Council launches new funding packages to support high street businesses
Telford & Wrekin Council has launched a new wave of grants to support high street businesses.
The funding is available through the Council’s Pride in Our High Street programme which has already helped many businesses across the borough to start-up, grow and flourish.
Since 2018, the Council has awarded a total of 372 grants and helped 66 businesses to set up on the high street as well as supporting them with other funding to drive more footfall to the borough towns.
Pride in Our High Street has been relaunched for 2025/26, offering businesses a series of separate grants with a total funding value of £1.2 million.
They include:
- Start-up grants of up to £10,000 to help businesses set up on the high street in empty retail units
- Start-up trial grants of up to £2,500 to help businesses test the waters on the high street first, often as pop up shops or a market stall
- Facade grants for shop units in the borough towns and those units in district centres (Hadley, Donnington and Lawley) to help paint shop frontages, replace signage or improve shutters and make high street units look more attractive
- Eco grants to help businesses purchase energy saving products and become more sustainable
- Digital grants to help businesses become more effective and efficient in today’s digital world.
For all the grants certain criteria must be met and applications will be assessed on an individual basis by the Council’s Pride in Our High Street team.
Many businesses have continued to grow after initial council funding - moving into bigger premises and taking on more staff.
Councillor Ollie Vickers, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy, said: “At Telford & Wrekin Council, we’re continuing to invest in the Pride in Our High Street programme and support businesses on our high streets which are so important to us.
“We are making great progress tackling empty shop units and breathing new life into our high streets through the programme.
“Whether businesses want support with setting up in a previously empty high street unit, need help making their business become more sustainable through an eco grant or improve the appearance of their premises, help is at hand through these funding packages.
“We encourage everyone to continue to shop locally and support businesses as much as they can to help keep our high streets alive and vibrant.”
If you are interested in starting your own business contact the Pride in Our High Street team via email to discuss your idea email PrideinOurHighStreet@telford.gov.uk
