Common use of Background and Context Clause in Contracts

Background and Context. 2.1 New Anglia LEP has been established to work with businesses and partners across the education, voluntary and public sector, to help grow jobs in Norfolk and Suffolk. 2.2 New Anglia LEP and SCC have developed in line with Government guidance a single assurance framework (“Assurance Framework”) covering all Government funding flowing through New Anglia LEP, to ensure New Anglia LEP has robust value for money processes in place. The purpose of the LEP Assurance Framework is to support the developing confidence in delegating funding from central budgets and programmes via a single pot mechanism to LEPs and their accountable bodies. The Accountable Body is required to sign off the Assurance Framework. 2.3 New Anglia LEP has responsibility for deciding the project activities that Growth Deal funds will be allocated to which in this ABA, are referred to collectively as “the Programme”. £290 million has been made available to New Anglia LEP from 2014 to 2021 as part of the Government’s Growth Deal programme, for which all 38 LEPs across England have been invited to compete for an individual allocation. Growth Deals provide funds to local enterprise partnerships or LEPs for projects and programmes that benefit the local area and economy. 2.4 New Anglia LEP’s particular objectives for the Programmes can be found in the relevant chapter of the Assurance Framework and include: 2.4.1 The Growing Places fund is a recycling loan fund which has been in operation in the New Anglia region since 2012. The fund was designed to address the problems facing stalled developments, by providing financial support towards costs such as site infrastructure, services or access. The fund operates predominantly as a loan fund but has awarded small grants where a regionally significant project can be delivered as a result and where the grant secures a major match funding contribution. The Growing Places Fund is open to public and private applicants. The Fund now stands at a total allocation of approximately £32 million which has been matched by in excess of £280 million from public and private sources. The Fund has committed over £25 million on 28 capital investment projects and has supported 7 sector developments. The fund remains open to applications and has a pipeline of projects for consideration. 2.4.2 The Growing Business Fund is a grant fund which has been in operation in the New Anglia region since April 2013. The fund was initially supported by the Regional Growth Fund, with £12m awarded from Rounds 3 and 4 of the funding. In 2015 the New Anglia LEP secured an additional £25.57m by 2021 from the Local Growth Fund through the Growth Deals. The Fund provides grants between £25,000 and £500,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. The fund supports the capital costs of expansion by the businesses, up to the maximum allowable contribution under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, and 19, of up to 20% of the costs of the project for small businesses employing less than 50 people. Medium sized businesses can receive funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if regulated by De Minimis, but no more than equivalent of EUR200,000 around £175k (official exchange rate as of February 2018). 2.4.3 The Small Grant Scheme is a grant fund that has been in operation in the New Anglia region since August 2013. The programme is currently part of New Anglia Business Growth Programme supported by £12.48m from the European Regional Development Fund. It provides grants between £1,000 and £25,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. The programme supports SMEs through the provision of grants to assist them to grow and expand, employ new staff, introduce new products and services, improve productivity or efficiency, increase their competitiveness etc. Small businesses employing less than 50 people may apply for up to 20% of the costs of the project under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, 18 and 19. Medium sized businesses may apply for funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if regulated by De Minimis regulations (EUR 200,000 is a maximum amount of all De minimis aid a business may receive over a 3 year fiscal period). SMEs based in an Assisted Area may apply for an additional 10% of funding.

Background and Context. 2.1 New Anglia LEP has been established to work with businesses and partners across the education, voluntary and public sector, to help grow jobs in Norfolk and Suffolk. 2.2 New Anglia LEP and SCC have developed in line with Government guidance a single assurance framework (“Assurance Framework”) covering all Government funding flowing through New Anglia LEP, to ensure New Anglia LEP has robust value for money processes in place. The purpose of the LEP Assurance Framework is to support the developing confidence in delegating funding from central budgets and programmes via a single pot mechanism to LEPs and their accountable bodies. The Accountable Body is required to sign off the Assurance Framework. 2.3 New Anglia LEP has responsibility for deciding the project activities that Growth Deal funds will be allocated to which in this ABA, are referred to collectively as “the Programme”. £290 million has been made available to New Anglia LEP from 2014 to 2021 as part of the Government’s Growth Deal programme, for which all 38 LEPs across England have been invited to compete for an individual allocation. Growth Deals provide funds to local enterprise partnerships or LEPs for projects and programmes that benefit the local area and economy. 2.4 New Anglia LEP’s particular objectives for the Programmes can be found in the relevant chapter of the Assurance Framework and include: 2.4.1 The Growing Places fund is a recycling loan fund which has been in operation in the New Anglia region since 2012. The fund was designed to address the problems facing stalled developments, by providing financial support towards costs such as site infrastructure, services or access. The fund operates predominantly as a loan fund but has awarded small grants where a regionally significant project can be delivered as a result and where the grant secures a major match funding contribution. The Growing Places Fund is open to public and private applicants. The Fund now stands at a total allocation of approximately £32 million which has been matched by in excess of £280 million from public and private sources. The Fund has committed over £25 million on 28 capital investment projects and has supported 7 sector developments. The fund remains open to applications and has a pipeline of projects for consideration. 2.4.2 The Growing Business Fund is a grant fund which has been in operation in the New Anglia region since April 2013. The fund was initially supported by the Regional Growth Fund, with £12m awarded from Rounds 3 and 4 of the funding. In 2015 the New Anglia LEP secured an additional £25.57m by 2021 from the Local Growth Fund through the Growth Deals. The Fund provides grants between £25,000 and £500,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. The fund supports the capital costs of expansion by the businesses, up to the maximum allowable contribution under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, and 19, of up to 20% of the costs of the project for small businesses employing less than 50 people. Medium sized businesses can receive funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if regulated by De Minimis, but no more than equivalent of EUR200,000 around £175k 171k (official exchange rate as of February 2018January 2020). 2.4.3 The Small Grant Scheme is a grant fund that has been in operation in the New Anglia region since August 2013. The programme is currently part of New Anglia Business Growth Programme supported by £12.48m from the European Regional Development Fund. It provides grants between £1,000 and £25,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. The programme supports SMEs through the provision of grants to assist them to grow and expand, employ new staff, introduce new products and services, improve productivity or efficiency, increase their competitiveness etc. Small businesses employing less than 50 people may apply for up to 20% of the costs of the project under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, 18 and 19. Medium sized businesses may apply for funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if regulated by De Minimis regulations (EUR 200,000 is a maximum amount of all De minimis aid a business may receive over a 3 year fiscal period). SMEs based in an Assisted Area may apply for an additional 10% of funding.

