South of Scotland Enterprise approves £9million of grants

Professor Russel Griggs, chairman of the South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE)

A total of £8.84m was approved for 79 businesses and organisations by South of Scotland Enterprise, the new economic and community development agency for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, between October and December.

These ranged from £1,500 for a tree surgery business in Castle Douglas to £3,400,000 for Annan-based personal protective equipment firm Alpha Solway Ltd.

In Berwickshire over £200,000 was handed out, including £91,625 to Border Embroideries and £61,784 for Giacopazzi’s Wholesale Icecream. Ahlstrom-Munksjo Chirnside and Hutton Stone were given £32,000 and £31,497 respectively.

Professor Russel Griggs, chair of SOSE, said: “We continue to encourage South of Scotland businesses and organisations to get in touch with us should they be seeking advice, support or have an idea they would like to develop.”

Mark Rowley, executive member for Economic Regeneration and Finance at Scottish Borders Council, added: “Delivering business support has been a key priority for the council throughout the pandemic and has been an absolutely crucial lifeline to support and protect thousands of Borders businesses who have suffered financially throughout the pandemic and often really struggled. We are here to help.

“I urge every business, whether you have received support already or not, to keep checking the Find Business Support website for funds becoming available that you may be eligible for and apply when these are available.

"I also urge Borders residents to shop local and support local businesses whenever you can.”

The £8.84m was in addition to over £12m issued to around 300 South of Scotland businesses through the Scottish Government’s Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund (PERF) and Creative, Tourism and Hospitality Hardship Fund earlier in the year, and £1.4m approved in direct grants to between April and September 2020.

The Scottish Wedding Industry Fund has also recently been opened to support ocal business whose main income comes from weddings.