Council praises new entrepreneurs
Bromsgrove District Council paid tribute to new
entrepreneurs at its annual New Business Showcase last Thursday
(October 22).
At a packed exhibition in the Council Chamber,
Chairman of Bromsgrove District Council Cllr Chris Scurrell praised
the new ventures on show, many of which had defied the recession to
increase turnover and explore new markets. Recognising the
importance of the small firms that account for over half of
Britain’s gross domestic product he told them: “What you do is
important to this district and this nation.”
Each year at the New Business Showcase the
Council presents awards celebrating the success of new businesses,
and this year there was a record number of awards. Chairman
Scurrell presented seven certificates in categories including “Most
Promising Newcomers”, “Fast Growth” and “Million Pound
Turnover”.
A wide variety of new firms displayed their
products and services at the Showcase.
Business Grants increased
Speaking of the Council’s commitment to
stimulate trade and employment, the Chairman said that economic
regeneration was “top of the list of council priorities,” and that
extra funding to raise the number of business grants from 30 to 50
this year has been obtained.
Bromsgrove District Council’s portfolio holder
for Economic Regeneration Cllr James Duddy added: “The Showcase is
a very visible way of promoting and celebrating new business in
Bromsgrove. As the Chairman stated, economic regeneration is a real
priority and I hope that anyone who has an idea and is thinking
about going into business understands that there is some real
support available from our economic development team.”
Over the past nine years Bromsgrove District
Council has assisted about 250 new business ventures with training
and grants, and it is estimated that this has created about 800 new
jobs in the area. For more information on business support please
visit the Business section of http://www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/
or contact Economic Development Manager Peter Michael on 01527
881327.
Pictured: Julie Baldwin of the Style and Tone Studio in
Bromsgrove receives the Fast Growth Award from Chairman
Scurrell.
