A new fund for SMEs in St Helens has been officially launched at a ceremony in the town. The Business Grant Fund, provided by the local council, will offer between £500 and £10,000 to help businesses in the borough grow and create jobs.

Barrie Grunewald (pictured), leader of St Helens Council, said: “Small to medium-size businesses are very important to the borough, and we hope this fund will help them get ideas and projects off the ground that they previously might have struggled with. I am determined that we will grow our local economy through targeted schemes like this one.”

Kath Boullen, chief executive of St Helens Chamber, said: “This is a great opportunity for businesses in the borough that want to invest and grow. The news has been well received, and a lot of businesses that attended the launch were interested in buying equipment, machinery or making their businesses more visible through marketing. It gives others in the area great confidence too, as these projects create jobs for the future.”