a) Gold Star Metal Traders Limited - Agreed to support
Approved Grant: £180,000
Nine full-time positions to be created.
Note. The Company has had a previous GBF grant, which has been satisfactorily completed.
(b) Dance and Dean Limited - Agreed to support
Approved grant - £60,000
Three full-time positions to be created.
General discussion took place on the reliance, and dependency, of one main contractor’s work, for
business growth but assurance given that the company also undertakes general commercial and
domestic building jobs, as well as being a ‘preferred supplier’ for their main contractor.
(c) Dale Sheet Metals Limited - Agreed to support
Approved Grant: £154,400
Eight full time positions to be created.
(d) Crafted Media Limited - Agreed to support.
Approved Grant: £35,500
Two full-time positions to be created.
Note: The company has had GBF and SGS grants previously; both of which have been
satisfactorily completed.
BH also made the observation that the second grant was an Assisted Area award and the assets
purchased should be retained in an Assisted Area for three years and the new premises proposed in this
application are not in an Assisted Area. However, with depreciation of the assets it was felt that this may
not be an issue in this case.
The Panel made comment that this company is a world class business and a good example of supply
chain. It was good to have them in ‘our patch’.
BH made the general observation that in some of the expenditure breakdowns in today’s applications
there are costs which may be ‘revenue’ items, and having re-visited the State Aid criteria, these elements
may not be eligible for support under GBER.
Recommendation : BH to have discussions with the companies concerned to refine the
expenditure categories as necessary. This may slightly reduce the grant values.
See attached Annexe 1 (November 2019, December 2019 and January 2020). BH provided update.
It was noted that Image Displays & Graphics Limited (December 2019) has already been claimed and
paid out which shows the system is working well.
The overall programme total is 280 grants paid, total paid out is £2.578m, which leaves £644k to defray
until the end of August 2021, comprising of just over £420k approved but not yet claimed grants and
£218k not yet committed.
Seven grants were approved in February 2020.
The Small Grant Scheme remains well ahead of profile. It was noted that the LEP has restricted multiple
bids and priority will now be given to first time applicants.