The Digital Development Fund is available to help businesses with the development and implementation of new digital systems which aim to improve business performance and enable business growth. Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available to support 50% of eligible expenditure. Minimum eligible project is £2,000. 

• Funds 50% of costs up to £10,000 towards introducing new digital capabilities to a business to achieve the following digital business improvement projects:
  • Reducing (non-staff) operational costs
  • Improving market share
  • Enabling employment to be safeguarded or increased
  • Increasing revenues
  • Increasing profit margin
  • Improving cyber security
  • Moving business online
• Applications must clearly demonstrate how a business's digital project will improve its business performance and safeguard or increase employment.

Businesses are restricted to one grant award from this fund.

• Reducing (non-staff) operational costs
• Improving market share
• Enabling employment to be safeguarded or increased
• Increasing revenues
• Increasing profit margin
• Improving cyber security
• Moving business online

• Enhancing digital skills of workforce (external training costs)
• Buying software related to the digital project
• Buying IT, or digital communications, hardware related to digital project
• Building an online booking/ticketing system
• Building an Ecommerce website
• Developing an app (through an external contractor)
• Digital Consultancy costs
• Building or improving websites

• Initiatives to reduce employment in the business
• Renewals of existing product or software licences, or minor updates to existing products (for example, a software version update)
• Statutory costs, property development and the purchase of stock
• Software or hardware rental
• Ongoing annual charges for platforms, hosting or online content management
• Hardware that is a replacement to existing hardware i.e. through wear and tear
• Consumable items (i.e. toner/ink printer cartridges)
• Products purchased through a third party that are not licensed to the applicant for its own use

• Bank account - The business must have a dedicated business bank account (you will be required to provide the account details as part of the application process and this is the account your grant will be paid into if successful).
• Size  - Business must be classified as a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) – Less than 250 employees and turnover less than £45 million
• Debt - Business must not be in any debt to the council e.g. Business Rate arrears
• Full time - The business must be operated on a full-time basis and provide full-time employment for at least one person
• Solvent - At the time of submitting the application, the business cannot be in bankruptcy, liquidation or similar
• Must be trading a minimum of 6 months (Applicant business must have been receiving sales income for at least 6 months).
• Applicant organisations must be operating, located and trading from within Falkirk Council area.
• A business can only access one Council business grant in the period 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026. ( ie one of the following grants - Digital Development Fund, Energy Efficiency Fund, Growth Fund)
• If a business has previously received a Digital Development
  Fund they cannot receive another one. Only one Digital Development Fund per business is permitted period.

Ineligible sectors - the following sectors are not eligible to apply:

• professional services such as lawyers, dentists, vets, doctors, accountants
• businesses that are required to be regulated by the FCA such as credit unions, money lenders
• businesses involved in gambling, religion or the sex industry
• personal services (hairdressing, beauty, aesthetics, masseurs, therapists, physios, counsellors etc)
• third sector businesses –community groups, not for profit organisations, voluntary or charitable organisations (except social enterprises)
• any business that may bring the council into disrepute
• Retail - Applications from the retail sector cannot be considered unless the business can demonstrate that they are servicing more than a local market. This means they are attracting customers from out with the Falkirk area and are providing something that is unique and not available from any other local retailers. For example – a specialist skateboarding shop or servicing an online customer market. Where a retailer's sales only serve the local market, providing grant support can cause displacement i.e. if one local business receives support but this leads to another local business in the area losing customers, then this has no added value to the Falkirk economy.
• Licensed premises that only operate as a public house and do not serve hot food

You will need a record of the following:

• Trading name of the business
• Number of employees / turnover
• Proposed expenditure
• Business bank details
• Latest set of annual accounts and management accounts
• 2 quotes for each item being purchased
• Overview of business and plans for growth
  • Executive summary:
    • a brief overview of company proposals
    • describe the investment for which you are seeking funding support and fully explain the impact it will have on the business
  • Management and organisation:
    • company structure
    • the management team
    • skills
    • experience
    • qualifications
    • job titles
  • History, business, and products:
    • a brief description and history of the business
    • a description of the principal products or services
    • any proposed future developments
  • Market and competition:
    • size and location of market - local / regional/ UK / Overseas
    • who are major customers
    • who are major competitors

If you want to ask a question regarding your application, you can email us at the email address below. Please quote your FC reference number in all communications.

BSGrant@falkirk.gov.uk

This grant is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The budget is allocated on a first come first served basis. There is a limited budget and the fund will close when the budget is fully allocated. We anticipate a high number of applications which are processed in a chronological order.  We will deal with your application as soon as we can but please be patient. It may take up to 4 weeks before you hear from us. 

The process is in 2 stages:

1. Application Form – Complete the online application form.
2. Claim Process – After you have received your grant award, you will have 3 months to complete your digital project and submit evidence of your grant spend. Once your eligible evidence is verified your grant payment will be disbursed. 

Can second-hand equipment be purchased?

Equipment must be purchased from registered businesses. Business receipts or invoices would need to be provided. 

Can I pay for eligible items by cash?

No, all payments for approved expenditure must be made through the business bank account and supported by invoices/receipts from suppliers. Items or services paid for by cash do not meet audit trail requirements and are not eligible for grant.

I already have a Digital Development Loan. Am I eligible for the grant?

Yes, you can apply for a Falkirk Digital Development Grant even if in receipt of a Digital Development Loan.  

Do I have to provide more than one quotation to demonstrate the proposed project spend?

Yes, 2 quotes are required for each item of expenditure If we have any questions about the quotations, we will be in touch with you.

Can funding be claimed which has already been incurred by businesses?

No, this must be new spend. Purchases must not be made, or committed to, prior to the grant being approved.

I don't understand the terminology of Subsidy / de minimis State Aid? 

You must declare any subsidy (previously this was de minimis State Aid, under EU Law 1407/2013) support from all public agencies received in the past 3 years, plus any pending applications for support. When you received that support the provider will have supplied you with the de minimis value of the support. If this exceeds 350,000 Special Drawing Rights, around £315,000 (the exact value is calculated daily) then you are not eligible for the Falkirk Digital Development Grant.

Can I apply for a Digital Development Fund if I’ve had one previously?

No – only one Digital Development Fund (DDF) per business is permitted.  If you are not sure if you’ve previously had a DDF, please email  BSGrant@falkirk.gov.uk to find out.  

Q: Where can I get more support for my business?

To find out about what support is available to help your business with making digital improvements, visit the Business Gateway  website or contact the team of Advisers at  Falkirk Business Gateway office .
 
For any queries in relation to this fund, please email:

BSGrant@falkirk.gov.uk