Sedgemoor District Council is helping promote the latest funding for small businesses that was announced by the Government last month and administered by the Heart of the South West Growth Hub. The funding is in the form of a Kickstart Grant – Tourism and Business Recovery.
The government has allocated £20m from the England European Regional Development Fund, allowing small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) to claim sums between £1,000 and £5,000 to aid their recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The money can be used to access new technology and other equipment as well as professional, legal, financial or other advice to help them get back on track.
It comes as the previous schemes run by the local authorities, including Sedgemoor, are being wound up and it is in addition to the recent £10m funding boost for tourism also to be managed by the Growth Hub.
The Growth Hubs are waiting for more details to be published on both and will work with the Government to have the Kickstart Grant – Tourism and Business Recovery – up and running later this month. In the meantime, tourism businesses and all SMEs are being encouraged to register if they are interested in the support.
To register they should complete the online contact form on the Heart of the South West Growth Hub website (https://www.heartofswgrowthhub.co.uk/get-in-touch/) and reference Kickstart Grant Scheme in the Enquiry Message section. The Growth Hub will be in touch when more information is available.