AN award has been presented to Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) for being the best at supporting small businesses in the south. 

Leader of the TVBC Cllr Phil North took to Facebook to share the good news. 

The All Round Small Business Friendly Council award was presented to the council by Rob Dewing from the Federation of Small Businesses at Test Valley’s full council meeting on Wednesday, January 25.

He posted: "A huge thank you to Rob Dewing from the Federation of Small Businesses (FBS) who came to Test Valley’s full council meeting last night to present us with the award for the best All Round Small Business Friendly Council in the south-central region.

"We won the award back in October, with the FSB being particularly impressed by: The speed at which we delivered the National Lockdown grant schemes and the additional restriction grants, and our support for start-ups and SMEs. Between March 2020 and March 2022, we distributed 52 business start-up grants to a value of £37,500.

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"In the past, these grants have meant that business survival rates have exceeded the national average. Our small grant offer to support town centres. In April 2021 we increased the independent retailer grant from £1,000 to £1,200. This grant encourages businesses to take over empty, ground-floor retail space. Between March 2020 and March 2022, we distributed 25 grants.

"Our approach to stimulating demand in Andover’s Chantry Centre by adapting the independent retailer grant to enable pop-up shops to apply."

He went on to list a number of collaborative projects including the Andover skills training fund.

"Between March 2020 and March 2022, we administered 43 skills grants to Andover businesses and residents totalling £42,192", he added.

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He continued "The work we do with young people in the borough. Partnering with the DWP and three neighbouring local authorities we delivered a Youth Employment Hub initiative to support 16–24-year-olds in education, training or employment."

Cllr North thanked all the councillors and council officers who he said have "worked so hard to achieve this."