Latest funding and grants news

Here's the latest news of money floating around, one or more of which may be worth applying for. Beware of some rather tight application deadlines in some cases!

Research and Knowledge Exchange (RAKE) Fund UG3180

The 2012 Call for Applications for the Research and Knowledge Exchange (RAKE) Fund is now open.

The RAKE Fund is provided by a partnership involving Barclays Bank and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and is delivered on their behalf by the Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE).

The fund aims to encourage new research activities from within the academic community, third sector groups and research consultants or practitioners. At present, the scheme aims to engage with exploring processes and possibilities of SME internationalisation.

Academic researchers, third sector research organisations, research consultants and practitioners are eligible to apply.

ISBE expects to fund number of projects, which will each receive grants ranging between £10,000 and £12,000.

The closing date for applications is Friday 15 June 2012 (5pm).
Successful applicants will be notified by mid-September.

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (UK) UE7330

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) was established in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Royal Warrant Holders Association and the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

The objective of the Trust is to support excellence in British crafts.

Each scholarship is worth between £1,000 and £15,000, depending on how much funding is required for a project. Scholarship winners also receive an emblazoned certificate.

Eligible applicants are craftsmen and women of all ages who live and work permanently in the UK. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they already have a high level of skill and are firmly committed to their craft or trade.

The deadline for the summer 2012 Scholarships has been confirmed as 24 May 2012.

LSIS Organisational Effectiveness Fund 2012-2013

LSIS is pleased to invite bids from learning and skills provider organisations to join the LSIS Organisational Effectiveness Fund 2012-2013 (formerly known as the Resource Utilisation Network Fund).The fund is designed to support projects which deliver significant improvements in efficiency, effectiveness or the generation of financial surplus, in sector practice.

Bids, up to a maximum of £20,000, may be submitted by provider organisations working individually or in collaboration with others but must be for activities that will have transferable learning and benefits for the wider sector rather than just an individual organisation.

Projects should demonstrate cost savings or increases in surplus due to changes in organisational practice, new products or processes and transformation of service delivery either front line or back office.

We will also welcome applications for expanding current successful programmes to improve their effectiveness. These changes and benefits should demonstrate that they can deliver outcomes which are sustainable year on year. The projects and programmes must be capable of delivering clearly replicable learning that is transferable across the sector or parts of it.

Applications can be made by completing the application form below and returning toresource.utilisation@lsis.org.uk<mailto:resource.utilisation@lsis.org.uk> by 12pm midday on Monday 21 May 2012. Applications must be submitted using Microsoft Word. PDF documents will not be accepted. Late applications cannot be considered.

Supporting documents:

* Application Form - Organisational Effectiveness Fund
* Terms and Conditions - Organisational Effectiveness Fund
* Top ten characteristics of winning bids

Previous successful case studies can be found on the Excellence Gateway

Regional Sustainability Advisers - promoting sustainable development in your region

LSIS wishes to build on the excellent progress that has been made in embedding sustainability into the business of the learning and skills sector, by continuing to offer support to providers through Regional Sustainability Advisers (RSAs) who can help lead change in their region.

A number of RSAs appointed in 2011-12 have chosen to continue in the role. We are therefore currently seeking three Regional Sustainability Advisers, one for each of the following regions:

* London
* the South East
* Yorkshire and the Humber

The RSAs will be ambassadors for embedding sustainability into organisational strategy, practice and performance, and for developing the capacity and capability of sustainability leaders to drive change.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 midday on Monday 28th May 2012.

For more information and to apply, please see the information below.

Supporting documents:

* Regional Sustainability Advisers - Invitation
* Regional Sustainability Advisers - FAQs
* Regional Sustainability Advisers - Application form

LSIS STEM Fund: Raising awareness of STEM opportunities with learners through 'Big Bang Near Me' fairs

The aim of The Big Bang programme of events is to engage, inspire and motivate learners to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

LSIS is now offering funding to enable FE and skills providers to plan, deliver and evaluate their own Big Bang fair during 2012-13. The events should offer a valuable CPD opportunity for staff, and inspiration for current and future learners, all centred on STEM subjects. This will involve working in partnership with employers in local STEM-related industries and other organisations.

There is a maximum grant available for Raising awareness of STEM opportunities with learners through 'Big Bang Near Me' fairs of up to £10,000 per project. The Big Bang team will provide an online toolkit and telephone support.

Applications can be made by completing the attached form and sending by email to tlpfundingportal@lsis.org.uk by MIDNIGHT on Monday 11th June 2012.

Supporting documents:

* Guidance and application form

Bedfordshire Small Business Awards – UG1220

The Bedfordshire Small Business Awards are intended to showcase the very best of the small businesses in Bedfordshire.
There is a first prize of £5,000 in advertising provided by Premier Newspapers.
Award Categories are as follows:

* Best New Business Award
* Employee of the Year
* Enterprising Business
* Business Person of the Year
* Young Business Person of the Year
* Real Life Entrepreneur
* Training and Development Award
* Franchisee of the Year
* Networking Group of the Year
* Business Innovation Award
* Green Business Award
* Service Excellence Award
* Best E-Business Award
* Business Woman of the Year
* Retailer of the Year Award

The competition is open to all businesses based in Bedfordshire or companies that can prove the majority of their business is conducted in Bedfordshire.

Entrants must be sole traders or have less than 200 employees at the time of entering.

The 2012 deadline has been extended to 4 May 2012.

The Awards Ceremony will be held at the Mansion House, Shuttleworth Park, Old Warden on 13 June 2012.