A grant to bring redundant buildings into use could result in around 27 new jobs in the west of the county during the next five years.
The Redundant Building Grant, funded by Advantage West Midlands, was given to a local business for the conversion of a former radio station at Kingstone to create new business premises.
ETL Systems, a rapidly expanding local business which specialises in the design & manufacture of electronic equipment for satellite communications, was awarded the grant which will enable it to remain in the county and to expand its operation.
Thanks to the Redundant Building Grant administered by the Economic Development Unit at Herefordshire Council, ETL Systems will be able to create up to 27 new jobs in the county over the next five years in addition to safeguarding 20 existing jobs.
Programme Manager, Dorothy Coleman, said: “It is very satisfying to be able to assist a rapidly expanding local business and to ensure that new jobs are being created in this high technology sector.”
CEO of ETL Systems, Ian Hilditch, said: “We were very keen to find a rural site in Herefordshire which also projected the right kind of image. Our customers include international broadcasters, telephone, and satellite operating companies and they expect vendors to have suitable facilities.
“These are extremely difficult to find in Herefordshire, and we seriously considered moving elsewhere. The Redundant Building Grant has enabled us to convert an existing building into an attractive high tech facility.”
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A total of 22 grants have now been awarded towards a wide range of projects through the Redundant Building Grant Scheme which is funded through the Rural Regeneration Zone Programme by Advantage West Midlands.
Grants can contribute up to 25% of conversion costs, up to a maximum of £62,500 for suitable projects within eligible parts of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.
This funding can make all the difference in making a project commercially viable.
The scheme is particularly focused on the sympathetic conversion of historic buildings and workspace in priority industrial sectors including creative industries, environmental technologies, interactive media, food and drink and tourism and leisure.
For more information on the scheme, contact Dorothy Coleman, Programme Manager on (01432) 260662 or email rbgscheme@herefordshire.gov.uk