Businesses in Rutland are telling us they need more support from local government
It's after a business summit held by Rutland County Council yesterday discussed how to access support to grow businesses in the county
Businesses in Rutland say they're facing major challenges with constantly rising costs.
It comes after a business summit held by Rutland County Council yesterday that discussed how to access support to grow businesses in the county.
The purpose was to bring businesses together to network and hear about the council's Economic Growth Strategy.
As well as this, local businesses were asked what support they need.
In some ways this could really help businesses grow
Jon Redding, Director at Octopus Computers in Rutland, said:
"In some ways this could really help businesses grow if it goes in the right direction."
"My concern has always been that there is no directive or requirement for the local council to spend money in the region and consistently across every service and product I see the money flowing out."
"Within Rutland, I'd like to see a directive that says a minimum amount of all spending must happen within the council, and that's audited and publicly shared."
"We need ways to access the funding which the government is spending on a local level."
"We need to encourage that money to be spent within the county, both within the businesses that are operating here and the public money that's available."
We need ways to access the funding which the government is spending on a local level
The strategy was introduced in March 2024 and aims to help reverse the recent decline in the local economy, which shrank by 8.8% 2015 and 2020.
There's around 2,000 businesses in the county and the council say they are looking to help the grow and thrive these by making sure they know about grant opportunities and practical support that’s available to them locally.
Hayley, Economic Development Officer at Rutland County Council, said:
"We have been working across the year to get going and really boost economic development because there was a bit of a lapse in our strategy, and we didn't have one for a number of years and resources as well."
"So we are really trying to get things going again in terms of economic development and the support we give in Rutland."