Businesses in Stafford Borough are being urged to grab a share of a £240,000 pot.

The money has come from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and is part of the government’s Levelling Up agenda.

It has been earmarked to support small and medium rural businesses whose income is predominantly from sales to other businesses.

The money can be used in a variety of ways, such as improving a website, marketing campaign, or advertising new products - and already 20 local businesses have benefited from the fund.

The ‘Rural Business to Business’ fund is aimed at companies in rural areas looking to branch out to new markets or create new products and services - and where the sales to other businesses make up a minimum of 75 percent of their income.

One of the successful recipients was award winning film and media marketing company, Lilac Howell Films, who used a £5,000 grant to help purchase new equipment and expand their business.

Other products acquired by businesses through the funding include IT equipment, specialist camera equipment, bespoke customer management systems, and websites.

Stafford Borough Council was awarded one of the largest pots of money in the country from the government’s ‘UKSPF’ after successfully putting forward schemes to help regeneration, climate change and culture.

Councillor Ant Reid, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said: “Our allocation was one of the highest that any district council was awarded and is further demonstration of the confidence the government has in us to deliver for our businesses.

“There are so many exciting things planned, starting up or ongoing, in our borough and we want to support more businesses and help them grow. We are keen to get this money to our businesses so I would urge them to check out the information on our website, speak to us, and get their application in.”

Lilac Howell Managing Director, Steve Cranston, said: “We are grateful for this funding from the borough council which has helped us purchase camera equipment as well as other technological equipment to develop our service.”

Press Release No 6082