GamesLab!West!Midlands:! Hardware,(Software(&(Service(Grants((Round(2)(!

Transcription

1 1 GamesLabWestMidlands: Hardware,Software&ServiceGrantsRound2) ApplicationGuidance:August2015

2 GamesLabWestMidlands:Hardware,Software&ServiceGrants Creative England operates with the core purpose of supporting the sustainable growth of independentcreativebusinessesandthetalentthatfeedsthem,ineverypartofenglandoutsideof London. CreativeEngland sgameslabisaprogrammeoffundingandbusinesssupport,designedtoaidand sustainthegrowthoftheburgeoninggamesindustrythroughthedevelopmentofinnovativegames and IP. Working with emerging and established companies, the GamesLab programme aims to createtheconditionsnecessaryforthemostinnovativeandcommerciallyastutedigitalcompanies toflourish. TheGamesLabHardware,Software&ServiceGrantsofferfinancialassistancetoeligiblecompanies withaviewtostimulatethedevelopmentandgrowthofthegamesindustryinthewestmidlands. Through this scheme eligible companies can claim back 50% of the cost of qualifying hardware, software orconsultancypurchases requiredtodevelopaspecific,namedgameproject.thetotal costofqualifyingpurchasesmustbebetween 10,000L 25,000,meaningthatCreativeEnglandwill reimbursecompaniesbetween 5,000and 12,500respectively. Example1: CompanyABCiscurrentlyworkingonaprototypefortheirnextgameproject.Theyrequire additionalhardware&softwarewhichwillcostthem 10,000*.WithasuccessfulHardware, Software&ServiceGrantapplication,theywouldrecoup 5,00050%)againstthetotalcost.** Example2: CompanyXYZisfinalizingtheirfirstcommercialgameproject.Theyrequireexternalmarketing supportforwhichtheyhavebeenquoted 12,000*.WithasuccessfulHardware,Software&Service Grantapplication,theywouldrecoup 6,00050%)againstthetotalcost.** *"Companies"must"adhere"to"the"programme"procurement"policy"Detailed"below)" **"Successful"applicants"would"be"instructed"to"purchase"the"goods/services"directly"and"then"claim" back"50%"through"evidence"of"defrayal."detailed"below)" KeyPoints Allpurchasesmustbemadetosupportoneormoreofthefollowing: o Thedevelopmentormarketingofaspecificgameprojectwhichshouldbenamedin theapplication. o The development of an app or digital product which is related to a specific game project o Facilitateand/oraugmentyourexistingproductsandservices 2 Eligiblepurchasesarehardware,softwareand/orexternalservicesfurtherdetailsbelow) Companiescanapplyforgrantsupportformorethanonepurchaseitem.Alltheitems purchasedmustbeforthedevelopmentofthesamegameproject Theavailablefundswillbepaidoutintheformofgrantsfrom 5,000L 12,500.50%ofthe totalpriceofqualifyingpurchases)

3 50%ofthetotalpurchasepricewillbereimbursedtosuccessfulapplicantsaftertheyhave purchasedtheapprovedgoods/services. Thetotalpurchasepriceistobeevidencedthroughdefrayedexpendituremadebythe companydirectlyforthebenefitofthespecificnamedproject. TheCreativeEnglandGamesLabHardware,Software&ServiceGrantsaredeliveredby CreativeEnglandandfundedbyEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFundERDF),withthe supportoftheukgovernmentsregionalgrowthfundrgf).theobjectiveofthefundisto promoteeconomicgrowth,byprovidingmatchedgrantstoqualifyingsmesineligibleareas ofthewestmidlands. Any company awarded a Hardware, Software & Service Grant may be monitored on an ongoingbasislupuntiltheendof2019 toassesstheimpactofcreativeengland ssupport. JobCreation CreativeEnglandGamesLabistaskedwithsupportingthegrowthofthegamesindustrythroughthe creation and safeguarding of jobs. To that end we strongly encourage applications that can demonstrate how purchasing the requested products / services will result in the growth of the businessandconsequentlythecreationand/orsafeguardingofjobswithinthecompanybythe endof2016). Althoughnotaprerequisite,applicationsthatdemonstrateplanstogrowtheirteamwithinthistime framewillbeviewedmorefavourablyduringtheselectionprocess. Forthepurposeofthisapplicationthedefinitionsofjobscreated/safeguardedare: Tocountasa jobcreated therolemustbe: New Fulltimeequivalent Contractedtothecompanyforaminimumof12months Oncompanypayroll Tocountasa jobsafeguarded therolemustbe: Fulltimeequivalent Under threat forecast to be lost within 12 months) at the point of any financial interventionfromcreativeenglandgameslab NolongeratriskduetothefinancialinterventionofCreativeEnglandGamesLab Eligibility Thefundisopentocompanieswhosatisfythefollowingcriteria: Are a company based in the following areas: Birmingham and the Black Country, Warwickshire,Worcestershire,Staffordshire,Herefordshire,andShropshire. RegisteredatCompaniesHouse Qualify as an SME L For advice on business types, please visit the European Commission Website and an online SME Checker paying particular attention to the thresholds for 3

