Success for business growth programme
Argyll and Bute Council is encouraging business owners to take advantage of its successful Business Gateway Local Growth Accelerator Programme, which is due to run until the end of 2021.
The programme – worth a total of £855,239 – is funded by the council and the European Regional Development Fund under the 20142020 Structural Funds Programmes.
The programme gives growing local businesses the chance to access specialist advice and grant funding to help them expand.
Councillor Alastair Redman, Argyll and Bute Council policy lead for economic growth, said: ‘Support worth nearly £350,000 has been provided so far, helping 72 businesses across Argyll and Bute to deliver their growth plans.
‘We can already see that these supported businesses have grown their combined turnover by £3.1 million and taken on another 54 employees.
‘With more than £500,000 still available from the programme, we can assist the growth of many more businesses. Supporting businesses is a key part of our economic strategy and our drive to attract more people to live and work in Argyll and Bute.’
The growth grant funding can cover 50 per cent of costs up to £5,000 for projects linked to business growth. An employer/graduate placement grant can provide 50 per cent of basic salary costs up to £12,000 where a wholly additional full-time permanent employee or a graduate placement of six to 12 months is required to support business growth.
In addition, businesses in key growth sectors – tourism, food and drink, forestry, the creative industries, energy, life sciences, financial services or defence – can also access grants of up to £1,500 to support training, accreditation or attendance at trade fairs.
The specialist help on offer from subject experts includes up to two days of free advice on human resources, eCommerce, marketing, growth strategy, funding and tendering.
Anyone wanting to find out more or to check their eligibility should visit www.argyll-bute. gov.uk/bglgap or talk to a Business Gateway adviser on 01546 808363.