Business owners are invited to apply for grants of up to £50,000 to invest in new technologies, plant equipment or machinery, helping them to create employment opportunities.

The Recovery and Resilience Grant Scheme, which reopens for Expressions of Interest at 9am on 17 June 2021, supports businesses in the South East Midlands looking for ways to recover from the economic impact of lockdown and strengthen business performance through capital funding.

The grants of between £5,000 to £50,000 are designed to build business resilience by supporting investment projects that will create a significant, positive impact on the business’ future.

Amanda O’Donoghue, Growth Hub Project Manager said, “For me, this programme makes it all worthwhile. Being able to read a business idea, seeing their passion and then being able to provide them with funding that can really help them to get there is fantastic. I’m proud to be involved in this programme that directly benefits local business owners.”

The Recovery and Resilience Grants can cover a maximum of 50% of the total cost of the proposed investment, with the business matching the funding provided.

Interested businesses will be asked to fill in an Expression of Interest form on SEMLEP’s Growth Hub website, which will be published on 17 June 2021, to determine eligibility for the grant. Following an initial response, they will then be offered a one-to-one meeting with a Business Adviser to work through their application.

The first deadline for completed applications is midnight, 28 July 2021.

Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive at SEMLEP said, “As UK businesses continue to reopen, this programme provides the perfect opportunity for businesses to develop, create more local employment opportunities and recover from the effects of Covid-19. We’re delighted to be able to support our local business community, through SEMLEP’s Getting Building Fund.”

For more information about the scheme, or to speak to a Business Adviser, visit the SEMLEP’s Growth Hub website, www.semlepgrowthhub.com/recovery-and-resilience-grants/ or call 0300 01234 35.

The Recovery and Resilience Grant Scheme is delivered by SEMLEP’s Growth Hub and part-funded by the Getting Building Fund and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).