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1. Merton Council business support
programmes
Some of the council business support programmes
outlined below are already available for Merton
businesses. The other schemes are being developed
by Merton Council and its partners, and will be
available to Merton businesses from summer 2013
onwards.
Business support for new start-ups and
existing small businesses
Merton Council funds Merton Chambers of
Commerce to provide support for people wanting
to start up a new business – as well as providing
business advice and support for established
small businesses.
For further information, telephone 020 8944 5501
or visit
Merton Business Support Service (MBSS)
MBSS is a new business support service which will
provide high quality, practical advice and support
to help small businesses (including new start-ups)
to develop and expand. It will be delivered by
experienced business advisors and coaches
with a strong track record of providing business
support.
For further information, contact the futureMerton’s
Business Team on 020 8545 3232 / 3837 or email
future
Business Loans
Merton Council offers two business loan schemes to
help businesses in Merton to start-up, develop and
grow. The business loans are:
•
Merton Business Loan Fund:
This will provide
between £10,000 and £20,000 to eligible small
businesses, with growth potential and viable
business plans that are unable to raise the
required funds from banks and other commercial
sources.
For further information, contact Nicola Mitchell,
Greater London Enterprise (GLE) on
020 7940 1563, e-mail, Nicola
Merton Business Team on 020 8545 3232/3937
or email future
• Micro Finance Loan Fund: This will provide
small loans between £500 and £10,000 to
help people start up small businesses or become
self employed, and to help existing micro
businesses grow and/or survive the current
economic climate.
For more details, contact the futureMerton’s
Business Team on 020 8545 3232/3937 or
email future
Shop Front Improvement Grant
Merton Council can give a grant to eligible
businesses to improve shopfronts where they are
likely to:
• have significant improvement on the appearance,
image and footfall of Town Centres, High Street and
local shopping parades
• bring vacant shops back to use by refurbishing and
starting a business from the premises.
For more details contact 020 8545 3837 or
email future
Business rate support and advice
There are a number of ways for businesses can
reduce their business rates - through various business
rate relief schemes they may be entitled to depending
on their circumstances. These include reliefs for empty
properties, partially occupied properties, small
businesses and charities.
To find out more please visit
find out what
help is available.
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Business Support Information for Merton Businesses