January 24, 2024
Last year, 32 projects received Shared Prosperity Fund (Leveling Up) grants worth a total of £5.24m to help boost business investment and create jobs.
The award was presented by the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Partnership Committee under the theme of supporting local business.
It will be responsible for deciding how the £26 million-plus SPF funding allocated to Powys by the UK Government between 2022 and 2025 as part of the Leveling Up Program is spent.
The Powis SPF Regional Partnership Committee is supported by Powis County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team.
“Building on the theme of supporting local business, our goal is to create jobs, strengthen community cohesion, foster networking and collaboration, and increase private sector investment in growth-promoting activities.” , said Cllr David Selby, Cabinet Member for the Council for Greater Prosperity in Powys. Chair of the Powys SPF Local Partnership Committee.
“This would ideally be achieved through investments that build on existing industries and institutions, interventions that bring businesses and partners together within and across sectors, and targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises. ”
Successful projects under the theme of supporting local business include:
- £24,999 will be donated to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society to develop a strategic vision and masterplan for the Royal Welsh Showground, a plan for the site exploring new opportunities for partnership and investment.
- Gwasg Treftadaeth Gregynog, £45,000 to Gwasg Gregynog for a feasibility study to consider the creation of a new tourist attraction based on the historical significance of the printing press at Gregynog Hall, near New Town.
- Cynefin Masterplan and Strategy will see £50,000 donated to the Center for Alternative Technologies to undertake a review of the Cynefin project, which aims to support the transition to a low carbon economy.
- Home Lifeline, £21,975, donated to Age Cymru Powys for a feasibility study to create a paid service Home Lifeline to support older people in Powys.
- Talgarth Low Carbon Energy Project, £50,000 to Powys County Council in partnership with GP Biotec. The feasibility study is aimed at determining whether surplus energy from Talgarth's GP Biotec anaerobic digestion plant could be used to power council vehicles and public buildings.
- Powys Smart Towns, £136,802 to Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team. We provide management systems and training for towns with smart infrastructure. This allows the town to monitor pedestrians and use this information to evaluate the success of promotional campaigns and events.
- Pathways to Prosperity, £131,187, will be donated to Powys County Council in partnership with Ramblers Cymru to develop and promote high quality year-round walking trails that support sustainable tourism.
- Powys Event Network Development, £100,000 to Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team. Supporting the evolution of the county's events sector through networking, training and joint marketing campaigns.
- £320,380 has been donated to Mid Wales Tourism Board for a project to revitalize the Mid Wales Reward and Incentive Scheme and help independent businesses compete with large chains by increasing customer loyalty.
- To support tourism operators, we will donate £98,300 to the Banau Brycheiniog National Park Authority to create a new website and program of activities to support the tourist economy and promote the area as a sustainable destination.
- CEMET University of South Wales £100,500 to CEMET, University of South Wales to support businesses and social enterprises in Powys who want to develop new products and services.
- Revalue 2 (Innovation Strategy), £337,246 will be donated to Innovation Strategy to provide technical and business advice to companies looking to grow, particularly in the high value manufacturing, agriculture, food and drink sectors.
- Specialist support for social enterprises, £174,094 to Cwmpas. For providing advice to social enterprises at all stages of their development across Powys.
- Global Reach Out Programme, £168,831 to Antur Cymru. We help small and medium-sized businesses start exporting to other countries or expand existing sales.
- Donated £403,392 to Severn Wye Energy Agency to help Mid Wales businesses improve their energy efficiency and help small businesses reduce energy bills and CO2 emissions.
- Powys Public Service Board Carbon Emissions, £199,931, donated to Bannow Brycheniog National Park Authority for research and analysis, feasibility studies and encouraging activities that lead to reductions in carbon emissions.
- The Llangorse Common Options Assessment will donate £20,000 to Powys County Council's Countryside Service to consider improvements to make it a more attractive place for visiting and recreation.
- £39,754 to Wyside Workshop Development, Wyside Arts Centre. For a feasibility study into the refurbishment of nearby workshops, offices and shops to create a rehearsal theatre, dance space and recording studio in Builth Wells.
- Powys and Ceredigion County Council partner to donate £50,000 to growing digital connectivity in Mid Wales to carry out connectivity analysis and mapping to support future improvements.
- Mid Wales Solutions Catalyst donates £238,741 to Aberinnovation to support research and development for SMEs in the health, agriculture, environment, food and drink sectors.
- Instaining Powys will donate £107,970 to the NPTC University Group to train more insulation installers and promote the benefits of their work to homeowners.
- The Powis Business Growth Grant of £398,128 has been awarded to Powis County Council’s Economic Development and Regeneration Team to run a scheme to help businesses in Powis fund activities that create or protect jobs.
- Newtown Fashion Technology Academy, in commercial partnership with Fashion Enter, donates £200,000 to NPTC College Group to establish new facilities in the heart of Newtown.
- £49,954 to Severn Wye Energy Agency for a multi-output carbon abatement plant for Mid Wales research. Consider setting up a processing plant in Powys that would convert low-value wood and leaves into biochar or biocoal and provide surplus heat.
- Growing the local food economy, £150,274 to Ecodyfi. Help expand local food production through guidance and support in the Dyfi Biosphere region.
- £243,176 to Future Farms, Social Farms and Gardens. As a pilot involving six farms, it will be divided into smaller plots and used to grow food for local and regional markets.
- Creative Hubs Across Powys will donate £221,750 to Powys County Council's Cultural Services to develop the Stori Powys website as a venue to promote arts and culture activities, events and services.
- Mid Wales Enterprise Growth Catalyst, £345,320, Mid Wales Enterprise Growth Catalyst, an established program that supports entrepreneurs and business growth.
- The Powys Digital Towns mobile app (£243,544) was donated to Programus to create an app to support town center businesses with e-commerce and digital marketing.
- Focus Enterprise (£249,731). Business in Focus is aimed at business support for users who don't have access to mainstream support services.
- Menter y Mynydd £96,327 to Menter Mynydddd to support business growth in the Cumbrian Mountains-based Powys community.
- Trading Space, £232,320 donated to Antur Cymru for business coaching and the provision of a pop-up high street shop in New Town that entrepreneurs can use to test their sales potential.
For more information about Powys' UK SPF, please visit UK Shared Prosperity Fund now accepting applications or email ukspf@powys.gov.uk.
Powys SPF local partnerships include Powys County Council, Banau Brycheniog National Park Authority, Powys Education and Health Board, NPTC College Group, Business Wales, Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership, Mid Wales Tourism, Mid Wales Manufacturing Group and Powys Voluntary Organization Association. , Wales YFC, NFU Cymru, Welsh Farmers' Union, Chambers Wales and One Voice Wales.
