The grant fund was set up to help businesses in the Coast to Capital area mitigate the impact of COVID-19 by adapting, innovating or evolving their businesses. The remainder of the £2 million fund will be allocated shortly and the funding team are working hard to support as many businesses as possible.
- In Steyning, The Sussex Produce Company were awarded £16,207 to evolve the business to allow for deliveries and invest in a website.
- In Hove, Body Happy Ltd were awarded £21,600 to help set up remote training sessions.
- In Leatherhead, Richard Rogers Conservations were awarded £18,581 towards equipment and software which will allow products to be purchased online through a bespoke website.
Over the coming weeks, Coast to Capital will be sharing more success stories from business who have been awarded funding across West Sussex, Brighton & Hove and East Surrey.
Jonathan Sharrock, Chief Executive at Coast to Capital said:
"Our region is one of the immediately hardest hit by COVID-19 in England, and we have been engaging with Government on the importance of supporting our regional economy to restart in order to support the national recovery. As an immediate response, we created the Backing Business Grants fund to help businesses adapt and respond to the crisis. We look forward to sharing the impact of this funding in the coming weeks."
Nick Hempleman, Chief Executive at The Sussex Produce Company said:
"We are over the moon to have received the fantastic support from Coast to Capital to roll out our home delivery scheme to a wider audience. We are working around the clock to build an ecommerce website and hope to have this operational in the next 14 days. The investment required would simply not be possible without this support, so from us, our self-isolating customers and our suppliers, we'd like to say the very biggest, locally-sourced thank you!"
Jenny Day, Director at Body Happy Ltd said:
"I applied to the Backing business grant in order to develop our online programmes to be able to keep people active and healthy not just through this period of lock-down, but beyond. The online community will be there to support our current members, but also for those that are put off by the thought of going to a gym. To do this requires significant investment in equipment, and set up to ensure that we are able to take our Philosophy to a wider market"
Richard Rogers, Managing Director at Richard Rogers Conservation Ltd said:
"We were made aware of the Coast to Capital grant funding following an email and I am so pleased we applied. Our business is totally reliant on hands on practical work, carried out by our team of craftspeople and as such is impossible to carry out from home working. This grant has enabled us to buy the equipment, software and work directly on a new website to sell our products and design services online. It has given us a new sense of momentum and we are determined to battle through these difficult times and keep the business thriving. Thank you once again for the backing of Coast to Capital, who have made this all possible and for their amazing efficiency in giving the grant."
Due to high demand, businesses can still complete an eligibility checklist to be placed on a waiting list. More details can be found at coast2capital.org.uk/backing-business-grants.
Funding is dependent on satisfactory due diligence, funding available and final approval.
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