Black Country SMEs set to benefit from new £4.2m fund

SMEs across Staffordshire and the Black Country are set to benefit from a new £4.2m growth fund.

The new Green Shoots Plus scheme is funded by the Regional Growth Fund and is being run through the University of Wolverhampton.

It aims to support SMEs, encouraging them to grow and create new jobs.

Grants of between £10,000 and £150,000 will be available for businesses to bid for from the Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Herefordshire, Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, South Staffordshire and Stafford local authority areas.

Businesses from certain key sectors will be able to bid for funding with support targeted at businesses from sectors identified by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership as having the most potential for growth and maximising impact for the local economy.

These include advanced manufacturing, building technologies, transport technologies including aerospace, environmental technologies and Business to Business Services.

The scheme follows on from the successful Green Shoots scheme which paid out grants of £1.2m to support SMEs in the Black Country.

University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Oakes said: “This is a huge boost to businesses in the region and provides them with an opportunity not only to create and safeguard jobs but also to grow and become more competitive.

“The first Green Shoots fund demonstrated at first hand the positive difference such schemes can make to businesses and that is why I’m delighted it has been extended to cover a wider geographical reach covering the areas the university works within and has strong partnerships.

“It will also provide a greater level of grant funding meaning it will create even more jobs and allow businesses to innovate and have greater sustainability.

“SMEs are very much the engine room of the UK economy and it is vital that they can continue to develop and be successful.”
 
Businesses will be able to bid for a maximum of 30% of total project costs from the fund.

They will have to demonstrate a sound business case, job creation plan, a return on investment, they are SMEs which operate within the boundaries of defined geographical area and have been turned down for finance in the past.

Further information is available by visiting www.wolverhamptonbsc.com/greenshoots or calling 01902 321272 or email mailto:enquiries@bcgrowthhub.com