Businesses can apply for funding

Businesses in South Holland have the chance to bid for money from a £1.25m pot to help them recover post-pandemic.

The South Holland Recovery and Growth Fund is aimed at local businesses and designed for investment into future growth.

Launched on Monday, the scheme is open to all businesses in the area and offers between a 60 and 80 per cent contribution towards capital and revenue investments.

“As we move away from the challenges and difficulties the last year-and-a-half have thrown at us, both personally and in our work, it is important that we do everything we can not only to return South Holland’s businesses to where they were before the pandemic, but also to invest, support and develop them to come back stronger than ever before,” said Coun Harry Drury, portfolio holder for commercialisation and growth.

“I am delighted that the council is able to offer this new funding scheme, which will help local businesses of all sizes and sectors to start looking to the future and take the exciting next steps on their journey. I would encourage anyone who thinks the funding could help them to apply and take advantage of this opportunity, and ensure that this vital investment is put to use in South Holland, where it can make a real difference to our residents, workers, visitors and economy,” he added.

The money has come from the remaining allocation of government COVID support for businesses.

Available grants are between £1,000 and £25,000 and all applications will be individually assessed by the council’s economic development team.

Applications are open now and remain so until Friday, December 31. All the grants awarded will need to be fully claimed by March 31 2022.

Unlike previous COVID grants that the council has helped distribute, which supported running costs to help keep businesses trading, this fund is focused exclusively on future development and growth.

Examples of things which could benefit from funding are: website development; staff training and development costs; development of marketing materials or promotional activity; equipment and machinery or other assets; cost of renovating shop fronts and innovation to help business adapt and change after COVID.

For more information and the application form, visit www.sholland.gov.uk/recoveryandgrowth