Grants package planned to boost Rotherham's economy

Rotherham Council is set to spend almost £3m on a range of schemes, including business start-up support, Shop Unit Grants, and more skills and employment training, are being proposed as part of the new Local Growth Fund allocation.

Rotherham Council’s Cabinet are expected to agree the schemes and how the funding on Monday March 16.

More than £650,000 will be available for the council’s Shop Unit Grants scheme, along with almost £950,000 for start-up, productivity and Low Carbon support to local businesses across the borough.

That includes the highly successful Launchpad start-up support scheme which has helped local entrepreneurs get started.

One local business owner who accessed Launchpad support said: “I went to a local networking meeting. The lady on reception told me about Launchpad and the courses they offer.

"As a new startup, I signed up straight away and tried to attend as many courses as possible. I’ve attended about five or six courses so far – all different and really helpful.”

As the Rotherham town centre market redevelopment continues, the council is also proposing funding of £60,000 to support market traders and promote the new market.

More than £440,000 is being proposed to continue three skills and training schemes, supporting a wide range of young and working aged people to get into work or pursue their career aspirations.

Those schemes have helped almost 200 residents gain new skills and a further seven find permanent work in the last year.

A further £300,000 will be allocated for young people’s skills development, including an alumni programme for Children’s Capital of Culture trainees.

There is also a focus of continuing to support our communities with just under £425,000 being proposed for a wide-ranging programme of civic and cultural events and festivals which aim to bring more footfall into the town centre and the rest of the borough. This will include the Council’s St George’s Day community event in Clifton Park this April.

Rotherham Council’s Leader, Cllr Chris Read, said: “This funding is great news for businesses in Rotherham. We want our local economy to thrive which is why we’re proposing using funding from our allocation of the Local Growth Fund to do just that.

“Previous programmes and schemes funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund have had a huge impact on those who have access that support, from the Ambition, Advance and Core Skills programmes which have helped almost 200 residents get the skills they need to find work, to a wide range of business support which has helped 280 local businesses get started or improve their productivity.

"We hope that more residents will take advantage of these schemes and opportunities so that we can create an economy that works for, and includes, everyone.”

The Local Growth Fund is part of a £5 billion initiative from the UK Government which aims to empower communities to drive economic growth, regeneration, and infrastructure development in their local area.