Council hosts information session to support Derry businesses to digitally transform

From left, Joanne Sweeney, GEMX, Andrei Gurca, Sue Burns, Queen's University Belfast, and Danielle McNally, Business Manager, DCSDC.

placeholder image — From left, Joanne Sweeney, GEMX, Andrei Gurca, Sue Burns, Queen's University Belfast, and Danielle McNally, Business Manager, DCSDC.

Eligible businesses can apply for capital grant funding between £5000 and £20000 to support their business transformation journey to accelerate digital ambition

Derry City and Strabane District Council hosted a successful workshop to inform local businesses of a new funding opportunity that has the capacity to transform their business.

Delivering the workshop alongside the William J Clinton Institute at Queens University Belfast, members of Council’s Business Team offered tailored advice and information about the Digital Transformation Programme Fund. Eligible businesses can apply for capital grant funding between £5000 and £20000 to support their business transformation journey to accelerate digital ambitions.

The information session, hosted in the Everglades on Thursday 14th March offered advice on the types of technology funded, the application process and the importance of leveraging this unique opportunity to address financial barriers to the adoption of advanced digital technologies.

Danielle McNally, Business Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, said they were delighted to host such a successful workshop and looked forward to supporting businesses in exploring the opportunity.

“We were thrilled to see such an expression of interest from our diverse range of businesses here in the Derry City and Strabane region. This is a unique and innovative funding opportunity for businesses to introduce new technologies that might not have been accessible to them before.

“While it was great to see so many interested businesses at the workshop, the Business Team would still love to hear from anyone who might be eligible.

"We would encourage anyone who might be eligible to get in touch to see how we can assist you in leveraging an opportunity that has the potential to take your business to the next level.”

Group pictured at the Digital Transformation Flexible Fund event held in the Everglades Hotel, Derry by Derry City and Strabane District Council and Queen's University Belfast, on Thursday last are, from left, Sue Burns, QUB, Lee McShane, TM20, Joanne Sweeney, GEMX, Andrei Gurca, QUB, and Danielle McNally, Business Manager, DCSDC.

The Digital Transformation Fund (DTFF) is delivered by all local authorities in Northern Ireland under the Full Fibre Northern Ireland Consortium (FFNI) and supported by Invest NI. The project is part funded by the NI Executive, UK Government, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and all local authorities in Northern Ireland.

Applications are open until Friday 29th March 2024 at 12pm. Visit www.derrystrabane.com/dtff for more information or to complete an Expression of Interest form.