Enterprise Development Scheme 2015 and Spark Impact

Summary

The request sought the total payment to Spark Impact and the number of jobs created under the Enterprise Development Scheme 2015. The authority disclosed that 16 jobs were created as of June 2018 but stated it could not provide the final contract payment amount because negotiations were ongoing and fees depend on future application approvals.

Key Facts

• The Department for Enterprise does not hold the final payment amount for Spark Impact as negotiations are ongoing.
• Spark Impact's fees are partially based on the value of financial assistance provided to applicants.
• The contract with Spark Impact was terminated within normal contractual arrangements.
• A total of 16 new jobs were created as of the June 2018 survey.
• No additional payments outside the contract structure have been made or proposed.

Data Disclosed

• 16
• June 2018
• September 2018
• 2016/17
• 2017/18
• 2018/19
• July
• page 84
• page 93
• 618170
• 2018-10-01
• 2018-10-26
• 2018-11-23

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held or cannot be found after taking reasonable steps

Original Request

How much will have been paid to Sparks at the end of the agreed end of the Contract? How many new jobs have been created?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator 1st Floor, St Georges Court Upper Church Street, Douglas Isle of Man IM1 1EX

Telephone: (01624 682381) Website: www.gov.im/ded Email: Anthony.walker@gov.im Our ref: 618170 26 October 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 1 October 2018 and which states:

"How much will have been paid to Sparks at the end of the agreed end of the Contract? How many new jobs have been created?" Our response is as follows: 1. “How much will have been paid to Sparks at the end of the agreed end of the Contract?” The Department does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. This is because negotiations between the Department and Spark Impact are still ongoing. In addition the amount that will be paid to Sparks by the end of their contract is not held because it will depend on whether outstanding applications for support are agreed or not, as an element of their fee is based on value of financial assistance provided. For the sake of clarity however, no additional payments outside the contract structure have been paid nor are proposed to be paid. The contract has been terminated within the normal contractual arrangements. For information, you can also find a redacted copy of the contract between the Department and Spark Impact, which was released in response to a previous FOI request, on the FOI responses page here: https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/search You can also find information on Spark Impact’s fees in the Detailed Government Accounts 2016/17 and 2017/18: https://www.gov.im/media/1358013/detailed-government-accounts-year-ended-31- march-2017.pdf - see “Investment Management Fees” on page 84. https://www.gov.im/media/1362864/detailed-government-accounts-year-ended-31- march-2018.pdf - see “Investment Management Fees” on page 93.

The fees payable in the present financial period will be made available in the Detailed Government Accounts for 2018/19 which will be published in July. 2. “How many new jobs have been created?” The information that we hold states that the total number of jobs created is 16. This data is as of June 2018, when Spark completed the last quarterly survey of portfolio companies. The new quarterly survey to the end of September is currently underway by Spark. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested.

Please quote the reference number 618170 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi. I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely