Small and medium size businesses in Stafford Borough are to get help to apply for funding of up to tens of thousands of pounds.

Stafford Borough Council has organised a free workshop on Tuesday (19 August) to give businesses the best chance of securing a range of grants they have on offer.

Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, Councillor Ant Reid, said they wanted their small and medium enterprises to be successful and this was another initiative to support them in accessing funds to help their business grow.

The workshop and schemes have been launched using money from the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the three grants available are High Street Boost Round 2, Stafford Borough Business Growth Grant and the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

The council has a successful track record of helping businesses with many providing testimonials of that support - which can be seen from the local authority website.

You can apply for up to £20,000 in the High Street Boost Grant; £25,000 for the Business Growth Grant; and the Rural England Prosperity Fund is up to £65,000.

The free workshop will guide people through the process and provide the tools and tips to complete a successful funding application - including eligibility criteria and the types of projects that can, and can’t, be funded.

The half-day session from 9am on Tuesday (19th) takes place at Stafford Borough Council Civic Centre on Riverside, Stafford with more information, and to book a place, from www.staffordbc.gov.uk/grant-application-workshop. There will also be the opportunity to network as part of the day.

And businesses are being urged to sign up quickly for the workshop as there has already been plenty of interest and places are limited.

Councillor Reid, continued: “We want to ensure that money made available to support our businesses gets to those that will benefit from it - helping them implement ideas and initiatives, and ultimately grow their offer.

“We often find there may be a reluctance to apply because they will be concerned about what to expect as part of the application process. That is why as part of this scheme we are inviting them to come in and find out not just what is on offer - but how to be successful with their application for funds.”

He added: “Our small and medium enterprises are the lifeblood of our economy and I don’t want anyone to miss out because they struggled to put in an application for much needed funds.

To see what local entrepreneurs have said about the support they have been given go to the business pages of the council’s website www.staffordbc.gov.uk/business-support

Press Release No 6229