Since November 2020, central government had provided £2.99m to Brentwood Borough Council as part of its Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) fund allocation. To date five rounds of Additional Restrictions Grants had been distributed totalling £2.72m.

With the remaining £250,000 of ARG funding, (Subject to final reconciliation) it is recommended that a new Brentwood Business Growth Grant is created to support local businesses who are looking to scale and grow within the Borough post-pandemic.

After a full discussion, Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Parker SECONDED the recommendations in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY.

Members are asked to:

R1. Approve the Brentwood Business Growth Grant policy, set out in

Appendix A.

Reasons for Recommendation

To create a level playing field, this new ARG policy encourages businesses of

any size or sector to put forward growth projects for funding. Grant applicants

will be asked to detail how their project will create new jobs, safeguard existing jobs, increase turnover and bring new skills into the businesses.

Businesses can apply for up to £10,000 of ARG funding to support their

projects.

Backing Essex Business, fully funded by Essex County Council, offers up to 12 hours of free business support. Their advisers can assist Brentwood

businesses with analysing viable project options before submitting their grant

applications.

The Brentwood Business Growth Grant can be used by local businesses as

matched funding to help them unlock further grants from organisations such as Low Carbon Across South Essex (LoCASE) or South East Business Boost

(SEBB).

Increasing new jobs, safeguarding existing jobs, increasing turnover and

bringing new skills into the borough helps meet the Council’s corporate

objectives.