Wychavon Town Centres - Business Support Grants
The aim of the scheme is to support and attract new retailers
into Wychavon’s town centres in Droitwich Spa, Evesham, Pershore or
Broadway and to encourage the occupation of vacant retail premises.
The scheme will help regenerate the town center’s retail status and
improve the range and quality of the retail offer for both local
residents and those visiting Wychavon’s towns.
A total package of grant funding and business advice worth more
than £1,100 is available comprising a grant of £750 which you may
either use to offset business rates or spend on business start up
costs, and the option of
one day’s specialist retail advice (47.24 KB) from
the Rural Shops Alliance.
Who can
apply?
- The grant is available to retail, hospitality and commercial
businesses that are moving into premises in Droitwich Spa, Evesham,
and Pershore town centres, or Broadway village centre.
- To be eligible for grant support you must have a current
business plan approved by a Business Link adviser.
- An eligible property includes retail and commercial premises,
but excludes banks, building societies and private residences.
- To receive a grant you must be working full-time (36 hours or
more a week) in your business.
- The Council reserves the right to recover all or part of the
£750 grant it has provided for if:
- your business relocates outside the boundaries of the Wychavon
District within a 78 week period from receipt of the grant.
- your business ceases to trade for whatever reason.
- You must have all the necessary permissions and licenses to
operate your business.
- You must have a clear Council Tax payment record to be eligible
for a grant award.
- You must have a business bank account into which your grant can
be paid.
- Your application includes a consent giving Wychavon District
Council access to all of the material submitted to Business
Link.
- Award of a grant does not imply that the council is expressing
a view about your business or its products nor that it accepts
responsibility for any debts, or liabilities incurred by you, or
your business.
How much can we apply for?
You can apply for a grant of £750 to offset against the business
rates payable for the property as assessed by Wychavon Revenues
section. Or, the grant may be used for business start up
expenditure.
How do we apply?
Please complete the application form. Please note though that
when an application is submitted it needs to be printed out and
signed and sent in with your business plan.
Application Form (6.38 MB)
What happens
then?
When we receive your application, we will assess it to ensure
that your application is eligible, your proposals meet the aims of
the scheme and enhance the quality of the retail offer in the town
center. We will make an appointment for you to discuss your
business plan with a Business Link advisor. If you would like
specialist retail advice we will pass your contact details to the
Rural Shops Alliance to make an appointment with you. Your
completed application will then be considered by the Economic
Development Officer at Wychavon District Council who will decide to
make one of three decisions:
- Offer a grant.
- Request further information from you.
- Reject the application.
When is the
grant available?
The grant is available now and the scheme is anticipated to run
for this financial year, 2009/2010.
Payment of the
grant
The grant will be paid into your business rates account within
14 days of receipt of a signed copy of the offer of grant letter by
WDC, or into your business bank account via BACS.
