Nelson Business Receives Support From Caerphilly County Borough Council

A new business venture has been given a boost thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sweet Blu’s, based at 32 Commercial Street in Nelson, received a Business Start Up Grant thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council and Tata Steel Subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The homeware and gift shop was set up by Alana Williams and sells a range of items including craft supplies, wedding gifts and bath products. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Alana Williams, owner of Sweet Blu’s said: “It has always been my dream to set up a gift and homeware shop in the local area and I am delighted to have been given the opportunity. Thank you to Caerphilly County Borough Council for awarding Sweet Blu’s a Business Start Up Grant of £500, which has partially funded the set up costs of my new venture”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “I am thrilled that Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise were able to provide Sweet Blu’s with a Business Start Up Grant, which will help towards the businesses initial start-up costs. I wish Alana the very best of luck in the future”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Martin Palmer Investment Executive with UK Steel Enterprise, commented: “This new venture will make an important contribution to the community and we are delighted to have been able to provide support, working with Caerphilly County Borough Council”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The business start-up grant enables residents of Caerphilly county borough who are not able to access any other source of funding, to set up a full-time business for the first time. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of £500. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Business start-ups from all business sectors may be considered under the grant scheme, provided that the business is being set up in Caerphilly county borough. Eligible costs could include; capital equipment, ICT equipment, development of websites, marketing and building works within the business premises. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In order to qualify for the grant, the business must not have started prior to application and approval. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​