VisitScotland Growth Fund

The VisitScotland Growth Fund is part funded by the European Union and is designed to support tourism groups throughout Scotland in marketing their products and services to maximum potential. The fund is open to national, regional and local groups to help them reach new target markets and increase visitor numbers.

What is the funding for?

The Growth Fund aims to allow tourism groups maximise their marketing potential.This could be by:
* Design and development of a website (up to a maximum of
50% pf total project cost)

* Promotion of websites by E-marketing, Online Advertising and Search Engine Optimisation

* Purchase of VisitScotland products and services (First time purchases only, up to a maximum of 25% of total project cost)

* Media advertising

* Trade events and exhibition attendance

* Direct mail campaigns

* Monitoring and Evaulation of the project

* Project Management / Consultancy costs to deliver marketing acitivties
(up to a maximum of 10% of total project cost)

* Consumer research project

How much money is available?

The key elements of the support available are:
* 50% funding contribution from grant scheme - minimum award £3,125 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 up to 12 months
* 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

Who can apply?
The fund is open to national, regional and local groups.

When to apply
The VisitScotland Growth Fund does not have a set application deadline. Instead it is an open application process which means you can submit your application to fit with the timescales of your marketing project. They advise groups that it will take around 40 days from the initial enquiry stage to submitting their r final application.

How to apply
All the information including guidance notes are available on the website.

Applicants have to complete an initial enquiry form.Once you have completed the Initial Enquiry Form, you will be allocated an advisor who will take you through the application process step by step, providing support and guidance to enable you to develop an application.

Key words: tourism, marketing,visitor numbers,