Karen will talk about two grant programmes which are now available
Here's a brief summary for you:
Cheshire and Warrington Access to Finance Grant Programme – A 33% grant towards a consultancy project value minimum £6k up to £45k with grants from £2k to £15k. Funding ends December 2022 so ideally projects need to start within 6 months.
https://blueorchid.co.uk/a2fgrant/
Springboard Cheshire – A project supporting anyone who has recently become unemployed. Can be any age over 16 and may have no work experience or may be experienced. We are looking for companies to offer a 13 week placement to individuals and at the end of the 13 weeks the company will receive a £750 grant. Ideally the 13 week placement will lead to a permanent position. Must pay minimum wage.
https://blueorchid.co.uk/springboard-cheshire/
Below are the details of both our grant programmes supporting Cheshire and Warrington businesses.
Cheshire and Warrington Access to Finance Grant Programme
https://blueorchid.co.uk/a2fgrant/
Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Cheshire West & Chester Council & Warrington & Co, the C&W Access to Finance & Grant Programme will provide information, advice & signposting to those SMEs looking to raise significant investment in their business to support their growth plans. Alongside this advice service the project can provide SMEs with access to grants of between £2,000 – £15,000 towards consultancy projects which will help to unlock their potential and grow their business.
Please Note – The typical project value should be over £6k up to a maximum of £45k, projects outside this range can be accommodated in some circumstances.
Small or Medium sized enterprise (SMEs) headquartered or with premises & employees within Cheshire & Warrington, with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than £45.1m or balance sheet of less than £38.8m.
If you are based in one of the following sectors, you will not be eligible for this particular grant:
- Finance or Legal
- Agriculture
- Horticulture
- Forestry or Fishing
- Primary production e.g. Mining.
- Retail if you are not reliant on tourism
- Hospitality if you are not reliant on tourism
Developing an Investment case to secure Financing Marketing & Sales Strategies Leadership & Management Development ERP/CRM system Design & Integration
Branding & Design Product Development Business Process Change Software Integration Consultancy
Opportunities for suppliers to tender to deliver services to successful SME grant applicants are also advertised through the Blue Orchid website
This project is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund
Springboard Cheshire
https://blueorchid.co.uk/springboard-cheshire/ .
Springboard Cheshire Launched on 1st October 2021. The project is looking to support individuals who have recently become unemployed and can be any age over 16. Individuals may have no work experience however equally they may be very experienced.
Blue Orchid’s role within Springboard Cheshire, is to help facilitate job placements. All placements need to be at least 13 weeks long, pay at least national minimum wage and ideally lead to a permanent role. At the end of the placement there will be a £750 grant paid to the business.
What we need from you:
• A Job Description, including hours of work, payrate and closing date for the job vacancy
• A person specification – (Not essential)
• A list of specific questions to potential candidates, such as: Do you hold a full driving license?
• A copy of your employer liability insurance
• A copy of your equal opportunities policy
• A copy of your health & safety policy
Once an application form is completed, we can send a link to our job placement portal for the organisation to upload the required information. Once this is approved, the vacancy will become live to all of the candidates who are signed up to the Springboard Cheshire programme. Support is provided to complete the shortlisting.
Zoom link sent to members prior to the event