I’d like to use my column this week to highlight a range of range of grants and support that is available to Copeland’s business community.

The Help to Grow scheme, funded by the Government, is a fantastic initiative that can help business owners or managers take their organisations to the next level.

It’s split into two strands:

  • Help To Grow: Management Course supports senior managers of small and medium sized businesses to boost performance, resilience and long-term growth. Run over 12 weeks in a combination of in-person and online learning, the course is accredited by the Small Business Charter and is funded 90 per cent by the Government.
  • Help To Grow: Digital offers eligible businesses discounts of up to £5,000 off approved digital accounting software. Businesses can also access free specialised advice on how to choose the right digital technologies to boost their growth and productivity.

I encourage business owners to tap into these excellent resources.

I would also like to highlight a new grant that has been launched this week for the farming sector. Under Defra’s £27m Farming Investment Fund, the Improving Farming Productivity Grant will pay up to 40 per cent of the cost of initiatives that increase productivity and protect the environment.

This can range from slurry treatment equipment, to robotic weeding and harvesting, to ventilation control systems for buildings. Applications are now open and the window for this tranche closes on March 16.

And for businesses in Copeland affected by Covid-19, Copeland Borough Council currently has two Government grants available – the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant and the Additional Restrictions Grant (for business affected by the Omicron variant) – with an application deadline of February 28.

For more information and to apply for any of the grants, please visit www.trudyharrison.co.uk/grants-and-funding.