Selection Criteria

• Applicants must have a business or intend to start a business that is located in the area of the former Argyll & Islands Enterprise. (See map.)
• The business should demonstrate that it will provide employment and training.
• Loans can be given for any legitimate business activity, eg capital development, working capital, training (training costs and loss of earnings while undertaking training), marketing and so forth.
• Loans from the Trust will be treated by most public sector funders as private input to the project. Thus the Trust’s funds might be used, for example, as a way of contributing to a capital expenditure project.
• Special consideration will be given to innovative and environmental projects and those using and promoting the use of local resources.
• Please note that the Trust is only able to lend to limited companies, but welcomes all applications.  If you are a sole trader or in a partnership, please get in touch anyway.  The process of incorporating and registering a company is straightforward, and a trustee will be able to help.
• Creating employment is a key priority for the trust.