A NEW scheme has been launched today to provide grant funding to help bakers across Scotland to buy or modernise their equipment.
The £125k Scottish Bakers Grant Scheme is now available to small family-run or independent businesses.
Welcoming the announcement in June, Rural Economy Secretary, Fergus Ewing MSP, said: “Small, independent bakers have an important role to play in Scotland, providing skilled jobs in communities and shops in our town centres.
“The Scottish Government is proud to support them to provide modern healthy food-to-go facilities, with a focus on reducing waste. We want to enable businesses to become more efficient in their use of energy and resources, which should reduce costs whilst contributing towards our ambitious climate change reduction targets.
“This is part of our wider efforts to continue the success of Scotland’s food and drink sector – helping it to double in value by 2030.
“We want more food to be sourced and produced locally, including Scotland’s delicious baked goods, which is good news for producer and consumer alike.”
Scottish Bakers’ chief executive, Alasdair Smith, commented: “This fund will provide vital funding to support bakers allowing them to invest in their businesses for the future helping them to meet the needs of the changing modern high-street.
“Scottish bakers are skilled crafts people baking fresh goods daily and many of our members are stalwarts of our high streets and communities. And, of course, a strong bakery sector is also good for Scotland PLC, supporting 12,000 jobs securing the future of our much-loved daily bread, savoury snacks and sweet treats.”
To apply for funding requires completing an application form and budget form – these are available to download here: https://scottishbakers.org/page/Grant_Scheme.
It is important that applicants read all the information on this page carefully before applying for funding.
Aim
The grant programme aims to support and encourage economic growth of independent Scottish bakers and their capacity to innovate and respond to changing customer demands through the following:
Improve the quality of retail environments
- Provide a better/more diverse food-to-go offering to consumers offerings (with an emphasis on healthier options)
- Improve operational efficiency and flexibility
- Reduce environmental impact of operations
Funds available
A maximum grant of £5,000 is available per business. Applicants must provide at least 25 per cent of the total project costs. Businesses may contribute more than 25 per cent of the total but the maximum grant remains fixed at £5,000. Please see the worked examples below.
| Worked example one | |
| Total cost of works: | £6,666 |
| Bakery contribution (25 per cent): | £1,666 |
| Grant awarded (75 per cent): | £5,000 |
| Worked example two | |
| Total cost of works: | £5,000 |
| Bakery contribution (25 per cent): | £1,250 |
| Grant awarded (75 per cent): | £3,750 |
| Worked example three | |
| Total cost of works: | £10,000 |
| Bakery contribution (50 per cent): | £5,000 |
| Grant awarded (50 per cent): | £5,000 |
Please note that funding is offered on only the net cost of any works being undertaken (i.e. excluding VAT).
Funds will be paid to successful applicants on completion of all works and will be subject to evidence that the work has been completed and all relevant invoices issued. All funds must be claimed within 12 months of submission of the application.
Businesses must also show that they are compliant with legislation covering food hygiene and health and safety.
Application: terms and conditions
- The Programme is open to applications on a rolling basis from 30th July 2019 until September 2019. Applications received after 27th September 2019 will not be considered
- Applications may be submitted at any time during the period
- Retrospective applications for works and/or capital purchase already commenced and/or completed will not be accepted
- Grants will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis
- We reserve the right to close the fun earlier should it become oversubscribed
- Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application within 14 days
- Applicants should not commence works or confirm and capital expenditure until they have received confirmation of grant aware
- Any funds allocated will be released only on confirmation that all the works are complete
- Successful applicants may have their business name and value of grant awarded published on Scottish Bakers website
Basic eligibility and criteria
- The grant programme is open to independent retail and/or wholesale bakery businesses with a turnover of no more than £3,000,000 per annum. Retail bakeries must have a retail estate comprising no more than three outlets
- Businesses can make only one application per company within any 12-month period of the grant programme being in operation
- Grants will not be awarded for the installation of franchised food-to-go stations
- All applicants must demonstrate how the investment they are seeking will reduce their impact on the environment – eg reducing energy costs, unnecessary packaging and food waste
Additional criteria
In addition to the basic eligibility and criteria, bakeries must demonstrate at least two of the following impacts of the investment:
- Improved retail environment to attract customers
- Wider range of healthier eating options
- New production capacity
- Production efficiencies and stock management – eg new production machinery, installation of EPOS systems
- Introduction/renovation of food-to-go counters – eg hot cabinets, ‘barista’ coffee machines
When applying for funding, retailers must submit all quotes relating to the refit/installation alongside any drawings showing plans.
Regulations
When planning to add or upgrade a food-to-go station, please consider the following:
- Ensure liaison with your local Environmental Health Department (local authority)
- Does the design and construction of your station comply with legal requirements?
- Are you aware of the main General Food Law Requirements?
- Do you keep written records of all the suppliers that provide you with food or any food ingredients?
- Have you put food safety management procedures in place and are you keeping up-to-date records of these?
- Do you and your staff understand the principles of good food hygiene?
- Have you considered all health and safety and fire safety arrangements?
- Do you describe the food and drink offer accurately?
Application
To apply for funding, please complete the application form and your budget and return with all the required supporting documentation to:
- Scottish Bakers, Unit 2 – Halbeath Interchange Business Park, Kingseat Road, Dunfermline KY11 8RY
- Email: info@scottishbakers.org
Applications must be with Scottish Bakers no later than 27 September 2019.
Notes for editors:
Scottish Bakers has been supporting and protecting the interests of Scotland’s bakery trade for over 125 years.
Scottish Bakers core purpose is to promote and protect the interests of the trade; representing, advising and supporting all aspects of Scotland’s baking industry to ensure it remains competitive and equipped for growth.
It does this by providing the widest possible range of benefits that help its members sustain and grow their businesses including: skills development, technical information and assistance, competitions, sector intelligence, legal advice, financial discounts, and social and business networking.
Scottish Bakers manages both The World Championships Scotch Pie Awards The Scottish Baker of the Year Awards each year to recognise and celebrate excellence in the sector.
But, most importantly, Scottish Bakers belongs to its members, it is there for their benefit and is proud of our motto, ‘for the good of all’.
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