NEW business ventures across North Somerset have been given a financial boost from a High Street Innovation Fund.

Nine projects have benefitted from grants from a £100,000 pot given to North Somerset Council by the Government to boost the district’s high streets.

In this third and final round of funding awards, £18,560 has been shared between the nine projects and a further five businesses have been offered one-to-one business support from North Somerset Enterprise Agency (NSEA).

Applications were judged by an independent panel which was particularly impressed by innovative, well-researched projects with a clear business plan.

In Nailsea, Ewe Knit 20 and Party Smartys, both in Colliers Walk and winners of the town’s Win a Shop contest, were awarded grants and, in Portishead, Mandy’s Make craft café which opened in The Precinct in August was also successful.

A new barber shop in Pill has been given funding for a fit-out of its premises and in Hill Road in Clevedon two existing businesses, Fizz Framing and The Food Market @ Seeley’s, have been given funding to help them continue to strengthen the town’s independent offer. Twin sisters Victoria and Becky Saunders were also given funding to help with their opening of vintage emporium, 19, in Alexandra Road.

North Somerset Council’s deputy leader Elfan Ap Rees said: “This £100,000 grant allocation has enabled 32 projects to start up, expand, diversify, and has supported events and initiatives that will offer vital support to neighbouring businesses.”

There is still a small amount of funding available to pay for one-to-one diagnostic sessions with NSEA for any existing or start-up businesses occupying a retail unit.

For more details email business@n-somerset.gov.uk or call 01934 426341.