Derbyshire Dales businesses looking for financial support to develop or grow are being invited to take advantage of a Rural Innovation Grants scheme.
The objectives of the business grant scheme are to improve business productivity and resilience, encourage carbon reduction and enable the creation of skilled roles.
Launched by Derbyshire Dales District Council, the initiative offers grants of up to 80% of eligible costs. Three levels of grant funding are available for projects costing between £2,500 and £150,000.
One local business that has successfully applied for a grant is CEM Solutions UK Ltd, who occupy premises at Molyneux Business Park in Darley Dale. They service and calibrate instrumentation which monitors emissions to air from a combustion or incineration process. The company has customers based mainly on industrial sites throughout the UK – from Speyside down to Plymouth.
The £17k grant has enabled the company to buy a new piece of equipment to enhance their testing service. A new engineer will be recruited to add to the existing team, helping to increase the skilled workforce in the Derbyshire Dales.
Jo Lloyd, Director of Business Development at CEM Solutions, said: “We were thrilled to receive a grant to enable us to purchase a 3 Gas Blender. This has increased our service capabilities for emissions monitoring on industrial applications throughout the UK.”
Other businesses that have recently submitted successful applications include John Hattersley Wines (Bakewell), TDP Ltd (Wirksworth), Fit Missions Ltd (Bakewell) and Alphaweld Ltd (Calver).
Derbyshire Dales District Council Leader Councillor Steve Flitter said: “I am delighted to be able to offer these grants to help businesses grow and prosper here in the Derbyshire Dales.”
The grant schemes are funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).