20 July 2009
A grant scheme launched earlier this year by Sharing the Success and Leeds City Council has extended its eligibility criteria to widen its appeal. The Business Growth Fund aims to help small businesses in disadvantaged areas of Leeds expand, and recruit staff from local firms.
Around half of the £200,000 pot has already been allocated to a range of businesses including metal finishers, bagels makers, pipeline manufacturers and a paper recycler. Businesses with less than 250 employee can apply for the grant and now firms providing business to business services could also be eligible* as well as those engaged in manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, construction and media production.
To be eligible companies must be based in one of the communities covered by Sharing the Success, and grants range from £1,000 to £10,000. The scheme also requires recruitment to be linked to the expansion plans of the company.
Specialist internet marketing company, Search Laboratory Ltd based in Chapeltown was one of the first to be awarded a grant through the scheme. Director Ian Harris said: "Being awarded this funding has really enabled us to take another step forward in our evolution as a growing search marketing company. We have been able to offer our clients a better service as the funding allowed us to set up a backup server off-site, ensuring that their digital marketing projects are 100% safe and secure. Full off-site backup for a company of our size is rare, but in our opinion an essential part of our disaster recovery programme."
For further details see the application form here or call Paul Domeney / Robert Henderson on 0800 048 0054.
*see form for postcode areas and other criteria
PLEASE NOTE THE BUSINESS GROWTH FUND GRANT IS NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS