Community Renewal Fund

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire delivered support to local tourism and hospitality businesses through the East Midlands Accelerator project.

The project received £5.27 million from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and was delivered in designated areas across the East Midlands, including in the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak.

Led by East Midlands Chamber in partnership with, amongst others, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, the University of Derby and The Food and Drink Forum, the project aimed to breathe new life into local communities as part of the Government’s commitment to ‘levelling up the nation’ and achieving net-zero carbon emissions.

Through the project, businesses in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales could apply for specialist consultancy and training support through growth vouchers of up to £2,000.

Flexible grant funding of up to £8,000 (at an 80% intervention rate) was also available to help businesses invest in green solutions and digital technology, as well as providing access to wage subsidies. 

Businesses could also access support to reduce their carbon footprint (such as funding for the installation of electric vehicle charging points); receive help on how to improve their online presence (such as the implementation of an online booking system); and secure one-to-one mentoring to encourage business growth.

A series of fully-funded workshops were also held to support recovery, increase skills and improve business resilience is also set to be announced in the coming weeks.

The East Midlands Accelerator project ran until the end of September 2022.

About the East Midlands Accelerator project 
The East Midlands Accelerator project is led by East Midlands Chamber through a collaborative partnership including our region’s universities and business support agencies. This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF) which focuses support on areas identified by Government to be most in need (in the East Midlands, this is Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, Mansfield, Bassetlaw, Newark & Sherwood, Nottingham City and Leicester City). This project has received £5.27 million from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

About the UK Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund
The UK Community Renewal Fund is a UK Government programme for 2021/22. This aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It invests in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people into employment.   For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-community-renewal-fund- prospectus