For any company, a fundamental requirement is the use of premises which meet the business’ operational needs.
But as the business expands or develops, property needs often change. When this happens, many companies find the costs of upgrading, extending or converting premises can be high.
Through the South Lanarkshire Business Venture Fund, companies can carry out permanent improvements to properties to achieve planned business growth. Eligible works include conversions, extensions, permanent upgrades, creation of parking or service areas and landscaping.
There is the potential to receive a Property Improvement Grant of up to 50 per cent of costs subject to a maximum grant of £15,000.
The Business Venture Fund also provides grant and loan funding to support businesses which have been trading for less than two years. During the last two years the fund has helped 112 firms with over £700,000 of assistance.
To qualify, companies should employ less than 250 people world-wide and demonstrate a viable growth project supported by a business plan.
The property grant is open to all South Lanarkshire manufacturing businesses and those which serve the manufacturing industry – regardless of how long they have been trading.
For more information and advice contact South Lanarkshire Council’s Company Development Team on 01698 455142 or a business adviser at your Small Business Gateway.
Case studies:
When design consultancy DBD ImageWorks purchased new offices in Lanark, interior decor was the least of its worries.
“Internally the property was in an appalling condition and required to be completely stripped and refitted,” said managing director John Telfer.
“The extent of the remedial work, such as the replacement of all major services, allowed us to consider other options, which without the help of the Property Improvement Grant, may not otherwise have been possible.
“Our buisness is totally reliant on the transfer of digital information – both internally and externally. Therefore, to be able to install state of the art networking and telecommunications was a huge bonus.”
Although under no pressure to move from its base in East Kilbride, the company was keen to get back to more suitable premises. A three month deadline was set for the refit of the new offices.
“The grant was a huge help as it allowed us to complete the refit within a very short period of time and has ultimately given us a far better facility than otherwise would have been possible,” said John.
The office in Hyndford Road now makes the perfect base for the company which specialises in corporate communications, pharmaceutical packaging and retail promotion.
Clyde Windows and Conservatories
Managing director Dax Duckett started off Clyde Windows and Conservatories from the rear of his house in Larkhall.
And when it came time to expand, he decided he wanted to keep the business in the town.
“Most of the staff live in the area and a lot of our business is local, so it made sense to remain in Larkhall,” explained Dax.
Finding a suitable property wasn’t easy. Eventually, he was forced to consider what could only be described as a run down, semi-derelict unit at Larkhall Industrial Estate.
Due to its very poor state, the property required an extensive rebuild. This allowed Clyde Windows and Conservatories to invest in tailoring the building to its needs – with the help of a Property Improvement Grant.
“It had been lying empty for seven years. There were holes in the roof that had never been fixed – so the building was full of water and needed completely rewired, said Dax.
“We spent quite a bit of money on it. The grant helped because it let me do some things that we might not have otherwise been able to.”
The 6,000-square-foot factory now houses around 20 employees who custom build UPVC windows, doors and conservatories to the public, trade and commercial markets.
During the First World War, J & HM Dickson Ltd made hessian sand bags for the war effort.
Things have moved on since then. This third generation business has evolved to become one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of woven polypropylene packaging for chemical, agricultural and industrial use.
Recently, managing director Alan Dickson decided it was the turn of the company’s factory at Rutherglen Industrial Estate to be brought up to date.
He drew up a two-phase programme to improve and expand the business.
“Phase one was to invest in the existing factory by recladding and reroofing,” explained Alan. “It is probably about 40 years old and was starting to give in places.”
A Property Improvement Grant helped the company carry out the work and earlier this year it received further assistance with phase two.
Alan explained: “The property next to us was a bit of an eyesore. Now we’ve bought it to use as storage – recladding it, refurbishing the whole place and putting up new fencing.”
He said the grant had been a big help adding: “I have been delighted at the help we have been given at a local level.”
After investing around £200,000 in new machinery, precision engineering firm Aeron Automation hit a problem.
The roof of its ageing base in Nerston Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, sprung a leak.
“We had a lot of water coming through and it was a fairly old building. At the same, time we were trying to attract clients and wanted to be able to show them our premises,” explained managing director Alan Ray.
With the help of a Property Improvement Grant, Aeron – a subcontractor for the telecommunications, aviation and petrochemical industries – upgraded the property. The company also embarked on an environmental project around the factory.
“We put up a new fence and brought in a tree surgeon,” said Alan. “All the work has made a tremendous difference.
“The right image is very important nowadays, especially when dealing with larger companies. Of course, it also created another three jobs at the company bringing our workforce up to 12.”
Business South Lanarkshire - Summer/ Autumn 2001
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