Member Article

Development fund launched for firms across Merseyside

Merseyside businesses looking to expand and create long term jobs for local people could benefit from grants of up to £75,000 following the launch of the Merseyside Jobs and Growth Fund.

The £6million fund, managed by St Helens Chamber, is a grant programme backed by the Regional Growth Fund. The launch of this fund follows on from the success of the St Helens Jobs and Growth Fund which closed at the end of March this year, having awarded £1.5million to businesses in St Helens.

Programme Manager Geoff Bates said: “The Merseyside Jobs and Growth Fund is aimed at helping businesses by part funding capital expenditure projects where the owners are unable to finance their plans entirely through conventional sources.”

The Fund will provide grants of up to £75,000 to a maximum of 20% of the total project cost for investments towards capital expenditure projects. Typical projects include purchasing equipment and machinery or adapting or acquiring premises to facilitate expansion plans.

One business who has already received a grant from the St Helens Regional Growth Fund is Palletland Ltd.

The company was awarded a grant of £60,000 towards a £304,000 investment to bring a large derelict building back into commercial use, enabling the business to increase production and create eight new jobs.

Ian Slater, Managing Director of Palletland Ltd, said: “We have received an enormous amount of help and support from St Helens Chamber, culminating in the award of a sizeable grant that enabled us to relocate to the new factory and take on new staff to meet demand.”

Geoff Bates added: “We have a proven track record of helping businesses through the application process and are looking to capitalise on this by unlocking the potential of as many businesses across Merseyside as possible.”

Advice and support on applying for a grant from the Merseyside Jobs and Growth Fund is available from Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton, St Helens and Wirral Chambers of Commerce.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .