More than £0.3 million in grant funding has been awarded to 21 businesses in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership area, which includes Lichfield District, stimulating total investment of some £0.6 million and helping to create or safeguard 135 jobs.

The Business Development Programme has, in its first six months of operation, funded more than £0.6 million of project costs as part of the £8 million funding programme that is designed to support existing small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) and help create up to 400 jobs and safeguard around 400 more across the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) area.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – funded Business Development Programme provides funding of between £10,000 and £15,000 for growth and expansion projects with a total cost of more than £22,000 – subject to criteria and approval by an assessment panel.

Councillor Mike Wilcox, Leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “Being part of the Birmingham and Solihull LEP gives Lichfield District businesses access to a wide range of programmes, including the Businesses Development Programme. It’s a great opportunity for businesses to get their development and growth schemes underway, creating jobs and prosperity for the district. I would urge all small and medium businesses based in Lichfield District to find out more about the programme and to consider applying for a share of the £8 million funding.”

The Business Development Programme, administered by Birmingham City Council with the GBSLEP, is available to businesses in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) area that includes Birmingham, Bromsgrove, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Redditch, Solihull, Tamworth and Wyre Forest authorities.

As well as the financial assistance scheme, the programme includes an intensive coaching and mentoring scheme called great200leaders.

The great200leaders scheme offers a development plan, consisting of 100 hours of leadership development. It is delivered over 12 months in ten peer group workshops, each workshop is headed by an inspirational expert speaker, and each participant receives £4,000 funding towards the cost.

This programme is aimed at 200 ambitious business owners and directors, to deliver personal performance and business growth.

For more information about the programme please visit www.birmingham.gov.uk/bdp

or to apply for the coaching and mentoring programme visit: www.winningmoves.com/G200L

About the Business Development Programme

The £8m Business Development Programme has been designed to help more than 400 qualifying existing small and medium-sized businesses to implement their growth and expansion plans. The programme has received £3.9m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is administered by Birmingham City Council Business Development and Innovation Team. It is available to businesses throughout the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership area.

The programme provides financial assistance to qualifying companies by way of a grant of between £10,000 and £15,000 against minimum project costs of £22,000. The grant award is available for 45 percent of eligible project costs, subject to satisfying criteria and approval.

The programme aims to create more than 400 new jobs and safeguard more than 400 others.

Entry criteria

Financial Assistance Scheme

Designed to help more than 200 qualifying existing small and medium-sized businesses to implement their growth and expansion plans.

a) The business must be profit-seeking and have been trading for more than six months.

b) The business must be a small to medium sized enterprise (SME), i.e.

• have between 1-249 employees
• have an annual turnover less than £42m
• have a balance sheet less than £36m
• is less than 25% owned by a larger company or combination of larger companies.

c) The business’s premises must, or will be going to, pay its business rates to one of the local authorities within the GBSLEP area, i.e. Birmingham, Cannock, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, North Worcester (Bromsgrove, Redditch, Wyre Forest), Solihull or Tamworth.

• The business must be in an eligible SIC code and activity area.
• The business should not have received more than 200,000 euros of State Aid assistance in the last 36 months.
• Financial Assistance applications must be for business expansion projects costing a minimum of £22,000 and creating/safeguarding at least 1 FTE post.
• The business must have a current business plan.
• An administration fee of between £300 and £450 will be required on successful applications.

great200leaders – Coaching and Mentoring Programme

Businesses can also apply for coaching and mentoring which is available to more than 200 qualifying existing small and medium-sized businesses that can demonstrate growth ability. The 12 month programme consists of workshops, one-to-one mentoring, peer-group learning and expert support.

• The business should be profit-seeking and have been trading for more than 6 months.
• The business must be an SME (see above definition).
• · The business’s premises must, or will be going to, pay its business rates to one of the local authorities within the GBSLEP area, i.e. Birmingham, Cannock, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, North Worcester (Bromsgrove, Redditch, Wyre Forest), Solihull or Tamworth.
• The business must be in an eligible SIC code and activity area.
• The business should not have received more than 200,000 euros of State Aid assistance in the last 36 months.
• The business must have a minimum turnover of £50,000.
• The business must have the potential to increase turnover by a minimum of 15% per annum and/or increase employees by at least 5 FTEs in the next three years.
• The business must be able to commit to attending monthly workshops for at least 12 months.
• A matched contribution of £2,000 plus VAT will be required from participant businesses.

Exclusions include

Retail businesses, restaurants food and hospitality, accountancy, finance, legal, personal services, training and education, consultancy and other advisory services. Potential applicants can obtain more detailed information from relevant partners.

This year the government is making big changes to housing benefit, introducing a new benefits cap, and launching universal credit that will see people on a range of benefits getting a single payment once a month.

