Criteria and Conditions for Applicants to the Crafts Incubation Centre

Objective of Crafts Incubation Centre

The crafts incubation centre was created in order to assist potential craftsmen in Gozo to start their own business in the crafts sector.

Criteria and Conditions

• The proposed projects should target the crafts sector;
• The proposed project has to be a new business start-up or near start-up venture in the crafts sector;
• The new enterprise has to be operating from Gozo;
• The proposed project has to show that its funding is secure enough to carry the activity through at least one year;
• The initial space required by the proposed project does not exceed 63 sq m.

Preference will be given to:

• Proposed projects which introduce innovation in terms of know-how, methods, quality or content which are more advanced than those prevailing in the respective industry;
• Applicants who have a management structure and make best use of resources;
• Project applicants who have an entrepreneurial drive and enthusiasm to make the venture a successful one.

Performance  

Staff from the crafts incubation centre will be monitoring the performance of the incubator clients on a periodic basis:

• They shall interact with the clients on an informal basis periodically;
• Discuss the achievement of the goals identified in the clients’ business plans including financial and market results;
• Review periodically financial reports and the business plan of clients.

Period of Incubation

• The period of incubation is normally for a minimum period of one year and a maximum period of three years;
• The client who reaches the exit time may be asked to leave the incubation;
• The client has experienced sufficient growth that enables him/her to continue without further assistance from the incubator.

Applicants will be asked to submit a business plan if available. If a business plan is not available they will be asked to develop such a plan.  The application together with the business plan will be evaluated. If an applicant is accepted he/she will be notified accordingly and invited to sign a service agreement. 

Applications on the prescribed form should be dropped in the tender box at the Accounts Section of the Department of Corporate Services, Ministry for Gozo by not later than 12.00 noon of Monday 30^th June 2008.