Ettrick Riverside: FOI Release (ref 4901)
Contents
Date received
6 April 2021
Date responded
7 May 2021
Information requested
Please can you confirm the level of European Funding obtained in relation to the conversion and refurbishment of Ettrick Riverside, Dunsdale Road, Selkirk? Does the funding limit occupancy to SMEs? If proportionate - what proportion of occupants are required to be SMEs? Are there any exemptions to this? If occupancy is limited to SMEs what funding needs to be repaid to the EU? The strapline of your website is 'Scotland's business advice, support and funding agency.' Your Publicly funded Business Centres seem to be in direct competition with the Private sector - what policies do Scottish Enterprisehave on this and is it considered appropriate for Scottish Enterprise 'Scotland's business advice, support and funding agency' to be competing against and in some cases under-cutting private Landlords?'
Response
Q. The level of European Funding obtained in relation to the conversion and refurbishment of Ettrick Riverside, Dunsdale Road, Selkirk?
A. £1.55m.
Q. Does the funding limit occupancy to SMEs? If proportionate - what proportion of occupants are required to be SMEs?
A. Yes. 77% of the net lettable area was restricted to SMEs until the end of the European Funding Programme period in 2014.
Q. Are there any exemptions to this?
A. Yes. Scottish Enterprise sought approval to occupy an office within the Ettrick Riverside building from the Scottish Government’s Structural Funds Division, which was granted in 2011. As per above, the European funding limitations on non-SME occupancy of the building ended in 2014.
Q. If occupancy is limited to SMEs what funding needs to be repaid to the EU?
A. There is no repayment information held therefore section 17 of FOISA applies.
Q. The strapline of your website is 'Scotland's business advice, support and funding agency.' Your Publicly funded Business Centres seem to be in direct competition with the Private sector - what policies do Scottish Enterprise have on this.
A. Ettrick Riverside is in the ownership of the South of Scotland Enterprise agency. Both Scottish Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise Agency are bound by the terms of the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
Q. Is it considered appropriate for Scottish Enterprise 'Scotland's business advice, support and funding agency' to be competing against and in some cases under-cutting private Landlords?
A. We do not consider that Scottish Enterprise is under-cutting private landlords. We offer property on commercial terms that represent market rent in line with the Scottish Public Finance Manual.
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