News Release
More small and medium sized businesses in Sedgemoor are set to gain a financial boost as the Council re-opens its popular grant scheme aimed at helping local enterprises grow and prosper.
Sedgemoor District Council Corporate Relations Manager: Claire Faun
Bridgwater House Direct Dial: 01278 435320
King Square, Bridgwater Fax: 01278 445500
Somerset, TA6 3AR e-mail: pressoffice@sedgemoor.gov.uk
General Enquiries: 0300 303 7800 twitter.com/SedgemoorDC
Date: January 4, 2018
Sedgemoor Opens Second Round of Grant Scheme for Small Businesses
More small and medium sized businesses in Sedgemoor are set to gain a financial boost as the Council re-opens its popular grant scheme aimed at helping local enterprises grow and prosper.
A sum of £100,000 has been ear-marked by Sedgemoor for allocating grants of up to £5,000 per business to fund a range of activities from recruitment, staff retention and marketing to research and diversification or to pay for new facilities and equipment.
Opened on January 1, the second round of grants closes on February 9 2018 and there is more information about what the money can cover and which businesses are eligible on the Council website: https://www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/smallbusinessgrants
The scheme will prioritise funding for those small or medium sized businesses with the potential for growth and needing a little additional help to develop. Grants cannot be used to supplement a loss of income and only one application per business can be considered.
The first round of the grant scheme was launched last summer and a panel of assessors looked at applications from dozens of companies and individuals of which ten were successful including those from a builder, a taxi firm, a rugby club, a tree surgeon and an engineer.
Bridgwater based, family owned Monmouth Scientific is one of the UK’s leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of Clean Air Solutions and received a grant from Sedgemoor towards research and development.
David Pomeroy of Monmouth Scientific said: “The new system will ensure ongoing growth within our business whilst offering a more efficient bespoke product design service to our whole customer base. Thank you SDC!”
Drinkwater Tree Services of Lympsham is using its grant to pay for training and equipment that will mean it can work more efficiently, take on more contracts and employ more people, according to office manager Genevieve Drinkwater who said the team was excited about the opportunities it would bring.
Engineer Mark Smeed from Othery applied for funding to buy a motive water pump to show how his company could assist businesses using Water Jet Cutting Processes and he says that without this help he would struggle to demonstrate his approach and win new business.