Background and Context. 2.1 New Anglia LEP has been established to work with businesses and partners across the education, voluntary and public sector, to help grow jobs in Norfolk and Suffolk. 2.2 New Anglia LEP and SCC have developed in line with Government guidance a single assurance framework (“Assurance Framework”) covering all Government funding flowing through New Anglia LEP, to ensure New Anglia LEP has robust value for money processes in place. The purpose of the LEP Assurance Framework is to support the developing confidence in delegating funding from central budgets and programmes via a single pot mechanism to LEPs and their accountable bodies. The Accountable Body is required to sign off the Assurance Framework. 2.3 New Anglia LEP has responsibility for deciding the project activities that Growth Deal funds will be allocated to which in this ABA, are referred to collectively as “the Programme”. £290 million has been made available to New Anglia LEP from 2014 to 2021 as part of the Government’s Growth Deal programme, for which all 38 LEPs across England have been invited to compete for an individual allocation. Growth Deals provide funds to local enterprise partnerships or LEPs for projects and programmes that benefit the local area and economy. 2.3.1 The LEP has been allocated £32.1m from the Getting Building Fund for a wide- ranging package of infrastructure projects, for delivery before March 2022. 2.4 New Anglia LEP’s particular objectives for the Programmes can be found in the relevant chapter of the Assurance Framework and include: 2.4.1 The Growing Places fund Fund is a recycling loan fund which has been in operation in the New Anglia region since 2012. The fund was designed to address the problems facing stalled developments, by providing financial support towards costs such as site infrastructure, services or access. The fund operates predominantly as a loan fund but has awarded small grants where a regionally significant project can be delivered as a result and where the grant secures a major match funding contribution. The Growing Places Fund is open to public and private applicants. The Fund now stands at a total allocation of approximately £32 million which has been matched by in excess of £280 million from public and private sources. The Fund has committed over £25 million on 28 capital investment projects and has supported 7 sector developments. The fund remains open to applications and has a pipeline of projects for consideration. 2.4.2 The Growing Business Fund is a grant fund which has been in operation in the New Anglia region since April 2013. The fund was initially supported by the Regional Growth Fund, with £12m awarded from Rounds 3 and 4 of the funding. In 2015 the New Anglia LEP secured an additional £25.57m by 2021 from the Local Growth Fund through the Growth Deals. The Fund provides grants between £25,000 and £500,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. The fund supports the capital costs of expansion by the businesses, up to the maximum allowable contribution under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, and 19, of up to 20% of the costs of the project for small businesses employing less than 50 people. Medium sized businesses can receive funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if regulated by De Minimis, but no more than equivalent of EUR200,000 around £175k (official exchange rate as of February 2018). 2.4.3 The Small Grant Scheme is a grant fund that has been in operation in the New Anglia region since August 2013. The programme is currently part of New Anglia Business Growth Programme supported by £12.48m from the European Regional Development Fund. It provides grants between £1,000 and £25,000 to local businesses across Norfolk and Suffolk. The programme supports SMEs through the provision of grants to assist them to grow and expand, employ new staff, introduce new products and services, improve productivity or efficiency, increase their competitiveness etc. Small businesses employing less than 50 people may apply for up to 20% of the costs of the project under General Block Exemption Regulations (GBER) Articles 14, 17, 18 and 19. Medium sized businesses may apply for funding of up to 10% towards the project cost or 20% if regulated by De Minimis regulations (EUR 200,000 is a maximum amount of all De minimis aid a business may receive over a 3 year fiscal period). SMEs based in an Assisted Area may apply for an additional 10% of funding. 2.4.4 The Business Resilience and Recovery Scheme has been established to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the economic recovery. It will provide grants to support short-term business resilience projects and longer-term recovery and diversification projects. The fund provides grants between £25,000 and £50,000.