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Local businesses receive £50,000 ‘helping hand’

28/1/15

Local businesses are being given a helping hand – thanks to a £50,000 funding pot.

Rochford District Council has been distributing grants to businesses to support them to grow, while creating and safeguarding jobs across the District.  The scheme has been overseen by the Council’s Economic Development Team, who obtained the funding from the ‘Business Southend’ growth hub.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Councillor Mike Steptoe, said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to source £50,000 worth of funding to give local businesses a helping hand.  Many of these businesses are family-run, and a cash injection of several thousand pounds is really going to help them with key projects which might not otherwise get off the ground. The money will be spent on some really practical initiatives such as expanding workshops and office areas, and building an optimised website. These schemes will not only deliver growth, but will also safeguard and create jobs within the District.”

The following businesses have been awarded grants:

 Eva (UK) Ltd, a family run business, are using the grant of £10,000 to expand their business by repairing and refurbishing the showroom, allowing for triple the amount of products to be displayed.   By doing this 29 full and part time jobs have been safeguarded and up to six new jobs will be created. 

 JKS Group Limited (JKS) is a haulage company that also specialises in earthworks, aggregate and recycling.  They are looking to expand their workshop facility using their grant of £10,000 so that they can maintain their existing fleet of lorries to a far higher standard, and will increase their fleet by another 10 vehicles creating 12 new jobs. 

 PEMXQ Ltd is a limited company that provides energy, sustainability and utilities consultancy and will refurbish and expand into the office area next door using their grant of £2,329.  The additional space and work area will allow for planned expansion creating 4 additional jobs and safeguard 10 jobs. 

 The Day Nursery is an Ofsted registered nursery and pre-school for children aged from 12 weeks to 5 years old.   Their £4277 grant will enable them to have a better equipped ‘fit for purpose’ site.  It will also safeguard 20 existing jobs, whilst creating four new posts. 

 The Marlborough Head pub is a family-run business that was established in 1995, but the current owner/licensee has been in position since 2014.  A grant of £5,208 will enable a complete upgrade to all working areas and new kitchen equipment to enable them to provide a wider range of food and to comply with health and safety regulations safeguarding four posts, and creating two posts.

 Practical HR, a HR Consultancy service based in Great Wakering, received £6,690 enabling an office refit and the creation of two new posts

 The Megacentre is a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Rayleigh and received £10,000 for new air conditioning units enabling 20 jobs to be safeguarded and one job to be created.

James Argentieri, director of Eva (UK) Ltd, said: "We are delighted that our vision for growing the family business here at Lower Barn Farm, Rayleigh, has been supported by Rochford and Southend councils.  The Growth hub fund £10,000 grant represents around 30 per cent of the money we are currently investing into the following two projects: expanding our car park by a further 75 spaces coupled with renovating the landscaping and building department to display more products and meet the demands of our growing customer base.  This expansion will lead to us to create further jobs for the area. We are working hard to create a destination place which the district of Rochford will be proud of and will serve local people, but also attract people from outside the area to visit."

The funding is being provided via ‘Business Southend’, which was established earlier this year after Southend-on-Sea Borough Council secured £1.8million to deliver a growth hub. The funding was secured from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund through Lancaster University, who are leading the creation of 15 new growth hubs across the UK.  The Business Southend programme will deliver business support, grants, innovation workshops and specialist expertise, and a range of events aimed at supporting new, growing, and established businesses. 

Additional support

If you are a local business, the economic development team offers a wide range of support and guidance and is a direct resource for the business community.  We can offer you support and advice, and we recognise that every business is different and has different needs so whatever your need we can help to point you in the right direction.

So contact us if you:

 are starting up or growing a business;

 are taking on staff and dealing with employment issues;

 would like to maximise local business opportunities;

 would like to find out about accessing funding and grants;

 are looking for or promoting local commercial premises;

 are interested in receiving free business training;

 would like to attend our informative Business Breakfasts and Business Summit events;

 would like to become a member of our business network.

Send details of your enquiry and your contact details to business@rochford.gov.uk, call 01702 546366, or find out more information about how we work with businesses by visiting www.rochford.gov.uk/business

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Original article:

£50,000 funding pot to help local businesses

(11th Sept 2014)

A £50,000 funding pot is being made available to help local businesses to expand and provide jobs. Rochford District Council has obtained the funding from the ‘Business Southend’ growth hub in order to support local companies to grow, while creating and safeguarding jobs across the District.

Businesses can apply for funding to cover 30% of any project they are planning, which can range from helping to fund a new employee, or to update a website.

The grant applications must be agreed by a Grants Panel and are not project or sector specific.

Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Councillor Mike Steptoe, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local businesses that have aspirations to grow and are in need of some funding to get things off the ground. Whether you’re looking to start a new project, help fund a new employee, update a website, or even launch a business, this funding could make all the difference. It is also brilliant news for the local workforce as this funding will be focused on creating and safeguarding jobs. “

If you would like to apply for funding you simply need to get in touch with the Economic Development Team at Rochford District Council.

Funding for projects will only be available from September 9, 2014 to February 28, 2015.

The scheme will also enable businesses to access a range of support including tailored business advice, mentoring and one-to-one specialist support. On top of this, there will be a range of workshops designed to inform and help businesses across the area, delivered by Essex Chambers of Commerce. Innovation vouchers worth £5,000 will be available to for businesses who want to access expertise and specialist advice through Anglia Ruskin and Essex Universities.

This funding is being provided via ‘Business Southend’, which was established earlier this year after Southend-on-Sea Borough Council secured £1.8million to deliver a growth hub. The funding was secured from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund through Lancaster University, who are leading the creation of 15 new growth hubs across the UK.

The Business Southend programme will deliver business support, grants, innovation workshops and specialist expertise, and a range of events aimed at supporting new, growing, and established businesses. This has now been made accessible to all businesses across Thames Gateway South Essex.

Councillor Steptoe added: “This is just part of a whole raft of measures our Economic Development Team has put in place to support local businesses who want to explore new possibilities. The team not only pursues funding opportunities, but is on hand with practical advice and support. The team also offers regular Business Breakfasts as an opportunity to network and hear the latest advice from experts.”

To find out more call the Economic Development Team on 01702 546366 or email business@rochford.gov.uk

Businesses can also register on the dedicated website www.businesssouthend.co.uk

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