First County Durham businesses secure multi-million pound recovery funding

A range of firms across County Durham have become the first to receive multi-million pound funding to support their recovery following COVID-19.

36 businesses across the county have secured funding from the Durham Business Recovery Grant which aims to support businesses through the disruption of the pandemic.

Recipients for the funding include a specialist printing company looking to buy new software and associated training to help staff improve order processing and convert leads, a hearing aid retailer that has bought specialist diagnostic equipment that will help it to expand its services and a hotel investing in new catering equipment to target different markets.

Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, commented: “We are really pleased to see the range of businesses that are coming forward with clear plans for how the recovery grant can help them get their business back on track for the future and safeguard vital jobs and livelihoods in the county.

“We appreciate how difficult the last year has been for businesses and it is vital that we do what we can to help businesses recover and look to the future.

Sarah Slaven, interim managing director of Business Durham, added: “Over the past year County Durham businesses have displayed significant resilience, tremendous agility, adaptability and innovation, which has enabled many to diversify to survive by selling to new markets and manufacturing different products.

“The grant allows businesses with credible plans to unlock their potential providing the much-needed funds to take advantage of their vision in tackling the ongoing crisis.

“We encourage businesses to look carefully at the criteria and take time to develop a credible plan to maximize the likelihood of success. The grant is proving popular with many more applications to process and we continue to welcome more from all business sectors.”

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