Funding success for local businesses

Several north Powys businesses have benefited from funding to help them expand.

A total of 13 businesses in Powys have received funding from Powys Growth Grants.

Quality Pipe Supports in Newtown, Andy's Bread and Rural Foodies (Coco Pzazz), both in Llanidloes, Gloversure and Montgomeryshire Homes in Welshpool have each received funding of between £1,000 and £25,000 from a total of £1.1 million secured through the UK Government's Shared Prosperity Fund.

The money, which can also be claimed by businesses looking to move to Powys, is still available under a second round of the scheme.

The funding for Andy's Bread helped to buy a new fan oven so, the business can produce more fresh sweet pastries and savoury products. Quality Pipe Supports has used funding to buy an automatic pressure feed blaster to free up time for more skilled tasks.

The grant for Gloversure helped to buy computer equipment and servers for a new team of staff working on a sub-brand targeted at the construction sector. The grant for Montgomeryshire Homes helped to buy GPS and computer equipment so it can carry out its own site surveys and draft its own site plans.

“I’m delighted that we were able to support this baker’s dozen of businesses from right across Powys during round one,” said Cllr David Selby, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, “this investment has helped to create 12 new full time and three part time jobs, and to safeguard 19 full time and five part time roles.

“We want to help businesses in the county, and those that want to move here, at all stages of development to sustain, grow and innovate, including through local networks, and are looking forward to helping many more in round two.”

Andrew Wright, Director of Andy’s Bread said: “This (new fan oven) will allow us to bake many more products at the same time. Also to develop new items which will add value and resilience to the business.”

Lori Whinn, Director of Rural Foodies (Coco Pzazz) said: “The Growth Project involves the purchase of a new, high capacity Keychoc chocolate machine which will transform our production capabilities. It will enable us to produce an additional 800 chocolate bars during a regular working day.”

PICTURE: Andrew Wright of Andy's Bread.