The government has also asked local councils like ours to introduce a new local council tax support scheme to replace council tax benefit.

Most of the changes won’t affect pensioners, but the changes to disability living allowance and the way pension credit is paid are also being introduced.

 To find out more abut the changes, download a handy booklet created by Lichfield District Council.

The changes could mean lots of working age people locally will have a lot less money and may have to make changes to their lifestyle to cope.

Our council recently launched a new website with our local partners to help people manage their money better, including lots of handy hints and tips. To find out more visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/manageyourmoney

Lichfield Garrick trustees met this month to sign the official agreement to make Lichfield Garrick a Charitable Theatre Trust.

On Tuesday 5 February, James Leavesley, Chairman of Lichfield Garrick Theatre Trust, was joined by fellow trustee and Deputy Leader of Lichfield District Council, Councillor Val Richards, and Councillor Margaret Stanhope, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Democratic & Legal Services, and by Adrian Jackson, Lichfield Garrick’s Chief Executive & Artistic Director, to sign the official agreement that marks the launch of the Lichfield Garrick as an independent theatre trust.

The move to charitable theatre trust status means the Lichfield Garrick will now be able to seek new funding from external sources. It also means the city theatre can add more expertise from the worlds of commerce, arts and theatre through the new Lichfield Garrick Theatre Trust Board.

Heading up the Lichfield Garrick Theatre Trust Board of 11 members is its Chairman James Leavesley. With a background in running successful local and international companies, as well as a love for theatre and the arts, he is well suited to leading the board that will work to make sure the Lichfield Garrick attracts support and develops even further as a quality theatre venue.

James Leavesley, Chairman of Lichfield Garrick Theatre Trust, said: “The move to trust status will benefit everyone involved with the Lichfield Garrick and enable us to stretch our ambitions for the future. While I fully understand why traditional funding streams for the arts are no longer as generous as they once were, it is important that we are able to seek alternative sources so that we may continue to deliver an enriching schedule of productions.

“I am honoured to have been elected as the trust’s inaugural chairman and with my fellow trustees, whose support and expertise is invaluable; I am looking forward to seeing the Garrick become acknowledged as a leading theatre trust.”

Adrian Jackson, Lichfield Garrick’s Chief Executive and Artist Director, commented: “Becoming a trust will allow this wonderful theatre to develop to even greater levels and offer a wonderful facility to everyone. We can now operate in a similar way to other prominent theatres across the country, attracting the new funding we need in order to support the performing arts in a way which opens up even more opportunities to local people.

“As a non-profit making independent organisation, we will continue in our dedication to offer a rich mix of live, entertaining and thought-provoking performances. We are committed to arts-inspired community cultural development, and one of our objectives is to provide improved educational experiences, extending our work with local schools, colleges and universities.”

Lichfield District Council welcomed the Lichfield Garrick’s new theatre trust status.

Councillor Mike Wilcox, Leader of Lichfield District Council, commented: “The Lichfield Garrick is at the centre of the district’s performing arts and has become a much loved venue that attracts local audiences and people from across the region.

“As such, we’re delighted the Lichfield Garrick is now officially a theatre trust. Becoming a trust puts the theatre in a much stronger position moving forward. It means that it is no longer solely reliant on the council for support, as its charity status will allow it to attract external funding, commercial partners and other forms of support.”

The Lichfield Garrick building is still wholly owned by Lichfield District Council, and the council has two seats on the new Lichfield Garrick Theatre Trust Board.

Each year, Lichfield District Council will provide a revenue grant to the theatre to support its operations. The team at the Lichfield Garrick has moved across to the new management arrangement and are now employed solely by the Lichfield Garrick.

Leading figures in the arts, TV, radio, business and Lichfield District councillors make up the 11 members of the Lichfield Garrick Theatre Trust Board.

Trustees are: James Leavesley DL, Richard Barnes, Cllr Mike Wilcox, Craig Tracey, Paul Richards, Peter Tomlinson DL, Cllr Val Richards, David Roden, Reeta Stokes, Malcolm Flanagan CBE and Matthew Ellis.

Andy Street meets with southern Staffordshire council leaders

Lichfield District Council hosted a visit by Andy Street, Chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), on Wednesday 23 January 2013.

Leaders from Lichfield District Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council and Tamworth Borough Council met with Andy Street to give an insight into the issues that are affecting economic growth locally, and how the local authorities and partners are working to support businesses within their areas.

The meeting was also a chance for Andy Street to expand on how the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) can provide practical help, including the many schemes that members of the LEP can access.

Andy Street, Chair of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The way the local authorities work together has been critical to the success of the GBSLEP to date.

“It is important that the local authorities see the benefits of being part of the LEP and I have been keen to make the point that we are already seeing things happen on the ground.

