How Hartlepool tourism businesses can apply to new £250,000 fund to bounce back from lockdown

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has launched the Back to Business Fund which will award grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 to small and medium-sized visitor sector businesses in the region.

The grants will allow firms to get direct professional support, advice and guidance in areas such as HR, accountancy, legal, financial, health and safety, IT and digital to aid their recovery and future growth.

It will support businesses in the sector to develop new business strategies, cashflow planning, new HR policies and changes to digital methods including shifts to online trading.

Mayor Houchen said: "Our hospitality and visitor businesses are hugely important. Not only do they play a key role in supporting thousands of local jobs in our economy, they also bring so much joy to local people.

"That’s why I’ve made supporting them a priority in my jobs plan for the economic recovery of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

"This is why I launched a £1 million Welcome Back Fund to support the pubs, restaurants, cafes and venues which promote our visitor economy and help them to reopen.

“In delivering this new programme, I’m keen for our amazing small and medium sized hospitality, tourism and events businesses to benefit from the experience we have in the region so they can get the support they need.”

Mayor Houchen also wants to hear from professional advisors interested in offering their services.

Their details and a brief description will be published on the Tees Valley Business website so those businesses in need can be pointed in the right direction.

"Across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, we know that we have a wealth of professional advisors that can provide the advice, support and guidance that many of our businesses require at this difficult time,” added Mayor Houchen.

Businesses interested in applying for funding should initially submit an expression on interest through the online form available on the Tees Valley Business website at www.teesvalleybusiness.com

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