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Northern Territory Enterprise Grant Fund Guidelines – Screen Territory

10 April 2019, EGV7

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, SPORT AND CULTURE10 April 2019, EGV7 of 13

ContentsNORTHERN TERRITORY ENTERPRISE GRANT FUND................................................................3

About the Program.........................................................................................................................3

Funding available...........................................................................................................................3Business Enterprise....................................................................................................................3

Generate Enterprise....................................................................................................................4Start.Run.Grow...........................................................................................................................5

Eligibility..........................................................................................................................................5Business Enterprise eligibility.....................................................................................................5

Generate Enterprise eligibility.....................................................................................................6Questions about eligibility...........................................................................................................6

Application process........................................................................................................................6Business Enterprise application process....................................................................................6

Unsuccessful Business Enterprise applications......................................................................7Companies who have been invited to make a full application.................................................7

Generate Enterprise application process....................................................................................8Unsuccessful Generate Enterprise applications......................................................................8

Assessment criteria........................................................................................................................9Business Enterprise assessment criteria....................................................................................9

Generate Enterprise..................................................................................................................11Buy Local Plan..............................................................................................................................11

Assessment process....................................................................................................................11Successful applicants...................................................................................................................11

Requirement for credit..............................................................................................................12Monitoring and evaluation.........................................................................................................12

Non-delivery or failure to acquit................................................................................................12Eligibility for other Screen Territory funding programs.................................................................12

Deadlines......................................................................................................................................13Business Enterprise stream deadlines......................................................................................13

Generate Enterprise stream deadlines.....................................................................................13Contacts.......................................................................................................................................13


Northern Territory Enterprise Grant Fund – Screen Territory

NORTHERN TERRITORY ENTERPRISE GRANT FUND About the ProgramBuilding a healthy, competitive and self-sustaining screen industry is the first strategic priority of the Screen Industry Development Plan 2018-20.

To that end, this new Northern Territory Enterprise Grant Fund expands Screen Territory’s support for NT screen industry businesses and practitioners by funding their development, the development of the screen content they produce, and the NT industry.

Informed by more than a decade of enterprise funding programs implemented by screen agencies worldwide, and taking into account the current scale and unique needs of the Territory screen industry, the Fund has been designed to be a key step in fostering the development of businesses with the commercial strength, scale and connections to compete globally for private and non-NTG investment, for audience, and for talent.

Funding availableIn 2018/19 there will be two separate streams offered under this program – Business Enterprise and Generate Enterprise. You may apply for both but you will only be able to receive funding from one of these.

Funding will be awarded to applications that can demonstrate the strongest claims against the guidelines and criteria outlined below.

Once you have read the guidelines you are encouraged to call Screen Territory to discuss your applications to ensure you are applying to the stream best suited to your proposal.

Business Enterprise

The Business Enterprise stream is designed for companies wishing to build on an existing track record in creative screen production, or companies with demonstrated turnover from other screen production sources wishing to move into film, broadcast or other screen story content production.

Funding of up to $125 000 per year for two years will be provided to up to 4 companies with demonstrated potential for strong growth. The grant will continue only if key milestones and agreed performance indicators are met.

Business Enterprise proposals might include, for example a combination of:

Slate development activities designed to increase production activity, or otherwise embrace a more ambitious and diverse slate.

A two year strategy for travel and other activities designed to form new domestic and international commercial collaborations, build audiences, create new distribution networks or creative partnerships, and gain access to new finance sources and markets.

Key hires that will facilitate business growth and build capacity – for example, a Development Producer, Head of Production, Digital and Marketing Producer, Business Affairs Manager, or other role that will make a difference to the company.

Marketing – to create or refresh business branding and marketing materials, including your web presence.

Diversification of revenue streams into other genres, platforms or markets or innovative screen related initiatives that will increase company revenue.



Legal, professional or business development consultancies – for example, to develop an enhanced organisational direction and plan, review business structures, development and implementation of a marketing plan.

Activities aimed at taking advantage of emerging markets for screen content Other activities designed to develop and expand the company in terms of profitability, range and

number of projects and/or range of business activities undertaken with the primary objective of enhancing long-term business sustainability

Companies will be expected to make a cash contribution to the overall costs of their proposed strategy, either from their own resources or non-Screen Territory third party funding sources.

Generate Enterprise

The Generate Enterprise stream is aimed at the next generation of screen industry businesses, as well as smaller companies or established individual practitioners.