4 number of employees, turnover, and permissible amount of ownership by a parent company. definition/index_en.htm Havegamedevelopmentexperience,orsimilar. Althoughtheschemeisopentocompanieswhoprimarilyoperateinthegamingindustry, companies from other related disciplines for example animation or app development) lookingtodevelopgameprojectscanalsoapply. The Creative England GamesLab programme operates under De Minimis State Aid rules. Thismeansaprivatecompanycannotreceiveover 200,000worthofpublicsectorsupport grantedunder DeMinimis,fromwhateversourceinanythreeyearrollingperiod.Aspart oftheapplicationprocess,applicantswillbeaskedtolistanystateaidreceivedsowecan check it does not exceed the De Minimis threshold. For the avoidance of doubt SEIS investmentdoescontributetoacompany soverall DeMinimis StateAidallowance Theapplication You may request between 5,000 and 12,500 from this fund, which must equal 50% of your intendedpurchaseprice.pleasenotethatyoucannotclaimforpurchasesmadebeforeapprovalis givenbycreativeengland. BelowisanexampleofapurchasebudgetfromcompanyAcmeLtd: Software MiddlewareLicense 3,000 SoftwareLicenseOther) 2,000 5,000 Consultancy MarketingSupport 5,000 5,000 TotalPurchasePrice 10,000 Inthisexample,AcmeLtdiseligibletoapplyforaHardware,Software&ServiceGrantof 5,000 50%ofthetotalpurchaseprice). VATValueAddedTax) ForApplicantswhoareVATRegistered,thecostofgoods/servicesyouareclaimingforshouldbe exclusiveofvatie.youcannotclaimbackvat). IfyouarenotVATregistered,thenyourinvoicesmayincludeVAT. 4

5 5 TheApplicationProcess UsingAcmeasanexample Step1: Acmewouldcompletetheonlineapplicationform Step2: Aspartoftheapplicationtheywouldbeaskedto: Provideabudgetoutliningthecostoftherequestedpurchases Clearlyexplainwhytheywanttopurchasethesoftwareandmarketingconsultancy Detailthespecificgameprojectthatwouldbenefitasaresultofthesepurchases Clearlyexplainhowmakingthepurchaseswouldbenefitthedevelopmentofthegameand thecompanyinthelonglterm Step3:Procurement Tofollowcorrectprocurementprocedure,Acmewouldberequiredto: Provide three separate, comparable quotes for each of the individual purchase items outlinedinthebudget.forexample,inthecaseofmarketingsupport,acmewouldneedto requestandobtainquotesfromatleastthreeseparatemarketingconsultancies/freelancers todelivertherequiredwork. Foreachofthepurchaseitems; o Statewhichoneofthethreequoteshasbeenselectedforpurchase o Provide a rationale as to why that decision was made. For example, the selected providermayhaveofferedthebestvalueformoney,orhavethemostappropriate experience.theobjectiveofpublicprocurementrulesistoensurethatthepurchase of goods, works or services are open to sufficient competition and are awarded fairly Pleasenote; IftheapplicantisrequestingCreativeEnglandreimbursesthecostoffreelance/consultancy costs, then the applicant must provide evidence that the opportunity was advertised publicly.soforexample,asacmeareemployingamarketingconsultanttheywouldhaveto postadescriptionoftheroleand an invitationto applyontheirwebsite/blog/ relevant industrywebsites All procurement must be completed before any items are purchased or any freelance contractsareawarded. Pleasenote:Followingtheseprocurementproceduresisnecessaryinordertoillustratevaluefor money.althoughthechosenquotedoesnothavetobethecheapest,ifitisnottherationalemust provideastrongargumentastowhyitwaschosenoverlessexpensivealternatives Step4: IftheapplicationwereapprovedbyCreativeEngland,AcmeLtdwouldreceivealetterofagreement andbeinstructedtomaketheentirepurchase. Step5: Oncethepurchasehavebeenmade,AcmeLtdwouldsubmit: defrayal evidence to Creative England for the full purchase price 10,000) This would include:

