Our Economy To enable all of our communities to flourish as part of the economic recovery from Covid-19, as well as opportunities from the ‘green economy’
£38m
distributed to businesses through Covid
Since the start of the financial support package in March 2020, we’ve distributed £38,197,458 through 7,565 Covid-19 business grants payments supporting 2,232 unique businesses. All Covid-19 funding grants have now closed and we no longer hold any Government funding for these grants. All discretionary funds that the Council received have also now been fully allocated and administered. The Grants Team have worked tirelessly to ensure these funds reach the businesses in need as quickly as possible. At the height of the pandemic the Grants Team were administering up to ten different grant schemes. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank local businesses for their cooperation in helping us achieve this. If your business requires support going forward, please contact the Economic Development Team or our Business Support Adviser Phil Means. If you are in business and feel you could benefit from free business advice please contact Phil on 07920 472671 or email phil_means@n-kesteven.gov.uk
Page 18
Businesses find new homes at park A £2.2 million development is now home to a lively community of start-up and growing businesses all benefitting from the new space created there. Discovery Court contains 15 business units owned by the Council and built on its behalf by Lindum Group, on land which forms part of the Discovery Park development in North Hykeham. It became full in March this year, after the units were handed over to the Council last May on completion of Lindum’s work. Enquiries came in fast during the build through marketing agent Banks Long & Co together with the Council’s BusinessNK team. The MINI Repair Shop moved to its unit in June 2021 as Discovery
Court’s first tenant, and provides a range of services as a BMW and Mini independent specialist. Director Steve Chambers, who operates the business together with Director Kyle Berry, said: “There’s a great atmosphere and entrepreneurial spirit here as most of the businesses are small and local like ourselves.” Ground and Environmental Investigation Ltd is also based at Discovery Court, where it advises on practical solutions for geotechnical design and contaminated land. Director Marc Pearson said: “The business is thriving from our new location and hopefully we’ll be looking to expand in the near future.”
Sign up for weekly business news
Look out for your chance later this summer to direct new wayfinding signage in Sleaford town centre. This expanded signage will better reflect all that Sleaford town centre offers since the previous fingerposts (above) were installed over 25 years ago. The new signage will highlight assets, attractions and other key aspects more effectively and across a wider area. The new wayfinding signage will be shaped using local input, so do stay tuned for more on this soon.
The MINI Repair Shop
The Caterers Ltd
Ground and En vironmental Inve sti
gation Ltd
To enquire about available units across the Council’s portfolio, contact Banks Long & Co on 01522 544515 or the BusinessNK Team on 01529 414155.
www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/stayconnected
Strong interest from businesses continues in the new £56 million Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park. A contract has been let to deliver the strategic utilities and the strategic infrastructure, and work to build the first phase of the site is due to start this year. All units will be built for best sustainability and adaptability, and the site includes various features too which recognise the challenges of climate change. Go to www.businessnk.co.uk/ projects/sleaford or call Banks Long & Co on 01522 544515.
Meet our BusinessNK Team at
Businesses in Greater Lincolnshire are being asked for their views on devolution – the process which would transfer powers and funding from Whitehall to Lincolnshire. Devolution Lincolnshire is the start of a conversation with businesses led by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Leaders from the 10 local authorities in the area have asked the LEP to lead this business discussion ahead of submitting a deal to the Government at the end of this year. If you have a view on devolution for Lincolnshire or want to find out more, you can visit the website and complete the online survey at anytime up to June 25. Go to www.greaterlincolnshirelep. co.uk/priorities-and-plans/ devolution-lincolnshire
www.businessnk.co.uk