Funding of up to $40 000 per year for two years will be provided to up to six companies or practitioners to support strategies designed to build capacity and sustainability.

Funding will be subject to an approved budget and work plan. The funding will continue only if key milestones and agreed performance indicators are met.

Generate Enterprise proposals might include, for example:

Professional advice in the areas of:o Strategy development - this may include engaging specialist expertise, knowledge and

contacts that will help ‘get under the bonnet’ of your company and refine your business proposition.

o Business planning – development and implementation of a robust business plan that can be confidently presented to Screen Territory and other public/private sources for further investment.

o Legal or commercial expertise – to establish or restructure a corporate entity in a more professional and purposeful manner, or one that is better able to attract external funding, or to form a new merged corporate entities drawing on the assets of the existing business

o Marketing – to create or refresh business branding and marketing materials, including your web presence.

Strategic consultancies. Relevant training for screen business principals. Innovation - to seed new ideas and/or increase the scale and ambition of projects, including

innovative ideas to respond to evolving audience behaviour. Staffing costs.

Unlike the Business Enterprise stream, companies and practitioners accessing the Generate Enterprise stream will not be expected to commit their own or other third-party investment towards the overall costs of their proposed strategy, other than the ‘in kind’ investment of time that recipients will bring to the process.



Start.Run.Grow

The NT Screen Industry Development Plan 2018-20 includes an action to ‘Facilitate better links between Territory-based screen practitioners and businesses with the Northern Territory Government’s Start.Run.Grow suite of business support, innovation and workforce development programs’.

The Department of Trade, Business and Innovation offers a range of programs to help business start, run and grow. A suite of Business Growth programs offer information, funding and development services to enhance business profitability, sustainability and capability. Business Innovation Support Initiatives (BISI) help NT businesses undertake research and development which could lead to new products, processes or services.

Wherever appropriate, funding awarded under either stream of this Northern Territory Enterprise Grant Fund may be combined with and/or supplemented on application to relevant support programs from the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation, to maximise outcomes for screen businesses and practitioners.

Eligibility

Regardless of the stream or level of funding sought, all applicants must:

Meet the general eligibility requirements for Screen Territory funding. (https://screenterritory.nt.gov.au/funding/general-eligibility)

Currently be in good standing with Screen Territory. Specifically, applicants (including business principals) who have an outstanding acquittal report and/or deliverable(s), or have not fulfilled their contractual obligations relating to prior Screen Territory funding are not eligible to apply.

Include a signed Statutory Declaration form confirming that the applicant meets the General Eligibility Requirements, and that submitted application materials, financial statements and claims against the criteria are true, and that the company is solvent.

Business Enterprise eligibility

Business Enterprise applicants must:

Be a solvent company registered in the Northern Territory for at least two years prior to the application.

If a production company, have produced at least one feature, TV series, digital web series or documentary in the NT in the past five years that has secured a theatrical, broadcast, digital or major festival release; or

If not a production company, have been in business in the screen industry for at least two years prior to the application deadline as a company, and have demonstrated primary turnover from other screen production sources (e.g. advertising or corporate production, screen service provision).

Screen Territory will accept Business Enterprise applications from NT-based screen industry companies that are not currently active in creating original intellectual property (IP) but wish to expand their business model into this area, and can demonstrate that they have the skills and capability to do so. Evidence of collaborations or strategies which facilitate the move into creating original IP will strengthen the application.


https://screenterritory.nt.gov.au/funding/general-eligibility


Business Enterprise funding is not available to:

Individuals who wish to apply outside of an existing company structure. Sole traders, partnerships or trust entities. Special Purpose Vehicles or subsidiary companies that have been established purely for

individual projects or productions. Broadcasters, local authorities, government agencies, non-profit organisations, or academic

institutions.

Generate Enterprise eligibility

Generate Enterprise applicants must:

Have completed production of at least one half hour documentary or drama project in the last three years that has been broadcast, screened at a festival or achieved a release; and

Have been in business for at least 12 months prior to the application deadline as a screen industry company or sole trader and be able to demonstrate that their development slate has the potential to grow their business.

Generate Enterprise funding is not available to:

Special Purpose Vehicle or subsidiary companies that have been established purely for individual projects or productions.

Local authorities, government agencies, or academic institutions. Broadcasters, local authorities, government agencies, non-profit organisations, or academic

institutions.

