Twenty businesses benefit from funding | Latest news

 

Arun District Council is supporting Bognor Regis-based businesses through offering advice, apprenticeship grants and business grants.

The Council received £136,000 to be spent on supporting local small businesses in Bognor Regis through a Section 106 Agreement with Sainsbury’s.

Arun is supporting local businesses by offering advice and support, grants and funding to employ apprentices through the Local Enterprise and Apprenticeship Programme (LEAP).  

Twenty businesses received grants to develop their business or take on a local apprentice. Many others have benefitted from the advice, funded by Arun District Council’s LEAP project and available through the University of Chichester.

Councillor Mrs Gillian Brown, Leader of Arun District Council and Cabinet Member for Council Strategy, said: “These grants will provide vital help for local Bognor Regis businesses and will give young people a tremendous opportunity to develop their skills as apprentices so they too can start on a good career path.

“Another benefit of this Councils funding initiative is that it will help small businesses grow which can only be a good thing for the local economy here in Arun.”

So far a total of twenty grants have been approved by Arun’s Cabinet on Monday, March 21 made up of 13 business grants and seven apprenticeship grants.

The grants awarded have been used to contribute towards funding training costs, employment, equipment and designing websites. 

The Arun Business Partnership Steering Group made up from independent businesses meet to consider the applications and make their recommendations to the Council.

Bognor Regis-based Crown Properties were among the businesses to benefit from a grant.

Hannah Halls, Co-Founder and Senior Valuer at Crown Properties, said: “The grant has helped us to advertise and market the company and this has allowed us to get valuations and sales in Chichester, which wouldn’t have been possible without this money.” 

Regis Removals were one of the businesses to apply for an apprenticeship grant which they have used to employ Courteney Walters as their Financial and Administrative Assistant.

David Wride, Managing Director at Regis Removals, said: “Courteney is a really valuable team member. The idea behind the apprenticeship for us was to attract a young person to the business and train them up to management and directorship level.

“She has undertaken a number of important roles already since joining us four months ago and has a rosy future with the company.

“I would recommend the Arun District Council apprenticeship grants and have spoken to another business to encourage them to apply for funding.”

For information about LEAP please contact Miriam Nicholls, Business Development Manager at Arun District Council, on 01903 737845 or Miriam.Nicholls@arun.gov.uk.