New funding on the way to help Dorset businesses grow

Dorset businesses will soon be able to apply for a share of £1.4 million to help their companies and the local economy grow.

At a meeting of Dorset Council’s Cabinet yesterday (28 January), members endorsed the latest round of UK Shared Prosperity Funding (SPF) coming from the government.

This will bring the total of SPF monies being awarded to the county in the last two years to £7.8 million.

And already more than 100 businesses have benefitted with grants ranging from £1,500 to £40,000.

From food producers to precision engineers, SPF funding is helping to create new jobs, increase productivity and bring companies more up to date with investment in technology.

One Dorset company to benefit was Cranborne Chase Cider, near Sixpenny Handley, which thanks to its £14,360 grant was able to buy a harvester and trailer – more than doubling its productivity in the process.

Owner, Bill Meaden, said: “Before the harvester it would take us two or three days to harvest 10 tonnes of apples. We can now easily do that in a day.

“This investment not only means we can double our productivity but also means we can take on more orchards and expand our offer.

“We’ve bought the harvester with very much the future in mind. We are currently growing new orchards that will come into fruit around 2028. Without the harvester we couldn’t take on extra commitments and grow as a company.”

As well as cider, sold at local shops, pubs and summer festivals the family farm produces apple juice and chutneys which are sold direct from the farm gate.

With its harvester, Cranborne Chase Cider can also harvest orchards owned by other landowners, saving tonnes of apples from going to waste.

Dorset Council oversees the awards of SPF funding to local businesses, with a panel making the final decision on successful applications.

SPF funding was first introduced in 2023 to support business creation and expansion and boost jobs through innovation, automation, growth, and productivity.

The government has agreed to do one further round of SPF funding for 2025/26 while it determines a longer-term solution. Of the £1.4 million allocated to Dorset, £725,000 will be for supporting businesses and a further £200,000 for skills training.

And the remaining SPF funds will be for projects that boost tourism, improve the environment and support local communities.

Applications for this last round of funding will be launched in March.

Dorset Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet member for Property & Assets and Economic Growth, Cllr Richard Biggs, said: “We very much welcome the government releasing more UK Shared Prosperity Funding.

“It’s one of our key priorities to support economic growth in Dorset and this funding is proving that extra financial support can make a huge difference to the success of our businesses.”

Details on how to apply for the next round of SPF funding will be announced by the council in March.