As part of its continued support to local businesses, East Northamptonshire Council (ENC) has been working closely with partner organisations and stakeholders to ensure they are supported during the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams from across the Council have been working hard to ensure that all businesses who are entitled to support receive it and since the start of the pandemic, ENC has paid out over 1300 grants totalling nearly £15m and business rate relief of around £13.1m and are also currently working through applications to a new scheme for businesses who may have missed out in the initial rounds of grant funding.
As well as financial support, ENC’s economic development service, Enterprising East Northants (EEN), has strengthened existing relationships with partners from across the county, including the University of Northampton, the SEMLEP Growth Hub, Federation of Small Businesses and Wellingborough and East Northants Chamber of Commerce, to launch the Recovery Through Enterprise campaign.
Launched to support those most in need, the campaign offers personal 1:1 business advice, as well as access to a wide range of support webinars and resources. It will also include working with the EEN skills group to provide employment support for residents who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. The team behind the campaign will be based at ENC’s new Enterprise Centre East Northants, find out more about that project at www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/ecen.
Steven North, Leader of East Northamptonshire Council explains more: “As a Council, we have a responsibility to help those businesses in need across the district and everyone at ENC is working hard to ensure that businesses get the advice and financial support they need especially at this difficult time.
“We are proud of the work we have done so far to help so many businesses, but always want to do more and we are continuously looking for new and innovative ways to assist, like the Recovery Through Enterprise scheme which includes helping locals towns to re-open their high streets and commercial areas safely.”
From 15 June, shops and high streets across East Northants will be permitted to re-open and ENC is currently working with local town and parish councils to help those wishing to re-open and ensure both staff and customers are safe and observing Government guidance. Shops on high streets across the district will each receive a pack which includes advice on what to do when reopening as well as details of the new business support packages on offer as part of the Recovery Through Enterprise Campaign.
ENC has also been given a grant of £84,908 which will support the work to drive economic recovery across the district. This work is being supported at a county wide level through the Safer Public Places initiative which will see a range activity aimed at improving public safety with a particular emphasis on encouraging walking and cycling.
For more information about Recovery Through Enterprise, visit: www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/recovery, call 01604 892328 or email: business_support@northampton.ac.uk