Heather Kidd Say Our Young People Are Being Let Down By The System

Heather Kidd reminded small businesses that they only have one more week to apply for a grant from the
Shropshire Business Enterprise Fund which has been set up by Shropshire Council to provide grants for local businesses who may be facing difficulties in obtaining finance from banks and other lending institutions. It is also designed to help reduce the number of empty shops.
Heather said “There are three types of grant schemes:
1. Retail Business Grant
This scheme aims to encourage the uptake of small retail premises in Shropshire which have been vacant for a minimum of 6 months. The grant will make payments against the first 6 months of the Business Rate demands following occupancy. The maximum grant available is £1,000. The scheme requires the business to contribute an amount of funding equal to the size of the grant. The premises rateable value must be less than £10,000, check rateable values by following the link to the Valuation Office Agency below.
2. Business Start-Up Grant
This scheme aims to support business start-ups in Shropshire. It is open to anyone not in employment who wants to start their own business, or in the process of setting up a business and are not yet trading. Capital grants from £500 to £1,500 are available. The scheme requires businesses to contribute a level of their own resources into the start-up.
3. Business Booster Grant
This scheme aims to promote business growth, sustainability and development of small Shropshire businesses that have traded for less than 36 months. Capital grants from £1,000 to £5,000 are available. The scheme requires the business to contribute an amount of funding equal to the size of grant. This fund is open to small to medium sized businesses (enterprises).
The deadline for applications to be received is 1 December so businesses only have one more week to get their application in.”