Birmingham City Council has secured further Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding from government to continue to support businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A series of grants have been made available by the district and borough councils in Staffordshire to help and support businesses in the region.

The Investment Readiness Programme (IRP) supports the growth of existing small and medium sized enterprises (businesses) in the Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire LEP area.

The Warwickshire Recovery and Investment Fund (WRIF) has been developed with the aim of distributing £140m over the next five years, offering loans and other financial investments to existing and new businesses.

The fund is part of the UK government’s strategic plan to grow its exports by providing additional financial support to SMEs to help them intensify their international trade and stabilise their business operations.

Manufacturing businesses are being offered support and funding to grow and become more competitive through a sector-specific programme.

The government has launched a £520m Help to Grow scheme, providing a boost to small businesses as the country attempts to recover from the impact of Covid-19.

View a comprehensive list of the current grants and support available for businesses in North Worcestershire.

You no longer need a minimum of 30 job placements to apply directly for a grant. You can use the Kickstart Scheme to create new job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The grant is designed to help businesses to improve their commercial premises by providing financial support towards the cost of building improvement works. The primary purpose of the scheme is to increase and/or improve business accommodation and to help create new employment opportunities. Funding is targeted at eligible Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) located in GBSLEP area and delivering activities within the B1 and B2 planning categories (manufacturing and processing, office uses, business-to-business activities).

Business Growth Programme 2 offers grants of £2,500 to £1,000,000 and is designed to strengthen supply chains, stimulate innovation and help businesses grow. The programme is available to:

• Start-Up B2B Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) moving into or located in The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership area only
• Existing B2B SMEs moving into or located in The Greater Birmingham & Solihull and The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership areas