ERDF Workshops

In 2016, Marketing Peak District and Derbyshire secured £1.49 million of European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) to support small to medium-sized visitor economy businsesses in Derbyshire.

As a result, we are delighted to be able to offer visitor economy businesses within Derbyshire a range of fully-funded business support workshops and events.

Our 'Growing and Developing the Visitor Economy within Derbyshire' project is funded by: the European Regional Development Fund, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, Derbyshire County Council, Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire Dales District Council, and High Peak Borough Council.

The wide range of business support workshops are aimed at helping your business achieve its full potential, introducing you to new markets and visitors, and boosting your competitiveness.

Workshops are developed under the following strands:

• Pedal Peak for Business Initiative
• Inspired by the Peak District
• Promoting Derbyshire Products
• Supporting Market Towns
• Delivery of new and emerging business support needs to boost competitiveness

To qualify for funding your business must be:

• A visitor economy business (accommodation, attraction, activity provider, food and drink provider etc)
• Based in Derbyshire 
• An SME (less than 250 FTE employees, have a balance sheet of less than €43m and/or turnover of less than €50m and not be more than 25% owned by another business that is not an SME)

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Click here to see our full range of ERDF funded business support workshops and events.

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Themes for our business support workshops include:

International visitors

Offering specific guidance for your businesses to better understand the culture, expectations and needs of international visitors to Derbyshire. Opening up opportunities for you to attract new visitors, improve the overall experience for visitors and build a brand for Derbyshire that welcomes overseas visitors.

Accessibility

Aimed at improving your understanding of visitors with disabilities. We will be providing advice and information on accessible facilities and attractions within the area, improving your understanding and knowledge of disabled visitors’ needs and expectations and enabling your business to provide better experiences for visitors with disabilities.
This is an area of growth; the purple pound is worth £12.1 billion a year; this strand of support is aimed at making sure that your business is able to respond to and exploit this growth potential! Together we want to build a reputation for Derbyshire of being the most accessible destination in England!

Marketing

Offering business support with an emphasis on brand building and place-making by providing specialist marketing advice to help you understand the benefits of promoting your business, and how your business can collectively contribute to the successful marketing of the Peak District and Derbyshire as a brand.

Business to Business (B2B) networking opportunities

We know that you value the opportunity to network with like-minded businesses, so we will continue to offer you opportunities to get together, develop relationships and experience first-hand what our areas attractions have to offer your visiting guests.

Environmental Quality Mark (EQM)

Aimed at encouraging Derbyshire businesses to adopt and achieve recognition of green practices, whilst improving overall business profitability.

Sector specific advice and support

Designed to respond to new and emerging markets, there is an on-going need to provide support that will increase the profitability and growth potential of your business. This will vary dependent on need but is likely to include customer service, social media, marketing, IT and finance.