Archive, July 2020: This COVID-19 support scheme is closed. See the council’s 2020 announcement or search current High Peak business funding.

The second round of High Peak’s discretionary business grant opened on 17 July 2020 and closed on 27 July.

It was for small businesses with ongoing fixed property costs and a significant fall in income as a result of COVID-19.

The fund was aimed at businesses that fell outside the scope of earlier small business and retail, hospitality and leisure grants.

The first round closed in June 2020. By the time the second round was announced, the council said 165 businesses had received grants, ranging from B&Bs and taxis to engineering firms and a physiotherapy and sports injury clinic.

Businesses on the 2020 grant

Penny Lavery, from Penny’s Cars in the Hope Valley, said: “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have saved my business – I’m a tiny business so the grant was heaven sent.”

Trevor Harding, from the Dutch Maid Company in Buxton, which supplied dried beverage ingredients for the food service and vending industry, described the potential to increase production and create jobs:

“From myself and all the staff I would like to pass on our thanks for the grant which will help us increase our production capacity and hopefully create extra jobs in our 2020/21 trading year. It is very much appreciated.”

Who the 2020 grant supported

Eligible businesses needed fewer than 50 employees and evidence of a significant drop in income, fixed property costs and accounts.

In the 2020 announcement, Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, then Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, said: “COVID-19 has had an unprecedented impact on businesses so we’re delighted to be able to open this grant funding scheme up to new applicants.

 “You need only read the comments made by those people whose businesses have received grants to understand the very real difference this funding has made, and will make, to companies large and small across the High Peak.”

 “There’s more information on our website and I would urge any business that thinks they might be eligible who hasn’t previously applied to do so so we can make sure the funding is used to ensure the maximum number of businesses across the High Peak benefit from it.”

The council decided the amount awarded to each successful applicant. Mark Jones, then a director at New Mills Youth and Community Project CIC, said:

 “I just wanted to tell you that I am really happy with the grant – thank you to everyone behind the scenes working hard to process these applications for us.

 “I appreciate this support regardless of the amount. It goes a long way to helping us through these difficult times and I am very grateful.”