Hebden Bridge News

Council Funding To Support Local Business

More money is to be made available to help set up new businesses and social enterprises. Calderdale Council’s Cabinet have agreed to a recommendation from the Council’s Economic Task Force to make available a £180,000 package of funding from its Economic Fighting Fund.

The money will be allocated into three areas of activity:

• Social Enterprises: £40,000
• Business start-up support: £80,000
• Supply chain support: £60,000

Calderdale Council’s Leader, Cllr Janet Battye, says the Council wants to demonstrate positive support for new business and social enterprises.

“Calderdale is already home to many thriving social enterprises and the number is likely to increase in the future.

“The Council faces significant budget challenges and must look at new and imaginative ways of delivering services. One of those ways could be though social enterprises and it is right that we provide the sort of support so that thy can flourish.”

The money allocated for social enterprise will fund specialist help, information and seminars for people wanting to set up businesses and organisations.

Cllr Battye says that one of the other areas where it is important to support local businesses and social enterprises is in supply chain support – encouraging them to compete for Council contracts.

“The £60,000 allocation will help encourage local businesses and social enterprises to form consortia to bid for Council tenders by giving them the skills and information they need.”

The £80,000 allocated for business start-ups builds on a previous successful scheme, started in June 2009, which has seen the awarding of 105 business start-up grants of £500 apiece, resulting in the creation of 148 jobs.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member, Economy and Environment, Cllr Barry Collins, says the money will be targeted to support 100 businesses to start up, including social enterprises.

“The Business Start-up scheme has been extremely successful. Of the 105 businesses which have already received business start-up grants, 97% have been successful.

“Businesses appreciate not only the financial help that they receive from the Council, but also the practical help, such as preparing business plans.

“This additional money should help provide the support and advice which entrepreneurs need to get their businesses off the ground.”