Next round of 'heaven sent' business grants set to open!

Published 17/07/2020

Edit - The Second round of funding has now closed.

Round two of a grant funding scheme for High Peak businesses - described by recent recipients as 'heaven sent' and as having 'saved my business' - is set to re-open for new applications on Friday (17 July) and close on Monday 27th July.

Small businesses with ongoing fixed property costs who have experienced a significant drop in income as a result of Covid-19 can apply to High Peak Borough Council for a Discretionary Business Grant.

This fund is aimed at businesses that fell outside the scope of the previous grants for small businesses and those in retail, hospitality and leisure.

The first application round closed in June and, so far, 165 businesses ranging from B&Bs and taxis to vending machine and engineering firms, a community interest company and a physiotherapy and sports injury clinic have all received grants.

And for some the funding is the difference between staying in business or not as Penny Lavery, from Penny's Cars in the Hope Valley, told us: "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have saved my business - I'm a tiny business so the grant was heaven sent."

For other companies, it means they will be able to look at creating additional jobs. Trevor Harding, from the Dutch Maid Company in Buxton which supplies dried beverage ingredients for the food service and vending industry, said:

"From myself and all the staff I would like to pass on our thanks for the grant which will help us increase our production capacity and hopefully create extra jobs in our 2020/21 trading year. It is very much appreciated."

Eligible businesses must have fewer that 50 employees and be able to demonstrate a significant drop in income due to Coronavirus restriction measures alongside evidence of fixed property costs and their accounts.

Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: "Covid-19 has had an unprecedented impact on businesses so we're delighted to be able to open this grant funding scheme up to new applicants.

"You need only read the comments made by those people whose businesses have received grants to understand the very real difference this funding has made, and will make, to companies large and small across the High Peak.

"There's more information on our website and I would urge any business that thinks they might be eligible who hasn't previously applied to do so so we can make sure the funding is used to ensure the maximum number of businesses across the High Peak benefit from it."

The amount awarded to each successful applicant is at the discretion of the Council but, as Mark Jones, a Director at New Mills Youth and Community Project CIC, said it's not just about the amount:

"I just wanted to tell you that I am really happy with the grant - thank you to everyone behind the scenes working hard to process these applications for us.

"I appreciate this support regardless of the amount. It goes a long way to helping us through these difficult times and I am very grateful."