“Southern Staffordshire businesses can access a host of business support programmes through the Central Business Portal via www.gbslep.com and schemes, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative, Business Development Programme and Growing Places, are having an impact.”

Following the meeting, Andy Street went on to give a presentation to councillors from across southern Staffordshire. He offered an overview of what it means to be part of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP and the benefits it will bring locally and to the wider region.

Councillor Mike Wilcox, Leader of Lichfield District Council, said: “As a member of the LEP, it’s really important that we give our firsthand experiences of the issues that we are facing and on how we are working to support our local entrepreneurs.

“Business innovation and growth is vital. It is great to be in a LEP that is so committed to working with us to encourage economic development within southern Staffordshire. We’d like to thank Andy for taking the time to meet with the leaders and our councillors, and look forward to working as part of the LEP in the future.”

Councillor Richard Grosvenor, Leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, commented: “It was a fantastic opportunity for councillors to come and hear of all the good things the GBSLEP is achieving and planning to achieve and how their council’s membership of the LEP is helping to unify the push for economic growth in the area. It reinforced our decision to join the GBSLEP and the feeling that our membership will benefit our business community and therefore those living in our areas alike. The support to business growth that the LEP offers is second to none and it is vital that our business leaders draw on that to improve the economy for all.”

Councillor Steve Claymore, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and LEP Board Director, said: “Working within the LEP opens up a number of opportunities and initiatives for Tamworth and its economic future. The visit from Andy Street was an excellent forum to hear about how businesses are being supported across the area, while outlining plans for the future. We can see that the LEP will bring huge benefits to the area and I am pleased Tamworth will play a role in helping to define the area’s economic future.”

To find out more about the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership’s initiatives, and how to access grants, information and more, visit www.gbslep.com

Ends

Notes to editors

What is a Local Enterprise Partnership?

Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are led by businesses and local authorities across natural economic areas. They provide the vision, knowledge and strategic leadership required to drive sustainable private sector growth and job creation in their areas.

The area covered by the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership has a population of nearly two million, contains 835,000 jobs and has a GVA of about £34 billion. It enjoys a concentration of economic drivers second only to London.

The Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership includes Birmingham City Council, Bromsgrove District Council, Cannock Chase Council, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Lichfield District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Tamworth Borough Council, Wyre Forest District Council.

The GBSLEP’s objectives are to promote:

• sustainable private sector investment and growth
• business efficiency and competitiveness
• economic development and regeneration
• employment

The GBSLEP’s key aims are to:

• increase Gross Value Added (GVA, a measure of economic output) by 30% (£8.25bn) by 2020
• create 100,000 (net) private sector jobs by 2020
• boost indigenous and inward investment
• achieve global leadership in key sectors
• build a world class workforce

Media enquiries

Esther Epstein
Press & Communications Officer
Lichfield District Council
01543 308778
esther.epstein@lichfielddc.gov.uk

Today we welcomed the news that Orchard Street Investment Management, that runs Three Spires Shopping Centre, has agreed a 20 year lease with Debenhams Properties Limited for a 43,000 sq ft store in Lichfield City centre.

The premises, which was previously occupied by TJ Hughes before it went into administration in June 2011, will operate as a Debenhams department store, with work beginning on site towards the end of October. The store is expected to open in March 2013.

Councillor Mike Wilcox, Leader of Lichfield District Council, commented: “This is such an exciting announcement for both the city and Three Spires Shopping Centre, and we
welcome the news. The arrival of Debenhams will undoubtedly attract more shoppers to the city centre, which is great news for the city as a whole. The new store will also bring much needed jobs to the city, which will be a boost for local people. We are also hopeful that such a prestigious name will attract more traders into the city centre, making Lichfield an even better place to shop and visit.”

Gareth Dougherty, Acquisitions Manager at Debenhams commented “Lichfield has been on our radar for some time now, with its geographical location and demographic profile,
making it an attractive location for Debenhams. The unit provides the ideal opportunity to open a full line department store within Three Spires Shopping Centre and will house an extensive, exclusive offer with our Designers at Debenhams range. We will begin work on the new department store shortly and look forward to opening in spring 2013.”

Debenhams had expressed interest in the Friarsgate scheme. David Clancy, director of S Harrison Developments Ltd that is leading on the Friarsgate scheme, said: “We are
committed to delivering Friarsgate as soon as the economic conditions allow.

“The news that Debenhams is moving into the Three Spires Shopping Centre is really positive for the city and will only help to increase Lichfield’s attractiveness to the many
potential retailers we are speaking to. Interest in the Friarsgate scheme remains strong, despite the current economic climate, and securing a new major anchor store remains part of our plans, along with a range of independent and brand-leading stores, restaurants, bars, cafes, and a digital cinema operator.”