We are delighted to have attracted funding from the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP) aimed at supporting business growth. The £50k grant is a welcome contribution towards the £370k cost of our project to refurbish Kingsbury Hall, the former Quaker Spiritualist building in Melksham, and turn it into serviced offices.
SWELP had previously secured £1m from the government’s Regional Growth Fund programme in late, and was making grants from £5k to £50k are available for businesses with at least 10 employees and turnover of at least £500k.
While our project qualified, the grant was by no means a foregone conclusion as we knew demand for the grants was likely to be high. What’s more, applications had to clearly demonstrate the opportunity and desire to grow, and increase jobs and productivity.
Procol’s commitment to business growth and job creation
Fortunately, our aims for Kingsbury Hall were precisely in tune with the Grant Panel’s requirements as the refurbished building will create flexible, modern, affordable office space for a number of new and growing companies. It will also breathe new life into an historic local building that had fallen into a poor state of repair.
James Phipps, a member of SWLEP board and Grant Panel, said, “We were particularly impressed with the applications and proposals put forward by the successful businesses because of their commitment to innovation, accessing new markets, creating new jobs and increasing turnover.”
Completion of the refurbishment is scheduled for December 2014.