Cheltenham Business Pride

Cheltenham Business Pride launched on June 8th 2008, as a way of showing that all of us are taking pride in our businesses and the town in which we live.

Originally part of a pilot concept in 2007 with funding and commitment from the Conservative council, the current Liberal Democrat administration invested £50,000 of LABGI money (Local Area Business Growth Incentives Scheme) when they came to power in May 2008, enabling a grants-based project that local businesses could benefit from.

The scheme aims to improve the economic sustainability of the town and
the businesses within it by promoting the local area from an economic perspective via key projects. Local businesses will be invited to engage and influence the work of Cheltenham Borough Council by helping to facilitate and deliver initiatives across the borough.

As a consequence, Cheltenham Business Pride has three objectives to achieve:

• To listen and respond to local businesses' needs
• To provide grants for local business projects that
  benefit Cheltenham's economy
• To promote local businesses' achievements in the
  local and national media

Cheltenham Business Pride is tailored to showcase business excellence via a sustained and committed approach to marketing and promoting business ventures within the borough. It is also designed to enable businesses to access the right information on business support that is relevant to their needs. Other benefits include a platform  to promote achievements
via this website and other media, match funding for business projects via our grant initiative and a range of other business support such as organising training to be provided at or near your place of work.
We will also be able to provide information on the local economy including for example, any changes in the borough, through to information on free programmes to look at cutting your energy bills.

And there's money in it, too!

Cheltenham Business Pride will provide up to £50,000 of Local Area Business Growth Initiative money to match fund and support projects proposed by businesses in the town, projects which benefit these businesses, the town and the economy.

Grants are available between £500 and £2000 and must be match-funded by individuals, groups of businesses, or from third party sources. This grant is available to all businesses, whether they are a sole trader or an SME (small-medium enterprise, between 5 and 300 employees).

Please note that completed applications will be considered on a monthly basis from Monday 9th June 2008, with final considerations being made on Friday 26th June 2009 by 5pm.

Steve Clark, MD, AVM Ltd, Lansdown Industrial Estate: 

"Cheltenham Business Pride is a great concept and one that I had no hesitating in joining. The fact that I get a free listing in the Business Directory, fantastic free business advice via informal workshops and seminars, and the opportunity to apply for a grant that will help my business, is invaluable.
"I would urge all businesses in Cheltenham to sign up for this
scheme - in my opinion, they simply can't afford to miss out."