Growth Fund
The VisitScotland Growth Fund
Introduction
The Growth Fund is available to constituted
marketing groups of three or more tourism businesses and can
provide support with 50% of approved total marketing costs - a
minimum award of £5,000 to a maximum of £65,000. Marketing activity
should be new or a further development of current activity which
will generate additional visitors to Scotland.
Why should we apply?
Funds are open to national, regional and local tourism groups to
help them reach new target markets and increase visitor numbers.
The Growth Fund is designed to be a straightforward process, and if
you are successful, it will enable your group to maximise your
marketing potential and create the opportunity for better reach,
therefore more effective marketing.
A list of marketing groups who have been successful in
obtaining funding in 2011:
List
of Growth Fund awardees - size 42 kb
Key elements
- 50% funding contribution from grant scheme - minimum award
£5,000 to maximum of £65,000
- Up to 15% towards project management fees
- Up to 25% used towards the first time purchase of VisitScotland
products
- Project period of at least 12 months, with the option of
extending over a longer period with evidence of long-term,
strategic marketing plans and activity
- Supports new or additional marketing activity
- A dedicated Growth Fund advisor who will provide support and
guidance throughout the lifetime of your marketing project
- Access to industry research, statistics and expertise
What can be supported?
Eligible for funding
- Content development for a website and social media
activity
- Promotion of websites by e-marketing, online advertising,
social media campaigns and search engine optimisation
- Purchase of VisitScotland products and services including
Quality Assurance membership (first time purchases only, up to a
maximum of 25% of total project cost)
- Printed consumer marketing material which has a clear
distribution plan
- Media advertising
- Trade events and exhibition attendance
- Direct mail campaigns
- Monitoring and Evaluation of the project
- Project Management / Consultancy costs to deliver marketing
activities (Up to a maximum of 15% of total project cost)
Ineligible for Funding
- Infrastructure projects
- Exhibition fixtures e.g. stands, plasma screen ‘fixed’ capital
equipment
- Booking engine development other than that through
VisitScotland.com