Questions about eligibility

You or your company may apply for both streams but can only be successful in one only. If you are not sure which stream is most suited to your needs and eligibility, or have questions regarding your eligibility, please contact Screen Territory on (08) 8999 6302 or [email protected]

Application process

Business Enterprise application process

To minimise the cost and effort to applicants, Business Enterprise will have a 2-stage application process – an expression of interest (EOI) round followed by an invitation to full application.

The EOI must be submitted via the NT Government’s Grants Tracker system at https://grantstracker.nt.gov.au

In keeping with the stated outcome of the NT Screen Industry Development Plan 2018-20 that ‘Screen Territory’s governance, grant administration and procurement practices reflect community expectations regarding the responsible use of public funds, while avoiding unnecessary red tape for recipients’, it is not expected that applicants invest scarce financial resources or time to prepare a large or glossy proposal document at any point during the Business Enterprise stream application process.

The EOI stage will request information that for the most part, eligible companies – that is experienced screen industry businesses – already have to hand as part of their ongoing strategic thinking processes and their day to day business operations.


https://grantstracker.nt.gov.au/

mailto:[email protected]


Applicants will need the following information to complete the EOI form in Grants Tracker:

Identifying information such as company name, Australian Business Number and contact information.

If the applicant is a production company:o Details of the features, TV series, digital web series or documentaries produced in the

past five years or that are currently in production that have secured a theatrical, broadcast, digital or major festival release.

If the applicant is not a production company:o Annual financial reports for at least two years prior to the application deadline as a

company, demonstrating that the company’s primary business activity has generated turnover from screen production sources.

o A brief description of the company’s screen industry business activities. The names and biographies of all company principals, and a brief description of their role in the

company. A summary description (maximum 500 words) of the company’s strategy, including how it

proposes to use Business Enterprise stream funding to grow, develop or diversify the business in order to improve company sustainability.

The approximate amount of Business Enterprise stream funding sought in years 1 and 2. A brief description of what financial and other resources the company would make towards the

overall cost of the proposed strategy, either from its own resources or non-Screen Territory third party funding sources, and clearly state why Enterprise funding is needed for the proposal; and

In each case, how the support will be applied to the needs of the business proposal.

If your company is invited to make a full application, you will be advised after the EOI to submit a full application via the Grants Tracker system, including a more detailed plan and budget for how the Business Enterprise stream funding would be expended, annual financial reports for at least two years prior to the application deadline as a company, a brief history of the company including past performance in financial and creative terms, details of your current and/or proposed slate of projects, your own assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) facing your business, your suggestions for KPIs to measure success, and other information needed for assessment.

Unsuccessful Business Enterprise applications

Feedback will be provided on request for unsuccessful applicants.

Companies who have been invited to make a full application

Screen Territory will facilitate tailored access on a case-by-case basis to independent expertise and advice, including through relevant support programs from the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation, to assist companies to prepare their full applications, with the aim of alleviating the call on company resources in preparing the necessary information.

Note that acceptance of this assistance by applicants is not compulsory, is not intended to alter the company strategy at the heart of the Business Enterprise stream application, and each company’s decision to make use (or not) of such support programs will not be considered when assessing the full applications.

Examples of the assistance available could be, the preparation of a detailed budget in conjunction with company principals, facilitation of a SWOT analysis planning session for principals, or working with principals to document their detailed plans and articulate a commercially-focussed business case for funding.



Generate Enterprise application process

Generate Enterprise funding will use a single stage application process.

Companies and individuals must apply using the NT Government’s Grants Tracker system at https://grantstracker.nt.gov.au

Applicants will need the following information to complete the application in Grants Tracker:

A brief history of the applicant (individual or business) including past performance in financial and creative terms including evidence of solvency.

A description of the applicant’s present position in the screen industry. A brief description of the applicant’s vision, in other words a description of what the applicant would

like to achieve in the next 3-5 years. A summary proposal (maximum 500 words) describing how the applicant would use Generate

Enterprise funding to grow, develop or diversify their business in order to improve sustainability. The approximate amount of Generate Enterprise funding sought in years 1 and 2. The names and CV’s of any mentors, companies or individuals the applicant proposes to engage to

deliver consulting services, or other professional support and evidence of their commitment to working with the applicant.

A high level budget and proposed work plan.

