A new grant and support scheme designed to help newly trading Luton businesses is being launched with Luton Council’s allocation of Additional Restrictions Grant funding.
Under the Start-up Businesses Support programme Luton Council is offering grants of up to £2000 alongside training and specialist one-to-one support to local small and medium-sized enterprises and start-up businesses. The scheme, running until the end of January 2022, is designed to help local businesses overcome the effects of multiple lockdowns and restrictions and into growth.
The council is working in partnership with business support specialists, Smarter Society, which has previously worked with organisations including John Lewis Partnership and the NHS to provide the new mentoring programme.
Nicola Monk, Corporate Director Inclusive Economy at Luton Council, said:
“Luton has a vibrant and diverse business community, but like the rest of the country our local economy has been hit by the pandemic. Securing strong economic recovery is essential and is a central pillar of the Luton 2020 –2040 Vision to ensure that everyone in Luton has the opportunity to thrive. As part of our response and our longer term plan to deliver an Inclusive Economy, we are using a proportion of our Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) funding to deliver a range of business support activities with a variety of partners which best supports the businesses in our town. The Start-up Businesses Support programme has been designed to support those which have been through a challenging time recently and receiving an expert, external perspective through a mentorship programme will give businesses innovative, specialist and practical support at this crucial time.”
Start-up Businesses Support will be open to every trading business within Luton, offering grants of up to £2000, training and one-to-one mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs tailored to the needs of each business. The programme will initially have 120 places which are expected to be taken quickly, so businesses should register immediately.
Geoff Baxter, from Smarter Society, said:
“We know that grants and one-to-one mentoring are the most requested business support service from local authorities – and can also be the most useful, so we’re glad to support the programme with experienced mentors that have run their own businesses and can provide practical guidance and help, all totally free of charge.”