6 anyandallreceiptsorinvoices bank statements to evidence that the money for the purchase has left the company s bank account. Please note that Creative England can only reimburse fundsintoabusinessnotpersonalaccount. A brief report from the marketing consultant, outlining the work that has been completedonacmeltd. sbehalf AninvoicetoCreativeEnglandfor 5,000theamountduetoreimbursed) Step6: Uponreceiptofdefrayalevidence,CreativeEnglandwouldpaytheinvoiceandreimburse Acme Ltd 5,000 50% of the total purchase price). Please note that at its discretion Creative England can choose not to reimburse 50% of total purchase payment if all the defrayalevidenceisnotprovidedsatisfactorily 6

7 EligiblePurchases Anyhardware,softwareorservicespurchasedthroughthisgrantschememustrelatespecificallyto theprojectnamedintheapplicationandnottosupportotherareasofyourbusiness.the budgetmustbeapprovedaspartofyourapplicationbeforeanypurchasescanbemadepleasenote thatyoucannotclaimforpurchasesmadebeforeapprovalisgiven. EligiblePurchaseswouldincludethefollowing: Hardware/softwaree.g.ITEquipment,DevelopmentKits,SoftwareToolsetc) Marketingcostse.g.Exhibitionspace,events) ProfessionalFeese.g.consultants,freelancers,artistsetc) You can claim up to a maximum of 12,500 against a total purchase of 25,000. The minimum amountyoucanclaimforis 5,000againstatotalpurchaseof 10,000. Intheeventyourtotalpurchaseexceeds 25,000,only 12,500canbeclaimedfor IneligibleProjectExpenditure Ineligibleexpenditureincludes: Expenditurewhichisnotoutlinedinyourapprovedbudget Anyinternalcosts Salaries Goodsandservicespurchasedoutsideoftheprocurementguidelines Alcoholandentertainment Overheadse.g.heating,lighting,broadband,phone) Expenditureundertakenoutsideoftheprojectlifetime Contingencies PurchasespreLdatingapprovalandsubsequentLetterofAgreement. Timeline Applicationsclose:Midnighton30 th September2015 CompaniesinreceiptofgrantsmustmaketheirpurchasesandprovideCreativeEngland withallreceipts,invoicesandbankstatementstoevidencethepurchaseby16 th October 2015 Applicationswillbereviewedandprocessedonamonthlybasisuntilallavailablefundshavebeen allocated. Creative England aim to provide with a decision within 2Lweeks from the date of submission. ThisprocesswillbeundertakeninternallybyCreativeEnglandand,whereappropriate,externallyby appropriatelyqualifiedindependentprofessionaladvisors. Theassessorswillconsider,amongstotherthings: Costefficiency Theimpactofthepurchasetoyourbusiness Theeligibilityofyourrequiredgoods/services ThelikelylongLtermeconomicimpactoftheprojectshoulditproceedtoproduction ThefitwiththestrategicaimsoftheFund 7

8 FurtherinformationaboutCreativeEnglandandGamesLabfunders CreativeEngland Creative England is a national agency that invests in and supports creative ideas, talent and businessesinfilm,tv,gamesanddigitalmedia.weaimtogrowthebrightest,thebest,andthose with the most promise so that individuals and businesses can achieve their full creative and commercial potential. We help identify future opportunities to grow the economy and generate jobs.withofficesinsalford,birmingham,bristol,leeds,nottingham,pinewoodandelstree,weare anationalagencywithstronglocalandregionallinks. EuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFund Creative England s GamesLab West Midlands project is partlfinanced by the West Midlands Competitiveness & Employment Programme which forms a part of the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to The Department for Communities and Local GovernmentisthemanagingauthorityfortheEuropeanRegionalDevelopmentFundProgramme, whichisoneofthefundsestablishedbytheeuropeancommissiontohelplocalareasstimulatetheir economicdevelopmentbyinvestinginprojectswhichwillsupportlocalbusinessesandcreatejobs. For more information visit developmentlfunding RegionalGrowthFund The Regional Growth Fund RGF) is a flexible and competitive 3.2 billion fund operating across England from 2011 to It supports projects and programmes that are using private sector investmenttocreateeconomicgrowthandsustainableemployment.formoreinformation,please gotowww.bis.gov.uk/rgf CreativeEngland sbusinessdevelopmentprogramme,providingdevelopmentfundingandmarket expertise to small creative and digital businesses, is supported by the Government s Regional GrowthFundRGF). ContactDetails Forfurtherguidancepleasevisithttp://gameslab.creativeengland.co.uk [email protected] 8