Grant scheme launched for town centre firms

Tamworth Borough Council is inviting Tamworth town centre businesses to apply for a new grant to help improve, attract, and reach new customers.

The aim of the grant is to support town centre businesses in the current economic climate by establishing or improving their physical or digital presence, gain new customers, increase turnover and increase opportunities for survival, through effective brand image and an improved service or product.

The council has allocated a total of £25,000 per annum in funding for the next three years. Grants between £2,500 to £10,000 are available.

To apply for the funding, businesses must meet certain criteria including:

• Trading as a business for more than six months, with a premises based in the town centre
• Have fewer than 250 employees
• Registered with HMRC or as a registered company

Any town centre business can apply, however if the scheme proves very popular, priority will be given to businesses operating in the Hospitality, Food and Drink, Leisure and Heritage sectors.

More details regarding the grant criteria can be found on the council website.

All applications received will be evaluated to ensure they meet the council priorities of this scheme. Businesses interested should register to become a member of the Tamworth Town Centre Business Hub, the council 's free online platform. Details can be found here.

Grants can be used for the following examples:

Digital support -

• Product or service design and development
• Consultancy costs to improve a website, social media and online marketing services
• Graphic design for digital and online use
• Content writing and data entry services
• Social media management services (not staff costs or salaries)
• Search engine optimisation services

Premises support -

• New shop fronts
• Repair of all or any part of a shop front fixture that is visible from the street, including the first and second floors of premises where they are used for commercial activities
• Signage
• External lighting
• Internal security grilles and security glazing
• Window lighting and display equipment
• Professional fees associated with the development and delivery of the project, including planning application fees, consultancy fees and advisory services

The closing date for all applications is 13 February, 2023, with final decisions made by the Nominations and Grants Committee on 15 March.

Stephen Doyle, Tamworth Borough Council Portfolio Member for Skills, Planning, Economy and Waste, said: “We are delighted to announce the launch of this new grant scheme to support our town centre businesses during these very challenging times.

“We know many businesses, shops and restaurants are working under very different conditions with the cost-of-living crisis and inflation. Therefore, we really want to reach out and offer additional support where possible.

“Although these grants will not be the answer to all the ongoing economic challenges, we do believe that these funds can go a long way in helping businesses upgrade their offering to customers and cover increased costs of items such as repairs, lighting and digital support. ”

Any business that would like an informal discussion to determine their eligibility of a proposal before submitting an expression of interest, is encouraged to get in touch with the Economic Development Team on email: [email protected].

Tamworth Borough Council also offers various support for local businesses, including start-up grants, growth advice and training opportunities. These are all outlined here.