This fund is currently closed, but you can register your interest in future funding.

The Cycling Infrastructure Fund provides grants to help tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups that own visitor-facing assets to invest in cycling infrastructure.

This will help improve facilities for cyclists using the Kirkpatrick Coast to Coast route or riding at the 7Stanes trail centres.

The minimum grant amount is £3,000 and the maximum is £25,000. Grants can cover up to 100% of your total eligible project costs.

The funding can be used for the purchase and installation of cycling infrastructure at premises owned by the applicant. 

Examples of eligible infrastructure include: 

• secure bike storage
• bike racks
• external electrical sockets to be used as charging facilities by cycle tourers
• secure bike locks for customer use
• a bike wash
• drying equipment for drying clothes, rucksacks, panniers, and footwear
• clothes washing facilities for visitors
• bike maintenance facilities, such as repair stations

The list is not exhaustive - all grant assistance from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) is discretionary.

The funding cannot be used to:

• support projects that are already underway
• purchase bike maintenance consumables - for example, spare parts, oil or tubes
• pay for revenue expenditure such as design work, planning permission application fees or ongoing maintenance and running costs of existing facilities
• support cycle path development and associated infrastructure
• purchase bikes, including e-bikes

This fund is for capital investment projects only. Facilities developed with support from this fund must be for, and to benefit, visitors.

The fund will accept applications from Thursday 5 October 2023 until Friday 31 January 2025, or until all funds are distributed - whichever is earlier.

Yes, if you are a business, social enterprise or community group that owns assets that are open to the public and are in one of the following sectors:

• hotels
• bed and breakfasts
• camping and glamping sites
• self-catering
• hostels
• bunk barns or houses
• pubs
• cafes
• tea rooms
• restaurants
• farm shops
• cycle repair and sales shops
• visitor attractions

You must also:

• have a South of Scotland trading address
• have been trading for 6 months or more
• be compliant with current Fair Work rules

You must also operate in one of the following areas:

• within 2 miles of one of the 22 recommended stopping locations on the Kirkpatrick Coast to Coast cycle route, which include:
  • Portpatrick
  • Stranraer
  • Bladnoch
  • Glenluce
  • Wigtown
  • Newton Stewart
  • Gatehouse of Fleet
  • Kirkcudbright
  • Castle Douglas
  • Dumfries
  • Lockerbie
  • Langholm
  • Newcastleton
  • Hawick
  • Selkirk
  • Galashiels
  • Melrose
  • Kelso
  • Duns
  • Coldstream
  • Ladykirk
  • Eyemouth
• within 5 miles of one of the 7stanes biking trail centres, which include
  • Glentrool
  • Kirroughtree
  • Dalbeattie
  • Mabie
  • Ae
  • Glentress
  • Newcastleton

If successful, you'll need to cover all costs upfront, which will then be fully reimbursed by SOSE. You'll need to submit evidence of your spending in order to receive the payment.

Tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups that own visitor-facing assets in the south of Scotland.

The fund will accept applications from Thursday 5 October 2023 until Friday 31 January 2025, or until all funds are distributed - whichever is earlier.

Once you submit your application, you'll receive a confirmation within 5 working days. Your application will be assessed and you'll receive a decision within 6 weeks.

All projects must be completed and claimed for by the date specified on your grant offer letter, and before Friday 7 March 2025.

All projects must be completed and claimed for by the date specified on your grant offer letter, and before Friday 7 March 2025.

Visit the South of Scotland Enterprise website for more information and to register your interest in future funding