Fund for small businesses reopens

Small businesses in Shropshire are being invited to apply for grants of between £2,000 and £10,000.

Shropshire Council said the Small Business Grant Scheme would be available for companies in its area to fund new equipment or make improvements to premises.

Nearly 80 firms applied for the last round of grants earlier this year.

Examples included a swimming pool hoist for a tourism company, a heat press for a workwear firm, agility equipment for dogs and helped towards improvements to a cafe.

The scheme, funded by the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is open to applications from 7 May and it is available to companies with up to 49 employees.

Applicants have to show how the grant will help them develop and will be expected to match-fund at least 50% of it.

Gary Spence, from the council's business growth and investment team, said: “Applications have come from a wide range of small businesses with a diverse range of requests."

The UKSPF was set up to replace EU funding under the government's levelling-up policy.