Wrexham manufacturing grants boost 26 local business projects

This month, Wrexham Council has awarded financial support to 26 projects through its SME Manufacturing Grants scheme, backed by the Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone.

The scheme allows manufacturing businesses in Wrexham to apply for grants from £5,000 up to £100,000 to support capital equipment purchases, decarbonisation, property adaptations, and gaining industry accreditation or certification.

It forms part of the wider Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone programme, supported by both the UK and Welsh governments and co-ordinated by Ambition North Wales.

There were 51 expressions of interest and 35 full applications submitted in this first round. Following a robust assessment process, 26 projects were approved, with total funding awarded of £1,286,302.

Highly competitive

Councillor Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council and Chair of Ambition North Wales, said:

“This is an exciting milestone for Wrexham and I’m delighted to see our first round of grants being allocated. Initiatives like this will play a vital role in driving economic growth, helping to create high-quality jobs and strengthening the region’s position as a powerhouse for advanced manufacturing in Wales.

It’s an exciting time and I’d like to reiterate my thanks to both the UK and Welsh governments for backing the Investment Zone.”

The first round of funding was highly competitive, with businesses required to clearly demonstrate how their projects contribute to three core Investment Zone objectives:

• Creating up to 6,000 new jobs across Flintshire and Wrexham
• Securing £1 billion in private sector investment
• Developing over 5.5 million square feet of commercial space

Applicants were also required to provide at least 30% match funding.

Councillor Nigel Williams, Lead Member for Economy, Business and Tourism, said:

“As a council we want to support local businesses to grow and succeed. That success creates jobs, builds investor confidence, and strengthens Wrexham’s reputation as a place to do business.

The Investment Zone gives us a significant opportunity to accelerate growth in the manufacturing sector, and this grant scheme is just the beginning.”

Next round of funding

Businesses that were not successful in this round will be able to reapply later this autumn, alongside new applicants.

If you run a manufacturing SME in Wrexham and are looking for support to grow your business, now is a great time to find out more.