More time is being made available for organisations in Swansea to apply for funding worth up to £16.2 million.

The application deadline for the funding, which is being run locally by Swansea Council as part of the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, has now been extended to midnight on Wednesday March 29.

To be eligible for the £8m general wider programme open call funding, applicants must ensure their proposed schemes are in line with the key themes of the Regional Investment Plan for South West Wales. These include improving urban and rural communities, and supporting small businesses.

As well as the general open call, applications are also invited for projects forming part of the skills and multiply elements of the overall funding package.

Worth £3m, the skills-related funding is for projects aimed at delivering targeted essential, technical and vocational training, or retraining and upskilling support to adults aged 19+ in line with local skills needs and regional economic priorities.

The core requirement for projects linked to the multiply theme, worth £5.2m, is the delivery of flexible numeracy skills support to adults aged 19+ who do not have a Level 2 or higher maths qualification.

Funding bids can’t duplicate the following anchor projects that the council has already announced as part of the overall funding package, which is worth £38.4m to the city.

• A package of schemes to support Swansea businesses including start-up grants, growth grants, carbon reduction grants, training for businesses to move towards net zero carbon, and a commercial property development fund
• A pathways to work employability project that will include support for economically inactive and long-term unemployed people aged 16 and over, paid work placements and a £2m grant funding open call for specialist employability support
• Transforming places throughout the county, with projects earmarked to include grant funding for historic structures, improvements to villages and small town centres, and heritage-led regeneration activities and trails
• A culture and tourism anchor project that will include the development of a creative network, digital skills and support for businesses in that sector
• A supporting communities project that will provide grant funding for community and third sector projects
• Boosting rural areas with funding for rural community development, climate change themed activities and support for rural businesses

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Investment and Tourism, said:

“We’re getting an encouraging level of response and interest from potential applicants, but feedback from these organisations shows they need more time to refine their bids.

“So to accommodate their needs, the application deadline has now been extended to midnight on Wednesday March 29, which could also help attract other applications too.

“This is a great opportunity for organisations in Swansea to apply for funding worth up to £16.2m that could help deliver a project linked to the key themes of the overall Regional Investment Plan for South West Wales.

“Over £22m of the city’s funding package has already been earmarked for a number of anchor projects, including a series of tailored grant schemes for smaller businesses and organisations, so it’s important any applications as part of this open call aren’t being delivered through them.”

Head to Swansea.gov.uk/SPF for more guidance, background, application criteria and forms.

Organisations seeking more information or assistance can also email [email protected]

For further information please contact: Greg Jones on 07795 051514 [email protected]