Braintree: Portas cash could see two apprentices (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Braintree: Portas cash could see two apprentices

9:41am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News

Apprenticeships and £10,000 to help new businesses open are among the ideas of how to spend Portas Pilot cash.

The town has £86,500 to spend on boosting business and encouraging people to support local ventures after being one of 15 successful bids in the second round of the pilot.

On July 25 Braintree was announced as the only town in Essex to have been chosen to take part in the project.

A town team of 12 members will be formed on October 1 and take decisions in the scheme.

It is thought projects to train two retail apprentices and set up stalls in vacant arches in Market Street, Braintree, could each be given £12,000.

A shop may also be leased, at a cost of £15,000, to give training and showcase opportunities and act as a delivery point for internet sales.

A further £20,000 could be spent making concessions for new businesses and supporting existing retailers.

A town team buddy system building relationships between retailers and the area could cost £27,500 in events and advertising.

So far 32 businesses across the Braintree district have signed up to the separate Indi card scheme, which offers shoppers local discounts and deals.

So far 2,500 of the cards have been snapped up by shoppers and more than 35 offers have been available.

See this week's Times for four exclusive Indi card offers

Comments are closed on this article.