Business support survey for Brean
Following EDF’s decision to use Pontins Holiday Park in Brean to house their workforce for a period of 3 years, Somerset Council is seeking views from businesses in the local area to monitor impacts and target mitigation.
This business survey is being undertaken to understand if there has been an impact on businesses as a direct result of the change to Pontins Holiday Park.
The Council will repeat this survey every 3 months to monitor and measure impacts in the area.
Business grant to support local businesses
The Council is offering a small grant to local businesses within the Brean or Berrow Parish area who are impacted by the changes to Brean Pontins Holiday Park in Brean, which will accommodate workers on site over the next 3 years.
Brean and Berrow businesses that are affected by the accommodation of Hinkley Point C workers in the area are being offered the opportunity to apply for grants aimed to help them respond to any challenges caused.
Utilising S106 business support funding package, the Council has created a grant scheme to enable businesses who are impacted by Pontins being out of use for holidaymakers, to leverage other funding opportunities and to encourage adaptation by local businesses to the new market opportunities.
Businesses from the affected areas will be able to apply for funding to support one of the following projects
- Marketing – up to £2,000
- Implementation to adaptation or business improvements – between £2,500 to £5,000
To be eligible businesses must:
- be based in Brean or Berrow Parish area
- be an independent business
- employ fewer than 200 people
- have been operating for more than one year
- provide at least 2 quotes for any proposed spend
- provide full year’s accounts.
The following are examples of uses to which the money might be put:
- Creation of a marketing plan or strategy for the business.
- New process design or equipment that will provide adaptability in the current climate.
- New products or services.
- Projects that will link to other activities or events in the area.
The grant cannot be used to solely supplement a loss of income.
Businesses are encouraged to show how they will add value to the wider economy by creating or improving goods and services, jobs or training opportunities and use of local suppliers.
The grant will be paid retrospectively to the applicant upon the presentation of agreed progress reports, evidenced defrayal of expenditure and against agreed timescales. An initial upfront payment may be arranged, this option will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Do not commence work or incur any expenditure until the funding agreement has been signed and returned. Any work, costs or matched funding activity that is dated prior to the date of the funding agreement will not be accepted or reimbursed.
At this stage, only one application per business will be accepted and the scheme will run on a first come first serve basis, with potential for further funding tranches or application opportunities, subject to demand of the scheme and availability of funds.
Any interested business should complete an application form which will be assessed by a panel from the Council. If successful, the applicants will be expected to sign and return an agreement detailing the terms and conditions of the grant.