Businesses and community groups across Tendring are being urged to apply for grants after the district was awarded £563,000 from UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Tendring District Council (TDC) leaders welcomed the Government cash as a major boost for local businesses and organisations at a meeting of the Cabinet last week.

The 2025/6 funding, which is expected to be made available soon, will support a range of locally-led projects aimed at enhancing communities, supporting businesses, and improving skills and employability across the district.

The Cabinet heard that since 2022, TDC has helped to deliver £1.18million of UKSPF funding, predominantly as grants to local businesses.

Ivan Henderson, TDC Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, said: "We are excited to see the positive impact that this funding will have on our communities.

“By focusing on local needs and supporting innovative projects, we can drive economic growth and improve the quality of life for our residents.

“In previous years, we have been able to support our communities and businesses to deliver their own ideas, helping them to take even greater pride in the projects.

“Some great work has already been facilitated thanks to the UKSPF and I look forward to seeing what further projects we can help to fund in the coming year.

“Many businesses have faced challenges in recent years and we are doing what we can locally to support them – from working with the district’s town and tourism groups and running the Tendring4Growth Fortnight and networking events to operating the fully-occupied Sunspot business centre in Jaywick Sands and hosting our popular Jobs and Skills Fair.”

The £563,028 fund for Tendring will need to be spent over the upcoming financial year, with money being allocated across three key themes - Communities and Place, Supporting Local Business, and People and Skills.

Applications for the fourth year of UKSPF will be opening soon, with all project proposals undergoing a thorough assessment process.

To support local businesses and community organisations in understanding and applying for the funding opportunities, TDC will host a special event at Clacton’s Princes Theatre, on Wednesday, March 12, from 10am to 12noon.

This event will provide information on the open calls and grants available, including the ‘Extend the Season’ event grants and ‘Widening participation in Sport’ grants.

For more information on the UKSPF, please visit the TDC website at https://www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/ukspf.

To book a place for the free Tendring Funding Opportunities event, which will include light refreshments, click here.

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Mike McLain runs Great Danes in Connaught Avenue, Frinton-on-Sea, a giftshop that celebrates Danish and Scandinavian design.

He successfully applied for £6,210 from the UKSPF to create a pocket-sized printed map, highlighting all businesses in the town, along with arranging for six training sessions for the town’s firms, covering subjects such as how to successfully use Facebook, Instagram and Google to boost business.

“The most important part of the project was that it really brought local businesses together for the betterment of the high street,” he said.

“It has made people more aware of Frinton’s shops and quite how big the high street is – we really wanted to put it on the map.

“Businesses have been struggling in recent years and the map has helped to encourage people to explore shops they might otherwise not have visited.

“Overall, the grant was good for the town and even helped us to hire a company to present the training sessions, which we held at local venues, such as Frinton Lawn Tennis Club.

“Unlike some other parts of the country, we have a functioning high street in Frinton and we wanted to play our part in bringing more people in to shop.”