Written evidence from Tml precision Engineering
Ltd
My Company Tml, is a Precision Engineering Company
based just outside of Norwich in Norfolk. (EEDA region).
We employ 10 skilled people and produce high
quality machined components for UK & export markets predominantly
from aerospace grade materials such as aluminum. In order to produce
such high precision work we use the very latest Computer Controlled
(CNC) Engineering machine tools.
The success of our company which was originally
founded over 14 years ago has relied upon the substantial investment
of the latest CNC machine tools. Such machines have enabled us
to remain competitive in a ever global market place.
The EEDA Grant for Business Investment (GBI)
was due to help Tml fund the purchase of new CNC machines. We
had submitted a Pre-application for GBI and had a favorable response.
We started work on the full application and just before we were
due to finalise and submit it we were told that it could not be
accepted as EEDA were unable to commit any funding to any schemes
which were not able to be completed prior to March 2011.
Due to the nature of the GBI, all applications
must be for projects lasting over 12 months.
This has left not only our plans for new CNC
machine tools in distress but has had a significant effect on
our future expansion plans, which we were also hoping to gain
assistance with.
(1) There was no consultation period.
(2) There was no "Can't accept new pre-applications
after a certain date".
(3) There was no attempt to contact any SME's
like Tml and say "If you wish to proceed with your full application
it needs to be in by a certain date".
(4) In fact the EEDA website still showed GBI
"Open" for new applications when in reality it had already
been closed for ages.
Instead, all the answers we have had from EEDA
have been very vague and non-committal and after speaking to their
staff you were only more confused because nobody seemed to know
what was happening. This was followed by a letter which we only
recently received saying that the scheme was closed.
One of the items which has been listed to be
considered by your committee is "Transitional arrangements".
Top priority consideration should be given to
any company which had already submitted a pre-application to an
RDA.
There will be probably be 100's of SME's across
the country which would of paid accountants many £1,000's
in preparing all the required information for a GBI application/pre-application,
all in good faith.
All money now down the drain which SME's can
ill-afford?
Eligibility for any new schemes operated by
the new LEP's should take this into consideration. They should
look favorably to any SME's who have gone part the way through
GBI processes only to be told it has ended.
Information on any new funding schemes due to
be operated by LEP's is currently unavailable.
I have discussed our situation with my local
MP Richard Bacon, who is naturally concerned that a successful,
growing "Hi-Tec" manufacturing company has been treated
in such an appalling way.
A request by Richard Bacon to Mark Prisk Small
Business Minister to discuss this situation has so far gone without
response.
From speaking to other SME's our situation with
EEDA is not either the only, or the worst case.
Many SME's across the country will now face
an uncertain future as a direct result of the way the GBI scheme
has been ended.
12 August 2010
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