Swansea businesses encourage others to apply for grant funding

This helped leverage over £2.2m in private investment, while creating 100 new jobs and safeguarding 165 jobs.

Figures also show 187 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year have been saved and that 83 new enterprises have been created.

Applications are now once again open with a new round of pre-start, growth, innovation and carbon reduction grants available.

Christos Georgakis, of the Gower Deli, said: “I have state-of-the-art, brand new equipment that’s due to this grant.

“This will last longer. The equipment also works better and enables better cooking.”

The View in Rhossili – a café bar and kitchen – received a carbon reduction grant.

Sarah Bickerstaff, of The View, said: “The funding allowed us to put full central heating in the building, which is now a warmer area as well as being more cost effective.

“The View is a nicer place to be because of the improvement.”

Ross Miller, of James Miller Solutions, said: “We applied for an innovation grant, which allowed us to approach design and engineering companies that can manufacture our product.

“It also meant we were able to finance a 12-month longevity test that will allow the National Grid to sign the product off and put it in their policy throughout the UK.”

Robert Jenkins, of Gower Brownies, said: “As you can appreciate, we have a huge oven and bain-maries, so everything constantly swallows up electricity.

“A carbon reduction grant has enabled us to put solar panels on the roof to help with electricity costs on running the oven, which means we should save about nine tonnes of CO2 a year.”

Other Swansea businesses to have received grants include marketing agency The Cusp, market trader Bowla – a Bowl with a Roll, DUA Cleaning Services, and Imersifi – an immersive technology and virtual reality business.

Head to www.swansea.gov.uk/businessfunding for more information and to apply for the business grants which are now available.