Four Country Durham businesses to benefit from £5m recovery grant

Four County Durham businesses will benefit from a £5m grant to help recover from the disruption of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Durham Business Recovery Grant was launched in January by Durham County Council. It is valued at £5m and aimed at businesses which are adapting business models, developing new products, or entering new markets.

The scheme, which is overseen by Business Durham, provides grants from £1k up to £40k for businesses with a clear recovery plan.

Of the 467 applicants for the grant, four of the earliest recipients have been announced. These are Hudson Media Services, electrical and mechanical engineers IVIC LTD, Quarry Burn Restaurant, and the Morritt Hotel and Garage Spa.

Sarah Slaven, interim managing director of Business Durham, said: “We are delighted to be able to fund these four businesses.

“Each of these companies have outlined clear recovery plans and identified how funding from the Durham Business Recovery Grant can help them to get their business back on track.”

The Morritt Hotel and Garage Spa near Barnard Castle hopes to use its grant to convert a self-catering property into two separate units to better support Covid-safe bookings.

Matthew Robertson, general manager at The Morritt Hotel and Garage Spa, said: “The grant has enabled us to invest in one of our key assets at a time when hospitality regionally and nationally is in need of support and confidence.”

He continued: “The impact of investment at this time has demonstrated to our staff and our local market that we fully intend to come out of this stronger and better.”

Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, added: “With the prospect of the economy gradually starting to open up, it’s great to see so many County Durham businesses coming forward with clear plans outlining how the recovery grant can give them the cash injection they need.”