Council extends programme to help business premises costs and encourage local job creation in Glasgow

Published: 23 October 2019

Glasgow City Council has rolled out its Community Business Boost programme, part of Space for Growth, a £1.2 million support package for businesses, which provides part-funding of premises costs over a two-year period to support local job creation and economic growth.

The Community Business Boost provides part-funding of premises costs over a two-year period to support local job creation and economic growth. The support is being offered to Glasgow businesses as part of the range of 'Space for Growth' initiatives launched by Glasgow City Council to give new businesses, social enterprises and third sector groups affordable access to accommodation.

The Community Business Boost programme was launched in the summer of 2018 and supported new and expanding local businesses locating in the four highest SIMD areas in the city (the Calton, Canal, East Centre and North East wards).

The Community Business Boost Programme has now been extended to support new and expanding local businesses locating within the majority of areas across the city (the City Centre, the West End BID area and the Shawlands BID area are not part of the programme).

Businesses that have successfully formulated their business proposition into a clear, sustainable and viable strategy for job creation and growth are invited to make an application for funding to support the lease of a property in the city. Businesses must not have signed a lease or licence or already be operating within the proposed property.

In addition, business advisory support is available to support businesses to submit Small Business Bonus Scheme applications for discount on non-domestic business rates.

Businesses can apply by emailing the full address and postcode of the property they are looking at to: communityBusinessBoost@drs.glasgow.gov.uk. The Community Business Boost team will then check the postcode and let you know that is within an eligible area and arrange a meeting with a Business Adviser to discuss submitting an application.

Councillor Angus Millar, Depute City Convener for Economic Growth at Glasgow City Council, said: "The roll-out of the Community Business Boost to local High Streets across Glasgow will support new and growing businesses, bringing economic growth and jobs to local communities. I would urge anyone who thinks they may benefit from the programme to contact our Community Business Boost team to see if they are eligible for this support."

Find out more about the Community Business Boost, and the other Space For Growth initiatives, at: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/article/23231/Space-for-Growth-schemes-set-to-help-local-businesses-develop-in-Glasgow.