Grant support for rural businesses in North Warwickshire
A funding programme aimed at boosting the rural economy across the North Warwickshire and Hinckley & Bosworth areas has already awarded over £27,000 in grants to local businesses.
The first round of approved projects from the LEADER programme (a partnership between North Warwickshire Borough Council and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council) includes a North Warwickshire village post office and an online gift retailer.
Christopher Whitmore, of Whitmore’s Ltd in Polesworth, said: “I am thrilled at the news of receiving the grant. The previous post office in Polesworth was closing and it is essential that the community has this service.”
"The LEADER grant has enabled the relocation of the Post Office to the Spar convenience store which will create a number of jobs in the store over the next few years.
Prezzybox.com Ltd, based in the rural village of Austrey, North Warwickshire is an online gift retailer.
The family-run business, which started as a ‘bedroom business’ in 2000, when it launched as a website selling gifts, now attracts 200,000 visitors per day and generates up to 4,000 orders. The business, which is run from the farmhouse, is looking to expand over the next few years and to take on more employees from the local area.
They will be adding a media production studio to their offices to enable them to focus on video and photography production.
Zak Edwards, managing director of Prezzybox.com, believes the grant will be a huge help to their plans to keep building on the business's success.
Sharon Earp, chairperson of the Local Action Group and an active member of the Hinckley and Bosworth Tourism Partnership, who runs her own rural tourism business, said: “This is the first round of projects approved since we launched the programme last year and we are delighted that local rural businesses will benefit from these funds.
"This will make an important difference to the rural economy and essential services for local people”.
* Anyone who would like more information contact the LEADER Programme team based at North Warwickshire Borough Council; Telephone: (01827) 719356/271