Borough Council encourages local business with its 'Golden Hello' scheme

Businesses will be encouraged to set-up shop in vacant retail units in Ilkeston and Long Eaton through a new Golden Hello grant scheme.

The scheme is one of a number of projects being rolled out by Erewash Borough Council over the next two years following a successful bid for a share of the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund to invest in our communities.

The project, set to launch this summer, will provide grants of up to £2,000 for new or existing businesses occupying empty shops to help pay for quality signage and other shop front improvements with the purpose of:

• Bringing empty shops back into use;
• Supporting businesses by helping to pay for essential set-up costs;
• Improving business viability by enhancing their ‘shop appeal’;
• Improving the look and feel of Ilkeston and Long Eaton town centres.
• Support with a marketing strategy

Councillor Bryn Lewis, Lead Member for Town Centres at Erewash Borough Council, said: “Residents have consistently told us that they want empty shops brought back into use, but the council can only achieve this by encouraging local start-up and expanding businesses to take up the vacant units and bring them back to life. This project will do just that, by encouraging more investment into our town centres, including independent and boutique premises, to provide more customer choice.”

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.