BACK TO BUSINESS FUND

 

**Applications for funding have now closed. Please sign up for the newsletter at the bottom of the page to be kept informed.**

The Back to Business Fund providing support, advice and guidance to SMEs in the visitor economy during Covid-19 recovery.

 

A BACK TO BUSINESS FUND HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO HELP PROVIDE SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE HOSPITALITY, TOURISM AND EVENTS INDUSTRY ACCESS TO DIRECT PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AS THE REGION BEGINS TO RECOVER FROM COVID-19.

The fund will allow firms working within the visitor economy to seek specialist advice to help further mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 in order to build in resilience within their business or address potential new opportunities that also may require ongoing support to innovate, scale up or meet their own growth path.

The professional support, advice and guidance will be available in areas such as HR, accountancy, legal, financial, health and safety, IT and digital. This list is not exhaustive with the advice aimed at supporting a range of business recovery and growth needs, for example:

  • Business planning and reshaping strategy e.g. pivoting to open up new areas of demand rapidly

  • Cashflow planning and debt finance

  • Human resources e.g. navigating HR policies, procedures and legislation

  • Legal

  • Digital and shifting to online trading

  • Operations, including health and safety e.g. adapting customer journeys to reduce physical touch points (tech adoption) or delivering services in a socially distanced way.

To be eligible, the business must be operating in the visitor economy across Tees Valley (i.e. businesses largely dependent on visitors for income (both leisure and business visitors). Visitor economy businesses interested in applying for funding should initially submit an expression of interest through the online form available below.

Grants are available from £1,000 up to £3,000 per application which can cover the full 100% cost of any advice you request. Applicants are also allowed to use the funding for a mix of different advisors.

Advice will be provided by companies across the Tees Valley region who have already been invited to offer their services through this portal. These businesses have expressed an interest to deliver this professional advice and support to SMEs. A list of the professional service companies that have registered to provide their knowledge and expertise, which includes contact details and a brief description of the type of professional advice and support on offer is available here.

To find out more on the fund and check eligibility click here.

For a quote or to talk about a potential project, call 01642 777996, book an appointment or fill in an enquiry form.