Small Business Grants

This post is not specifically Chester related only, but of course it can be of interest to small local businesses. And it is a subject very close to my own working experience from a previous working lifetime. As we all know, so many businesses are up against it in so many respects nowadays. This new Government announcement is another helpful step along the road to recovery. Yesterday the Government announced that they were making £20m available in the way of small business grants.

Every bit of assistance helps. So, for any local businesses looking for a bit of a leg up, carry on reading.

Small Business Grants

In short, the Government has made £20 million new funding available to help smaller businesses recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Small Business Grants – A Bit Of Background

Small and medium sized businesses will have access to grants of between £1,000 – £5,000. These grants are to help them access new technology and other equipment as well as professional, legal, financial or other advice to help them get back on track.

This £20m comes on top of a Government support package to help businesses to recover. This support package includes the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme which will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country. As well as £1.6 billion invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships to help people looking for a job.

But let’s concentrate on the small business grants as per yesterday’s announcement.

The support will be fully funded by the government from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and distributed through Growth Hubs. These Growth Hubs can be found in local areas across England. More on this below.

Small Business Grants – Further Information

• The support will be fully funded by the Government with no obligation for businesses to contribute financially.
• The funding being provided to businesses is supported by the England ERDF as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for the ERDF in England. For more information visit (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/england-2014-to-2020-european-structural-and-investment-funds)
• The funding has been allocated to Growth Hubs within each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area in line with the current ERDF Programme.
• To establish a viable grant programme, the Government have set a minimum of £250,000 for all LEP areas. The allocation of resources will be reviewed as the grant fund is delivered.
• Growth Hubs work across the country with local and national, public and private sector partners. Partners like Chambers of Commerce, Financial Stability Board (FSB), Universities, Enterprise Zones and Banks. Part of their task is to co-ordinate local business support and connecting businesses to the right help for their needs. They are locally driven, locally owned and at the heart of the Government’s plan to ensure business support is simpler, more joined up and easier to access.
• Activities supported through the £20 million can include:
• One-to-many events providing guidance to respond to coronavirus.
• Grants (£1,000 – £5,000) to help businesses access specialist professional advice such as HR, accountants, legal, financial, IT and digital, and to purchase minor equipment to adapt or adopt new technology in order to continue to deliver business activity or diversify.

Small Business Grants – Growth Hubs

First of all, click the link below for details of all Growth Hubs available. I know this is a Chester website but there may be visitors from elsewhere having a read.

View Growth Hub funding: allocations for each LEP area

When looking at the list of Growth Hubs, you need to look for Cheshire and Warrington. As you will see, an amount of £391,240 has been allocated to Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub.

Another specification to be aware of is that activities supported through the £20 million of funding must be in direct response to the impact of COVID-19.

Also, take a note of these dates. All grants must be awarded by 28th February 2021. And all relevant activity has to be completed by 31st March 2021.

Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub

I did mention above that I did have some experience in this particular field from a previous working life.

As it happens I was part of the management team for one of the partners who set up the original Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub. I worked for a firm of management consultants in Liverpool who specialised in small business support and help with business start ups and such like.

Ironically, part of my work in the original setting up of procedures was that I wrote the document for grant awards. All the information flows and control aspects etc. There was maybe 5 or 6 of us on the team so we all got a good working knowledge of the whole set up as well as our own particular segment.

The firm are no longer one of the partners anymore, so for all I know, the whole procedures may have changed. However, what I do know, anything ERDF related is thoroughly screened, vetted and administered. So if you are thinking of applying, it will be time well spent to ensure that all boxes are well and truly ticked.

I’ve worked on both sides of the fence as an auditor in regard to ERDF grant funding over the years and it is an area of support that needs to be so very closely adhered to.

Anyway, I digress. If you want to find out more and apply then you’ll be wanting contact details.

Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub Contact Details

Website: – https://candwgrowthhub.co.uk/

Email: support@candwgrowthhub.co.uk

Telephone Number: 03300 – 245007

Digital Support

If any small businesses out there are looking at investing in any digital services, then have a look at this “Bold and Elite” website HERE. Contact email – admin@boldandelite.com

Just to summarise, the end of February next year may seem like a long way off, but it isn’t. Also, bear in mind the funding limit of £391,240. Therefore it may be advisable to strike while the iron’s hot. Obviously you need to have a project or a specific requirement in mind. If you have, then this scheme may well be just the thing you need to get back on track.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Thanks for visiting my Chester Lifestyle website and for reading my “Small Business Grants” article. I hope you found it useful. To see all of my other blog posts on a variety of topics, you will need to click this link HERE.

If you are going to apply for support, I wish you the very best. I hope you get what you want and your business reaps the rewards.

As always folks, stay safe one and all.

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