WEST Devon Business Information Point (BIP), based at Okehampton Business Centre, has won a share of NatWest’s £2.5-million Skills and Opportunities Fund.

BIP will receive a £30,000 grant from the fund, which supports organisations in disadvantaged communities that help people develop, create, or access the skills and opportunities they need to get into work or start a business.

Charities, not-for-profit organisations and state-funded schools and colleges can apply for up to £35,000 each for a specific project from the fund which will distribute grants totalling £2.5 million this year and is expected to help more than 25,000 people.

BIP was one of three winners in the South West region. The project will support unemployed women from rural areas who are interested in self employment but have little understanding of what being self employed entails, are lacking in confidence, and don’t know how to start the business planning process.

Stewart Horne of West Devon Business Information Point said: ‘We were both surprised and pleased to discover the award from the NatWest Skills and Opportunities Fund. We look forward to using the grant to support women in rural areas with their enterprise ambitions.’

Oliver Watts, chairman of NatWest’s South West and Wales Regional Board, said: ‘It was a challenging decision because of the standard of entries we received. But the panel felt that all of the organisations would make a massive impact in their local communities. I’d encourage anyone who wasn’t successful this time to try again when applications open in August for the next round.’

Over 900 organisations from across the UK and Republic of Ireland applied to this year’s fund before a total of 90 were chosen to enter the public vote.

For further information visit www.skillsandopportunitiesfund.natwest.com 

Pictured right, left to right: Richard Stainsby, business growth enabler, NatWest, Chris Langan, start-up advisor at BIP, and Stewart Horne, BIP?managing director.