02/07/2024
Below is a copy press release that went out yesterday to local media in Cumbria, we get a mention toward the end. We are really pleased to say that we were successful in gaining part of this funding. The grant has allowed us to install a large amount of solar panels with battery storage which provide sustainable green energy. This electricity covers your pets needs while you are away by powering hot water, heating, air purification, air conditioning, lighting, washing machines and the all important piped music in their sleeping areas!
Many thanks from us, our furry guests and their owners to Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, Westmorland & Furness Council and UK Government.
Westmorland & Furness businesses secure investment from UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) grants
SIXTY-EIGHT companies based in Westmorland and Furness are receiving a share of over £771,000 to help them to grow their business, with 19 of these already having completed their projects. The Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) received individual grants of up to £20,000, to meet up to half of the costs of their projects from a two stranded programme – Catalysing Growth and Investing in Growth. Catalysing Growth funded revenue investment to help businesses to access new markets, with Investing in Growth funding capital investments to improve productivity and innovation.
Businesses completing Catalysing Growth projects include Apple Designs Ltd, near Carnforth, which specialise in marketplace management and digital marketing. They help businesses sell or market their goods on online platforms like Zalando, Aboutyou and Amazon. Thanks to a grant of £7,500, towards their project costs of £15,117, they have been able to connect their ecommerce platforms with new European marketplaces.
Bartletts Group Limited, Dalton-in-Furness, used their Catalysing Growth grant of £7,500 to invest in a rebranding project costing £15,220. Bartletts provide a very specialised service, in a highly regulated industry, protecting equipment and machinery in marine environments from erosion and corrosion. They say a stronger branding image should help them to win more contracts.
Bartletts also benefitted from an Investing in Growth grant of £20,000 to meet 40% of the cost of buying a JCB TLT35/230 Teletruk. Purchased locally, they say it will help them to win higher-value contracts from the marine industry, whilst growing the business and increasing productivity and safety.
Another Investing in Growth grant was made to First For E Players Limited (trading as EStars) near Penrith. EStars invested their grant of £20,000 in a project with a total cost of £55,000 to develop an educational esports platform for students to use. It has attracted global attention, and is being launched in Nigeria this July, at an event hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner. Mags Byrne from the Company said: "Developing the Platform has enabled EStars to grow, create more jobs and to further our reach, globally".
Whilst, E-Bike Safaris Ltd, in Kendal, say that their Investing in Growth grant of £13,000 has matched funded the purchase of 10 new e-Bikes and navigation devices. It is helping them to expand their business across the central and southern Lakes by offering new multi-day and single day cycle tours. This is in addition to their electric bike rental services.
Other successful completed Catalysing Growth projects were
The Gas Rooms Ltd, Burton in Kendal, which used their grant of £1,641 to meet 50% of the costs of a buying a customer relationship management system, plus support, to deliver their digital marketing strategy.
Majik House near Kendal used their grant of £2,400, to meet 50% of their investment in marketing activity their Smart Home Monitoring Systems, to new customers.
Investing in Growth Grants were also successfully delivered by:
Barrow BID, which received a grant of £8,000 to help meet the total project cost of £16,000 for a mobile stage and exhibition trailer. The new event facility draws people into the town and can be hired by local organisations.
Cottages Cumbria, Coniston is a small family run holiday letting business with properties in central Lakeland. They were able to refurbish a 25 year old bathroom with their grant of £4,779, which helped to meet the total project cost of £9,558.
DAV Cumbria Ltd based in, Barrow-in-Furness, used their grant of £15,481, to meet 50% of the total cost of their investment in growing the business. They now have an additional fully equipped van and a new engineer.
George & Dragon, a 17th Century Inn near Alston, used a grant of £20,000 to meet 50% of the total cost of installing ground floor electrics and plumbing. They hope the improvements will put the pub back at the centre of village life and be a focal point for walkers and cyclists.
Hargreaves Enterprises Ltd, Bowness-on-Windermere, used their grant of £5,834 to diversify their business with a project that cost £11,668. Units with screens have been installed which offer revenue generating advertising slots.
M&T Adventures Ltd near Ulverston can now provide more climbing and abseiling sessions for children and adults using a grant of £1,562, which met 50% of the costs.
Papaya Trading, near Carnforth has invested in a new delivery vehicle at a cost of £42,130, with the help of a grant of £20,000.
Silver Forge, Milnthorpe purchased a new mid-level laser welder to help the business. They received a grant of £4,554 towards the total cost of £9,108.
The Milking Parlour, Kirkby Lonsdale have upgraded their ice cream manufacturing equipment to increase capacity and grow their business. They received a £20,000 grant towards a total project cost of £73,595.
Traybakes, Redhills near Penrith received a grant of £3,456 to meet 50% of the costs installing a pallet wrapping machine to cope with the increasing volume of orders.
Vision Support, Barrow and District received £20,000 towards total project costs of £72,716 to fit two solar power systems to their properties to decarbonise their operations.
Verstone Kennels & Cattery, near Ulverston received a grant of £8,000 which met 50% of the cost of installing solar panels.
This programme is funded through Westmorland and Furness Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund. For general information about the CLEP Catalysing Growth and Investing in Growth programmes please contact [email protected]
