Businesses in Eden are being encouraged to take advantage of initiatives to help firms in the area.

A range of support packages which are funded by Eden District Council are available for businesses in the district: including the Eden Apprenticeship Scheme, Eden Business Support Fund and the council’s upcoming Pilot Business Growth Scheme.

The Eden Apprenticeship Scheme provides a subsidy for each apprentice that is taken on.

A grant of up to £2,000 is available from the council towards wage costs of each new apprenticeship. Businesses are free to choose their own provider – with a wide range of apprenticeship frameworks available.

The Eden Business Support Fund is aimed at businesses which have been unable to access funding from mainstream lenders in the past.

Eden District Council has partnered up with Enterprise Answers to deliver the £500,000 fund.

The council is also set to announce a new Pilot Business Growth Scheme which will enable businesses to speak to an adviser who can offer practical advice and support.

Commercial services portfolio holder and deputy leader of the council Councillor Mary Robinson said: “The funding and support that we are providing for Eden businesses can be the difference-maker when it comes to unlocking growth and increasing the number of jobs, especially for our young people in the area.

“I’m also very excited to share that we’ll be shortly unrolling our Pilot Business Growth Scheme in the next few weeks.

"Expert advisers will be available to give fully-funded support to a range of sectors, from agriculture to tech businesses in Eden.”

Businesses in Eden which are interested in the upcoming support programme can contact the council’s economic development team by emailing dan.mcaulay@eden.gov.uk for more information.

More information about the schemes is available at Eden District Council’s economic development website www.investineden.co.uk.

It also has information on helping businesses go green, an Eden land and property search facility and suggestions for other sources of finance and business support.