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How to Apply

The Bus Operator Accessible Information Regulations Support Grant application process is carried out on the government find a grant service.
To apply you will need a GOV.UK One Login, if you do not have one at the moment it is simple to create:
https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/apply/applicant  
 

Once you have your GOV.UK One Login setup then the application form for applications before 23:59 on 3rd June 2024 you need is: 

https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/apply/applicant/mandatory-questions/start?schemeId=573 

for applications after 3rd June 2024 this application form should be used:

https://find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/apply/applicant/mandatory-questions/start?schemeId=674

 

 

You will be asked some questions as part of the application process, these are contained in the document "RTIGPR025-D003-1.0 Bus Operator AIR Support Grant - Application Questions" which can be found at the bottom of this page.
Before you can apply you will need to have the following available:
 

  • A quote from a supplier
  • Grant claim form (found on this page)
  • Subsidy self certification form (found on this page)
  • Contract Terms (found on this page)

Applications opened on 8 April 2024 and remain open until the grant is fully committed.

If you have any questions about the grant or process please email aig@rtig.org.uk 

We have a series of webinars on the regulations and grant over April and May these can be booked through Eventbrite  https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/on-bus-accessible-information-regulations-grant-644989 

 

Eligibility to apply for a grant.
 

To be eligible for the grant, an operator on 8 April 2024 must run a local service vehicle in England, Scotland, or Wales and:

  1. Have 20 or fewer in scope public service vehicles (exclusive of vehicles used for public services out of scope of the regulations.)
  2. Not hold operating licences for more than 20 in scope vehicles.
  3. Not be a subsidiary or sister company of an operator with 21 or more in scope public service vehicles
  4. An operator can apply for funding for up to 20 vehicles. Each vehicle must:
    1. Be used on a local service
    2. Be designed to carry 17 or more seated passengers
    3. Not already provide both audible and visible information onboard for any of the following: (i) next stop, (ii) route or (iii) direction 
  5. Applications must come directly from the operator which is applying for the funding.
     

 


What can the grant be used for?
 

The grant allows a small bus operator to procure and/or install products (such as audible speakers and hearing loop, visual display screens and supporting infrastructure) to provide audible and visible information onboard the vehicle, and/or for purposes of maintenance for a period of one year from the installation of said products.
 

Where an operator has partially compliant vehicle, for example audible speakers and visual display screens but no hearing loop, a grant application can be made to make the overall system compliant by the addition of a hearing loop.
The grant will fund equipment of a specification that is the minimum required to meet the regulations. This does not preclude an operator purchasing equipment of a higher specification but the grant will not cover the additional costs of the higher specification equipment. For example, an operator may choose to install TFT displays in-vehicle; the grant would only fund the installation of LED displays - with the cost difference being met be the operator.
 

Where higher specification equipment is being purchased by the operator, the operator should obtain quotes from suppliers that show the cost for the minimum specification of equipment and the additional cost for the higher specification, and provide this to RTIG through the application process. The base specification costs will be benchmarked against costs from other applications for similar vehicle types to ensure that value for money is being achieved.
 

Grant Allocation
 

Grant is being allocated to any operator who meets the requirements until the grant is fully allocated. 
 

Requirements of grant recipients
 

An operator receiving the grant will be required to :
 

  1. Maintain any facility funded directly or indirectly through the scheme, in good working order - including undertaking repairs or maintenance promptly, and ensuring that any required data updates are carried out so that provision remains accessible.
  2. Continue to use and maintain the product(s) or facility (facilities) procured using the funding for a period of at least five years - transferring products between vehicles, if necessary, to ensure their continued use within the fleet.
  3. Ensure that the information provided onboard any vehicle which receives grant funding is consistent with the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023 on each scheduled journey that the vehicle makes, except where temporary unforeseeable failures make this impossible.