Historical business-support report: The programme and eligibility details below reflect the period described. For current help, see Derbyshire County Council’s Start and Sustain programme, which does not itself offer direct grants.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant economic impact on Derbyshire businesses and workers.

The original report described people starting businesses during the pandemic recovery.

A partnership of local authorities including High Peak Borough Council launched Vision Derbyshire business support in 2021, according to a 2022 council report.

The Vision Derbyshire Business Start-Up and Business Support Grant Scheme offered advice to people starting or recently running a business.

The scheme offered advice and grants subject to eligibility. A 2023 council announcement described grants of up to 50% of project costs, to a maximum of £10,000 per applicant.

The support package also included networking and help accessing other services.

Eligibility changed over time. The original article highlighted younger and older people affected by the pandemic; later published criteria covered other eligible start-ups.

Councillor Anthony McKeown, Leader of the Borough Council, said: “The impact of Covid has affected everyone with businesses forced to close for long periods and individuals facing decisions about their working lives and future aspirations.

“Councils across Derbyshire have been committed to doing all we can for our local businesses through what has been a challenging time but our local economy has been unavoidably hit hard by the pandemic.

“As we emerge from it, we need to focus on how we can support businesses and those who were affected as they look to recover and rebuild. For some, this might mean investigating launching their own business or making plans to go it alone.

“The scheme that Vision Derbyshire has put together is specifically designed to help these people, so that together we can nurture the spirit of enterprise and entrepreneurship which, in turn will help our local economy to re-emerge stronger.

“I’m pleased that the High Peak is playing a leading role in this county-wide initiative and would encourage anyone considering setting up in business, or who has done so during the last year, to find out more about how Vision Derbyshire can help them turn their ambitions into successful and sustainable businesses.”

The original programme included a £550,000 grant fund; the 2022 scheme criteria described its eligibility rules and match-funding requirements. The criteria included exceptions for small grants without match funding and additional grants in exceptional circumstances.

For current support, visit Start and Sustain or the county council’s business-support pages.