerous regional grant funding programs available to groups, organisations and individual businesses. Sector relevant funding exists within a range of departments such as Agriculture, Tourism, Culture, Research and Development and others.  SARF will raise awareness that access to these programs are sometimes only limited only by the applicants ability to determine the appropriate funding channel for their specific need or project, negotiate the application process and satisfy the funding criteria. Given the complexities of appropriate evaluation of applications and equitable distribution of available funds, the process can present an unintentional barrier to some potential applicants.

Goal
Raise awareness of available funding programs among potential applicants and assist accessibility for eligible businesses and groups.

Action 1
Identify relevant funding programs and create links to the grant facilitator

Action 2
Propose (to various funding bodies) a framework for contribution to the
development of funding guidelines, the review process and areas of specific funding needs.

Action 3
SARF will develop clear lines of communication offering help, support and introduction to appropriate funding bodies to determine their project eligibility.

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