(a) Spectra Packaging Limited - Agreed to support
Approved Grant: £74,486 under De Minimis
Four full-time jobs to be created.
Recommendation applied: GH Skills Adviser to follow-up with the business to obtain their
marketing strategy and evidence of recycling.
(b) Stephen Walters & Sons Limited - Agreed to support
Approved Grant: £118,049 under De Minimis
Two full-time jobs to be created.
Recommendation applied: GH Adviser to follow-up with the business to discuss
apprenticeships.
General discussion took place on whether the grant could be awarded under De Minimus.
NS to contact applicant for clarification on the grant programme (Textiles Growth Fund).
Action: NS to obtain from Stephen Walters & Sons Limited:
(a) a copy of their Offer Letter for the Textiles Growth Fund grant
(b) the date they formally accepted the offer
(c) request a report showing productivity output measures
Discussion took place on how to measure productivity gain.
It was noted that the Panel was disappointed not to see the inclusion of apprenticeships in the
application, bearing in mind the nature of the business.
Growth Hub attendance - With the involvement of the Growth Hub in preparing and submitting GBF
applications and identified Growth Hub Adviser follow-up action, Panel members felt it would be
beneficial to have a Growth Hub Adviser present at GBF Panel meetings.
Action: JW to speak with Nigel Best, Growth Hub Manager to ensure a Growth Hub Adviser
attends GBF meetings. This could be done on a rotational basis.
Going forward the Panel felt it would be useful to have EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes,
Depreciation and Amortization) included in the Summary Financial Analysis table.
Action: NS to include line for EBITDA in the Summary Financial Analysis table
JM provided update.
The Panel noted the award of Small Grant Scheme grants in the month of October 2018, totalling
£87,048 (Grants Awarded) - See Appendix 1.
JM reported the Small Grant Scheme is performing well and all the original funding for the three-year
programme has now been spent and were now into the extension monies.
Target for the next quarter (December 2018/January 2019/February 2019) is £130k.