32 projects get SPF money to help Powys businesses expand

24 January 2024

Thirty-two projects have received Shared Prosperity Fund (Levelling Up) grants worth a total of £5.24 million in the last year to help boost business investment and create jobs.

The awards have been made by the Powys Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Partnership Board, under its Supporting Local Business theme.

It is responsible for deciding how the just over £26 million in SPF money allocated to Powys for 2022-25, by the UK Government as part of its Levelling Up programme, should be spent.

The Powys SPF Local Partnership Board is supported by Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team.

"Our objectives under the Supporting Local Business theme are to create jobs and boost community cohesion, promote networking and collaboration, and increase private sector investment in growth-enhancing activities," said Cllr David Selby, the council's Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys and Chair of the Powys SPF Local Partnership Board.

"This would ideally be achieved through investment that builds on existing industries and institutions, through interventions that bring together businesses and partners within and across sectors, and through targeted support for small and medium-sized businesses."

The projects that have been successful under the Supporting Local Business theme are:

• Strategic Vision and Masterplan for the Royal Welsh Showground, £24,999, to Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, to create a plan for the site that will look at new opportunities for partnerships and investment.
• Gwasg Treftadaeth Gregynog, £45,000, to Gwasg Gregynog, for a feasibility study looking at the creation of a new visitor attraction based on the historical importance of the printing press at Gregynog Hall, near Newtown.
• Cynefin Masterplan and Strategies, £50,000, to Centre for Alternative Technology, to carry out a review of its Cynefin project which aims to support the transition to a low carbon economy.
• Lifeline at Home, £21,975, to Age Cymru Powys, for a feasibility study on creating a Lifeline at Home paid for service in Powys that supports older people.
• Talgarth Low Carbon Energy Project, £50,000, to Powys County Council in partnership with GP Biotec, for a feasibility study to see if surplus energy from the GP Biotec anaerobic digestion plant in Talgarth can be used to power council vehicles and public buildings.
• Powys Smart Towns, £136,802, to Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team, to provide management systems and training for towns with smart infrastructure so, they can monitor footfall and use this information to evaluate the success of promotional campaigns and events.
• Paths to Prosperity, £131,187, to Powys County Council in partnership with Ramblers Cymru, to develop and promote quality, all-year-round walking trails that will support sustainable tourism.
• Powys Event Network Development, £100,000, to Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team, to help evolve the event sector in the county, through networking, training and joint marketing campaigns.
• Revitalising Mid Wales Rewards and Incentives Scheme, £320,380, to Mid Wales Tourism, for a project that will help independent businesses compete with larger chains through improved customer loyalty.
• Supporting Tourism Businesses, £98,300, to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, to create a new website and programme of activity in support of the visitor economy, promoting the area as a sustainable destination.
• CEMET University of South Wales, £100,500, to CEMET at the University of South Wales, for supporting Powys businesses and social enterprises which want to develop new products or services.
• Revalue 2 (Innovation Strategy), £337,246, to Innovation Strategy, to provide technical and business advice to enterprises which want to grow, particularly in the high-value manufacturing, agriculture, and food and drink sectors.
• Specialist Support for Social Enterprises, £174,094, to Cwmpas, for providing advice to social enterprises at all stages of development throughout Powys.
• Global Reach Out Programme, £168,831, to Antur Cymru, to help micro, small and medium-sized businesses to start exporting or expand their existing sales to other countries.
• Mid Wales Business Energy Efficiency Boost, £403,392, to Severn Wye Energy Agency, to help small and medium-sized businesses reduce their energy bills and CO2 emissions.
• Powys Public Service Board Carbon Footprint, £199,931, to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, for research and analysis, feasibility studies and encouraging actions that will cut carbon emissions.
• Llangorse Common Options appraisal, £20,000, to Powys County Council's Countryside Services, to look at improvements that will make it a more attractive place to visit and use for recreation.
• Wyeside Workshop Development, £39,754, to Wyeside Arts Centre, for a feasibility study into the refurbishment of nearby workshops, offices and store to create a rehearsal theatre, dance space and recording studio in Builth Wells.
• Growing Mid Wales Digital Connectivity, £50,000, to Powys and Ceredigion County Councils in partnership, to carry out connectivity analysis and mapping that will support future improvements.
• Mid Wales Solutions Catalyst, £238,741, to Aberinnovation, for research and development support for small and medium-sized businesses in the health, agriculture, environment, and food and drink sectors.
• Insulating Powys, £107,970 to NPTC Group of Colleges, to train more insulation installers and promote the benefits of their work to homeowners.
• Powys Business Growth Grants, £398,128, to Powys County Council's Economic Development and Regeneration Team, to run a scheme to help business in Powys fund work that will either create or safeguard jobs.
• Newtown Fashion Technology Academy, £200,000, to NPTC Group of Colleges, for the creation of a new facility in the centre of Newtown, in a commercial partnership with Fashion Enter.
• Multi-Output Carbon Reduction Plant for Mid Wales Study, £49,954, to Severn Wye Energy Agency, to look at setting up a processing plant in Powys that would turn low value wood and leaves into biochar and biocoal and provide surplus heat.
• Growing the Local Food Economy, £150,274, to Ecodyfi, to help expand local food production, through mentoring and support, in the Dyfi Biosphere area.
• Future Farms, £243,176, to Social Farms and Gardens, for a pilot involving six farms, which will be split into smaller plots and used to grow food for local and regional markets.
• Creative Hubs Across Powys, £221,750, to Powys County Council's Cultural Services, to develop the Stori Powys website as a place to promote art and culture activities, events and services.
• Mid Wales Enterprise Growth Catalyst, £345,320, Mid Wales Enterprise Growth Catalyst, for an established programme supporting entrepreneurs and business growth.
• The Powys Digital Towns Mobile App, £243,544, to Programus, to create an app that will help town centre businesses with e-commerce and digital marketing.
• Focus Enterprise, £249,731, to Business in Focus, for business help targeted at those not accessing mainstream support services.
• Menter y Mynydd, £96,327, to Menter Mynyddoedd, to support business growth in Powys communities based in the Cambrian Mountains.
• Trading Space, £232,320, to Antur Cymru, for business coaching and the provision of a pop-up high street shop in Newtown that can be used by entrepreneurs to test sales potential.

For more information on the UK SPF in Powys visit: UK Shared Prosperity Fund or email: ukspf@powys.gov.uk

The Powys SPF Local Partnership includes Powys County Council, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Powys Teaching Health Board, NPTC Group of Colleges, Business Wales, Mid Wales Regional Skills Partnership, Mid Wales Tourism, Mid Wales Manufacturing Group, Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, Wales YFC, NFU Cymru, Farmers' Union of Wales, Chambers Wales, and One Voice Wales.