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SOSE awards £5.5 million in 2020

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By Euan Maxwell
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SOSE awards £5.5 million in 2020
SOSE chair Professor Russel Griggs

SINCE launching in April, the South of Scotland Enterprise (SoSE) has awarded over £5.5 million in grants to businesses and organisations across Dumfries and Galloway.

The development agency was set up in response to unique economic challenges faced in the region. According to the Scottish Government, its overarching aim is to “drive inclusive growth and ensure the region benefits from a new approach that supports a diverse and resilient economy, sustains and grows communities, and harnesses the potential of people and resources.”

A full list of this year’s grants has now been published revealing where funds have been allocated in the region.

Tourism and hospitality received the biggest boost with £1,329,947 invested across 22 beneficiaries, followed by construction projects, which were awarded a total of £1,101,938. ‘Other manufacturing’ projects were also saw considerable investment with £772,836 granted.

Furthermore, wholesale and retail businesses received £743,323 – more than twice the total amount invested by SoSE in care (£145,200), creative industries (£106,389), transport and logistics (£12,000), and agriculture, forestry and fishing (£100,000).

‘Other services’, which includes the Crichton Trust as beneficiaries, were granted £564,349, whilst ‘professional services’ – Genesis OHS, a Dumfries-based health consultancy company, and Murray Farmcare Ltd – received a combined £133,270.

And food and drink manufacturing across the region saw £447,000 of investment.

McMillans Hotels Ltd, Molplant Construction Ltd and 3b Construction Ltd picked up the joint-highest sum of £250,000 invested, followed by the Lockerbie-based construction company Robinsons Scotland Ltd, granted £172,342.

Gretna Green Ltd, The Crichton Trust, Cochran Ltd and European Forest Machinery Ltd were all joint third, receiving £150,000 each from SoSE.

Chair of the South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), Professor Russel Griggs said: “COVID-19 has had a significant impact on every business and organisation in the South ofScotland.

“Having been launched just a week after lockdown began, our immediate focus has been supporting our businesses, communities, and individuals to recover from the wide-ranging impacts of the pandemic, which we are still doing eight months on.

“But we are also looking to our future.  This includes developing our Action Plan over the coming months which will be developed after we listen extensively to people across the South of Scotland.”

A South of Scotland Enterprise spokesperson added: “Since being launched on 1 April 2020, South of Scotland Enterprise has handed out over £12 million in grants to around 300 businesses and organisations across Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders.

“This has included significant investments of £1.9m to support the  Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere reach its full potential, up to £ 1 million  to support charity  Langholm  Initiative to purchase part of Langholm Moor from Buccleuch  Estates and £700,000 to protect and create jobs at Hilltop Leaf.

“We also have worked as part of Team South of Scotland with Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders councils to play a key role in administering £87.7m of Scottish Government funds to help businesses and organisations across the region​ during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Other considerable commitments include over £2.7m over five years to support a new tourism, marketing and destination development programme to be delivered by the South of Scotland Destination Alliance (SSDA).”

 

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