In keeping with the stated outcome of the NT Screen Industry Development Plan 2018-20 that ‘Screen Territory’s governance, grant administration and procurement practices reflect community expectations regarding the responsible use of public funds, while avoiding unnecessary red tape for recipients’, it is not intended that applicants invest scarce financial resources or time to prepare a glossy proposal document at any point during the Generate Enterprise stream application process.

It may be necessary to request a meeting with you, or request additional information in order to complete a proper assessment.

Screen Territory recognises that some industry companies and practitioners who are not currently eligible to apply for Business Enterprise funding may aspire to apply in future years if the program remains in place. Note that, in line with standard requirements of other screen agencies in Australia and worldwide, a documented and up-to-date business plan is highly likely to be required from future Business Enterprise funding applicants. It is therefore recommended that current applicants to the Generate Enterprise funding consider whether they should include the preparation of a formal business plan in the above proposal.

Unsuccessful Generate Enterprise applications

Feedback will be provided on request for unsuccessful applicants to the Generate Enterprise funding stream.

Unsuccessful Generate Enterprise applicants may be linked with relevant support programs from the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation, to help position them more strongly for future funding rounds.


https://grantstracker.nt.gov.au/


Assessment criteriaScreen Territory expects a very high demand for support from the NT Enterprise Grant Fund, and we have a finite amount of money to award. Even if your application meets all of the eligibility criteria and the assessment criteria below, we may not necessarily be able to fund you.

Note that Screen Territory will not fund proposals that include projects that contain material that will bring, or is likely to bring the NT Government, Screen Territory or the NT screen industry into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, or ridicule.

Business Enterprise assessment criteria

When assessing Business Enterprise applications, Screen Territory will consider six primary criteria, with ‘Overall strength of the proposal’ being particularly highly weighted.

EOI stage applications will be assessed using a selection (*) of the questions below, reflecting the limited information requested from applicants at the EOI stage.

Overall strength of the proposal

Does the company have a clear, simple and achievable vision?* What difference will Business Enterprise funding make to the company or its slate?* Does the proposed use of the Business Enterprise funding prioritise activities that are likely to deliver

strong returns on investment, build commercial and entrepreneurial capacity and help the business to achieve sustainable long-term growth?*

Does the company have a clear development strategy for the projects in its slate? What is the viability of the proposed market opportunity? How does the company propose to measure progress? Appropriate budget to the proposal and astute utilisation of funds.

Market potential of projects

What is the quality and marketability of the slate of projects proposed?* How strong are the main ideas of the project/s? What is the quality of the attached scripts or treatments? Do the projects have strong market appeal? What is the experience and ability of the talent attached to the project/s? What is the likelihood of the projects being financed? Do any of the projects have an expression of interest from a market partner, such as a bona fide

national or international broadcaster or distributor, operating at arms’ length from the production company?

Company capacity

What internal and external financial and human resources is the applicant planning to marshal to deliver on its vision?*

Does the company have the capacity, or a plan to acquire/develop the capacity to develop and produce multiple high quality projects at a professional level?*

Does the company’s board of directors or management team include experienced entrepreneurial leadership and business growth experience, in addition to the creative and screen industry skills required to bring new screen projects to completion?

Is the budget comprehensive and is it realistic?



Are the principals aware of the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of its current and proposed business models?

Collaborations and networks

What connections and collaborations does the business plan to create with national and/or international partners, as a key plank in establishing and supporting business viability?

What relevant industry and commercial partnerships does the company already have in place?

Track record

What are the achievements of the company’s principals?* Has the company been active in the screen industry in the past 5 years?* What outcomes has the company or its principals delivered from previous Screen Territory

investment? How successful were the company’s previous productions, for example gross box office, TV ratings,

A-list festival selections, awards, international sales, in particular in the past 5 years?*

Benefits to the NT screen industry

How well does the company’s vision align with the vision, priorities and outcomes of the NT Screen Industry Development Plan 2018-20?*

What benefits will the company’s proposed use of Business Enterprise funding bring to the NT screen industry and the broader NT economy?*

Does the company plan to work with NT creatives and crews, undertake production and/or post-production in the NT?

In what ways does the company propose to connect with emerging and early stage NT screen practitioners?

To what extent does the applicant intend to expend Business Enterprise funding on NT-based goods, services and labour (refer to the Buy Local Plan section below)?

Generate Enterprise

When assessing Generate Enterprise applications, Screen Territory will consider:

The strength of the applicant’s current business in terms of slate, team members, networks and connections.

