Broadland District Council's Business Builder programme is designed to support businesses looking to invest and grow, with established businesses able to apply for funding covering 50% of eligible expenditure, up to a maximum grant of ยฃ5,000.
The Development Grant can be used towards a broad range of activities where businesses can demonstrate that the investment will support their growth. Examples given by the council include specialist equipment and software, recruitment, consultancy and coaching, training, ecommerce website development, promotional materials and exhibitions, although the council stresses that the list is not exhaustive.
Norwich-based PR agency Ambition PR has confirmed with the council's Economic Development team that applications for PR and media relations activity will also be considered, provided the investment forms part of a defined business growth project.
Jenna Owen, Managing Director of Ambition PR, said: โMarketing and PR spend can often find itself towards the bottom of the pile when businesses are finding the market tough, but arguably that's exactly the time when businesses need to be making sure people know who they are, understand what they offer and remember them when they're ready to buy.
โThere are some really useful grants and business support schemes available locally, but unless you're actively looking for them they're incredibly easy to miss. With 2027 planning already starting for many businesses, this particular grant could help some local companies bring forward growth activity they might otherwise have delayed, whether that's investing in equipment, technology, training, consultancy, marketing or raising their profile through PR.โ
Ambition PR, which is based on Charing Cross in Norwich city centre, has more than 20 years' PR experience and works with businesses across multiple sectors, from early-stage companies looking to establish themselves through to established organisations with ambitious expansion plans.
The agencyโs work includes PR strategy and planning, press office support, media relations, content creation and fully delivered PR campaigns, with programmes designed around the commercial objectives and growth ambitions of individual businesses.
Jenna added:ย โOne of the biggest challenges for any business trying to grow is making sure the right people actually know it exists. PR is particularly well placed to lay some of those foundations for growth, but it can sometimes be overlooked in favour of things that feel more tangible or immediately measurable. Ultimately, you can have a brilliant business, product or service, but if you're not getting it in front of the people who need to know about it, growth becomes considerably harder.โ
The Development Grant is aimed at Broadland businesses that have been trading for at least two years. Funding is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and businesses must receive written approval before incurring expenditure. All applications are subject to assessment and eligibility.
The wider Broadland Business Builder programme has supported more than 470 businesses since late 2022, with Broadland District Council committing up to a further ยฃ250,000 over two years to continue supporting local businesses to start, invest and grow.
Businesses can find full details of the Development Grant, eligibility criteria and application process through the Broadland District Council Business Builder programme -https://www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk/business/broadland-business-builder-programme/development-grant