Grants help small businesses bounce back after pandemic
Grants totalling £0.8m have been awarded to small businesses and community projects across the county to help them bounce back after Covid-19.
The Devon Elevation Fund (DEF) awarded grants to small businesses and community projects across the county to respond to the different trading environment resulting from the pandemic, plan for future growth and initiatives, develop new products and services and improve infrastructure.
The government’s UK Community Renewal Fund, aimed at investing in new approaches to skills, community and place, financed the Devon Elevation Fund, which primarily focused on businesses in the economic sectors that were the hardest hit by COVID-19, such as tourism, hospitality, retail and food and drink.
However, the DEF scheme, also invited community organisations, business and community groups and local councils to apply.
Successful applicants came from every district in Devon, where a total of 93 projects were awarded between £2,500 and £25,000 for a range of schemes.
These ranged from boosting the skills of their workforce to creating new jobs and future proofing their enterprises.
The remit of the grants programme was to help businesses respond to the post-pandemic trading environment. The funding could be used for planning for future growth and resilience by developing new products and services or improving current systems, for example.
Nine new businesses were planned, 124 new products and services were created, and 128 Devon professionals were ‘upskilled’ through training and development.
Additionally, 19 feasibility studies were developed to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Start-ups, Social Enterprises and community organisations better understand the viability of future projects.
The project was delivered locally by Devon County Council (DCC), North Devon +, Business Information Point and The Diverse Regeneration Company CIC. DCC managed the UK Community Renewal Fund in Devon.
Hotels and hospitality businesses were hit hard during the pandemic. Jonathan Hutchings received funding to upgrade the till system at his family business: The White Hart Hotel in Torridge.
He said: “Using more technology than before has increased speed of service and resulted in an increase in profitability."
A farmer in Mid Devon says his livestock farm was no longer viable and the grant has allowed him to commission a planning consultancy to look at the feasibility of converting a farm building into tourist accommodation.
He said: “It has enabled us to take the next step forward in developing a diversified and sustainable rural business. ‘’
The Devon Elevation Fund helped businesses realise their potential to bounce back even stronger by advising and assisting them to adapt, innovate, diversify, and improve productivity.