The track record of the applicant (individuals and/or company principals) in terms of industry experience, production output, and commercial and/or critical success of released projects.

The applicant’s vision and goals for the next 3-5 years in terms of production output, company growth, financial performance, market reach and critical success.

The impact that the proposed use of Generate Enterprise funding might have on the applicant’s commercial success, entrepreneurial capacity and long-term business sustainability.

The extent to which the applicant intends to expend Generate Enterprise funding on NT-based goods, services and labour (refer to the Buy Local Plan section below).



Buy Local Plan The primary objective of the Buy Local Plan is to ensure that the largest possible proportion of every dollar spent by the NT Government is retained within and delivers benefits for the NT economy and community.

Enterprise Development Funding recipients are expected to acknowledge the NT Government’s commitment to the development of local business and industry by using NT-based labour and services, and goods available in the NT except when this is impractical for commercial, technical or other reasons.

Recipients will be required to report on their use of NT-based labour and services, and NT-sourced goods on acquittal of their Business Development Funding.

For more information visit http://buylocal.nt.gov.au/

Assessment processEligible applications will be assessed by a panel drawn from the NT Government and approved peers, who will make recommendations to the delegate for decisions. Recognising that all businesses and proposals are unique, we may also use external assessors and/or appropriately qualified independent professional advisors during the assessment process.

We understand that applications may contain commercially sensitive information and all discussions and proposals will be dealt with in the strictest confidence including conflict of interest provisions.

Successful applicantsSuccessful applicants will need to enter into a funding agreement, including deliverables and reporting obligations, with Screen Territory and negotiate a drawdown and KPI schedule for your funding. No payments will be made until you have entered into a funding agreement with us.

The NT Enterprise Fund does not preclude applications to other Enterprise or Business development funds through other agencies.


http://buylocal.nt.gov.au/


Requirement for credit

Screen Territory will require a credit for any project produced by the applicant, excluding projects ineligible for support under Screen Territory’s General Eligibility Criteria for five (5) years from the date of execution of the funding agreement.

Monitoring and evaluation

The KPIs and reporting obligations in these funding agreements will enable Screen Territory to measure the effectiveness of both the Northern Territory Enterprise Grant funding for your business and the success of the NT Screen Industry Development Plan 2018-20.

When negotiating KPIs, Screen Territory will require the inclusion of one or more industry-accepted measures of sustainability such as:

Consistency of production activity Scale Profitability Investment readiness Ongoing relationships and collaboration with talent Diversity of slates and income sources Audience engagement

Even if not all of these measures are used as KPIs, recipients will be required to report against each of them at the outset of, and annually during the funding period.

Other KPIs will be tailored to each applicant’s work plans and goals, however must be specific, attainable, relevant and measurable so that you, and we, can track your progress over the funding period. Meeting these KPIs will be key to triggering drawdowns of funding, so when negotiating with Screen Territory, you should ensure these are goals you intend to meet.

Non-delivery or failure to acquit

Failure to fulfil acquittal and/or meet deliverable requirements as specified within the funding agreement is a breach of contract. If contractual obligations are not met, Screen Territory will have the right to recoup funds already paid to the applicant, and it may disqualify the applicant from being eligible for future Screen Territory funding until all outstanding funds are paid back, and the matter resolved with Screen Territory.

Eligibility for other Screen Territory funding programsThis funding is not intended to replace individual project development or production funding, and NT Enterprise Fund applicants and recipients will remain eligible to apply for all other Screen Territory Grant funding programs.

Proposals and funding for similar projects to those funded through Northern Territory Enterprise Grant Funding may not be prioritised when applying for other Screen Territory funding.



Deadlines

Business Enterprise stream deadlines

EOIs open for the Business Enterprise stream Thursday 11 April 2019EOIs close for the Business Enterprise stream Sunday 12 May 2019Invitations emailed for full applications Monday 10 June 2019Full applications close Sunday 4 August 2019

Generate Enterprise stream deadlines

Applications open Thursday 11 April 2019Applications close Sunday 12 May 2019

ContactsThese guidelines are intended to help applicants to deliver the strongest application possible.

After reading these guidelines and confirming your eligibility under Screen Territory’s general eligibility requirements, you are encouraged to discuss your application with Screen Territory before submitting it through Grants Tracker.

Screen Territory: Alice Springs (08) 8951 6434Darwin (08) 8999 [email protected]


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