BASINGSTOKE and Deane Borough Council promises a boost to small businesses’ growth and resilience, with a new £100,000 fund to cover training costs.

The Workforce Development Grant Scheme, made available courtesy of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, offers local companies the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £3,500 to cover expenses such as technical courses and examination registrations.

The initiative follows on the heels of the successful Apprenticeship Business Fund that aided local enterprises in recruiting new talent.

However, the grant scheme is ineligible for the coverage of membership/subscription fees or obligatory costs such as health and safety training.

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For free online learning resources, businesses can register with SEEDL.

The webpage hosts a variety of online courses in several subjects including customer service and Office 365.

To be considered for the grant, businesses must first contact the funding team at ukspf@basingstoke.gov.uk, to confirm eligibility and discuss proposals.

More information such as the application process, can be found on the council's website. Funding applications will be accepted until November 30. For more information on the Apprenticeship Business Fund, businesses can visit the council's website while SEEDL.com/o/basingstoke provides information on free course registration.

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Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Cllr Paul Harvey said: "We are pleased to launch this new fund to help our borough’s small businesses to support their employees by investing in their professional development.

"We know small businesses are the foundation of our local economy, and recruitment and retention is a critical issue. Ongoing continuous professional and skills development can make a significant difference to business success.

"With this new Workforce Development Grant Scheme, the Apprenticeship Business Fund and SEEDL, the council is giving local businesses the opportunity to build the skills that will help our local economy to continue to thrive."