Sedgemoor’s Economic Development Team has designed a range of schemes that will boost productivity, innovation, greener operations and will give local employees new and improved skills. The programme will deliver cash grants of up to £15,000 to businesses who can demonstrate that the funding will result in business improvement or higher skills.
The programme will kick off with three cash grant schemes: Business Improvement Grant, Small Business Improvement Grant and Skills for Business Grant. Details of all schemes and how to apply can be found on the Sedgemoor District Council website.
Businesses are encouraged to apply from 9:00am on Tuesday 12th October 2021 when the scheme opens. It will close after three weeks at 5:00pm on Monday 1st November 2021. All applicants will need to apply via an online form and include a business case showing how the grant will improve their business.
The Team are designing an additional programme to support businesses to grow. They will support businesses who are keen to expand.
There are also plans to open and run pop up shops in Bridgwater to attract shoppers back to our town centre through an alternative shopping experience and to improve the retail offer.
During the pandemic, the Economic Development Team have issued nearly 1,500 individual discretionary grants to the value of £5.17m, providing a lifeline to businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic and various periods of restricted trading. Now that the restrictions have been lifted and the economy is starting to recover businesses will be able to invest in their growth thanks to these schemes.
Sedgemoor businesses are resilient and adaptive. During the past 18 months we have seen them going above and beyond to meet the customers’ needs despite the ongoing pandemic. For some, cash might be tight so we want to offer them a helping hand by providing the funding for their projects. By doing that we will hopefully create new jobs, reduce our carbon footprint and improve business operations.
