£2m funding pot helps raft of schemes to boost business
AROUND £2m of funding has been given out to projects to help boost businesses, create jobs and improve the career prospects of residents in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales following bids by Derbyshire County Council for Government cash.
Among the handouts, £500,000 of funding from the Government’s UK Community Renewal Fund has been awarded to the Better Futures project, a pilot scheme which will help unemployed people in the Derbyshire Dales to improve their skills and find work locally.
The project will also help to improve the skills of residents who have recently found work, are at risk of unemployment, in part-time roles but wish to go full-time or are highly skilled but in low paid, low-skilled jobs.
The Derbyshire Accelerator project has received £1.48m of funding, which will help finance initiatives in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales.
The projects include:
● De-carbonise – extra funding for this existing project to help more businesses to reduce their carbon emissions with grants of up to £8,000 to help businesses put carbon reduction recommendations in place. ● Digital Market Town Accelerator – a project to help small to medium sized businesses to start trading online, with a Digital Adviser offering hands-on support and access to financial support, digital events and peer networks offering help and advice. Grants of up to £8,000 will be available to help businesses adopt new technology or business processes.
● D2 Starter programme – extra funding for this existing project, a mentoring and support network for new businesses with grants of up to £2,000 available to help them get started. Grants of up to £8,000 will be available to help businesses adopt new technology or business processes. ● Kick-start Accelerator – supports the Government’s existing Kickstart programme for apprentices by providing online training support as well as financial support to turn job placements into a permanent role or recruit graduates looking for work. Grants of up to £8,000 will be available to help businesses subsidise wages for a new Kickstart role or graduate.
● Upskilling the workforce – grants of up to £8,000 will be available to help businesses to provide specialist training to boost staff skills.
● Covid support – funding of up to £2,000 for businesses in need of consultancy advice to address resilience or growth challenges in the wake of the pandemic.
Funding for feasibility studies to look at the design and use of apps to support the development of leisure tourism across the Peak District Councillor Tony King, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for Clean Growth and Regeneration, said: “We welcome this funding which will help us to support local businesses, create jobs and provide residents with the skills needed to either find work or improve their career prospects.
“We’re committed to helping to reduce carbon emissions generated within the county to net zero by 2050 or sooner and so we also welcome the opportunity to reignite our successful De-carbonise programme to help local businesses on their Journey to Net Zero by supporting them to cut their carbon emissions. “Government identified the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales areas as priorities for funding, but we’re determined to continue pushing Westminster for further funding to ensure similar support can be offered in other areas where there is a need.”
Government identified the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales areas as priorities for funding. Cllr Tony King