£8 million support programme for businesses
Published on Wednesday 12th September 2012
The Council’s Economic Development Leader has called on businesses across Cannock Chase to tap into a new funding programme to help them expand and create jobs.
An £8 million business support programme aimed at helping over 200 small and medium-sized businesses across the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area, including Cannock Chase, will begin next month.
The Business Development Programme will provide match grant funding of up to £15,000 for established and eligible SME businesses who have plans to expand and create jobs. There will also be assistance in the form of coaching and mentoring for SMEs that can demonstrate growth potential.
The programme has received £3.9 million from the European Regional Development Fund and will be managed by the Birmingham City Council Business Development and Innovation Team. The European funding will be matched by Birmingham City Council, the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP local authorities and participating SME businesses.
Available until June 2015, the scheme is expected to create over 400 new jobs and safeguard over 400 more across the LEP area. In Cannock Chase, approximately 42 businesses are likely to benefit from the grants initiative, with about 40 businesses expected to receive the mentoring.
Click HERE to download a leaflet with lots more information.
Businesses must be an SME, have been trading for more than six months and have expansion plans ready to implement that will safeguard existing jobs and/or create new ones.
Cllr Gordon Alcott, Cannock Chase Council Economic Development Leader, said: "This programme will really help businesses in Cannock Chase to grow and flourish, which will in turn help the local economy, stimulating enterprise, encouraging investment and creating and safeguarding jobs. I urge businesses in Cannock Chase with aspirations of growth and expansion to get in touch and see whether the Business Development Programme is right for them."
Paul Heaven, GBSLEP Board Director with lead responsibility for business support and access to finance, said: "The Business Development Programme wll help companies right across the LEP area fulfill their expansion plans, improving performance and creating jobs. Alongside the grant funding, the mentoring aspect of the project will mean we can work with businesses to help them grow more quickly."
More articles in the news archive.
