The Isle of Man Government have updated their terms of the Business Improvement Scheme, to offer further assistance to businesses who are looking to improve, update or build a new website. We have listed the main points below.

• Increased funding for businesses up to a maximum of £10,000 (previously capped at £5,000) under the Digital Marketing / Social Media Consultancy and Website project discipline only. This ends 31/10/21 when it will drop back down to £5,000
• Remove the requirement for the business to be exporting under these two disciplines (it is therefore open to domestic businesses for the first time)
• Removal of the requirement for websites funded to have a transactional element.  This means that any business wishing to create or update an existing website may apply irrespective of their transactional functionality.

The aim is to increase web presence of local businesses whilst also generating business for on-island web developers.  Applicants will have six months from the date of authorisation to complete the project and are expected to pay 100% of the fee to the project consultant before applying for 50% reimbursement from the Department.

*To take advantage of the increased £10,000 funding, businesses must apply by 31 October, 2021 under the Digital Marketing/Social Media Consultancy and Website disciplines.