Start-Up Grant Gives New Caerphilly Business A Boost

A new business in Caerphilly county borough has recently received start-up support thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Specialist recruitment business Profession Direct Ltd has been awarded a start-up grant, as well as business support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise, allowing the new business to purchase IT equipment and marketing materials. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Profession Direct Ltd is a specialist recruitment business which offers recruitment, training and consultancy services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Simon Hughes, Managing Director of Profession Direct said: “With 24 years of experience working in the legal and financial services sector, Profession Direct Ltd was formed out of the wish to capitalise on the demand for professional recruitment services in the regulated professions of financial services, medical, education, legal services and estate agents as well as utilities and energy”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He continued: “Based in Caerphilly and members of The Institute of Recruitment Professionals, to date the business has created 4 jobs and we anticipate doubling the head count within the next 6 months. Thank you to Caerphilly County Borough Council and Uk Steel Enterprise for the start-up support that they have provided, which has given our new business a firm foundation to build on, having acquired several long term contracts with two leading PLCs and a number of SMEs”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “I am thrilled that Caerphilly County Borough Council has been able to assist in the start-up of yet another business within Caerphilly county borough. The grant and support received by Profession Direct Ltd from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise will enable the new business to grow to its full potential”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​