A NEW wood chipping company has been set up to generate green energy for a number of Bromsgrove businesses after receiving more than £33,000 in funding.
Chessgrove Woodchip Ltd, part of a green programme, was recently formed so virgin wood could be purchased and dried out on site to produce a fuel used in biomass boilers.
Run by the Few family, which owns a group of existing businesses on the grounds of Chessgrove Park, the company received a grant of £33,980 from the Worcestershire LEADER Programme as part of the Rural Development Programme for England.
Chessgrove managing director Ian Few said: “Chessgrove Woodchip would not exist without the grant.
“It has allowed us to create the business, to expand our green energy project and create employment.
“We have found the experience very useful. It was a simple process to understand and we feel we’ve had the necessary support to carry out the project.”
The LEADER programme, delivered locally by Worcestershire County Council and the Worcestershire Local Action Group on behalf of Defra, aims to help the economies of rural communities grow by enabling local people to identify and implement solutions to local problems.
Jill Hall, chair of the Worcestershire Local Action Group, said: “Worcestershire LEADER is pleased to be helping Chessgrove achieve their ambitions for the business.
“We are here to support the growth plans of rural small businesses in the county.
“I would encourage any business with development plans to have a look at our website to see whether you are eligible for our assistance.”
Anyone interested in applying for a LEADER grant should visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/LEADER or call Programme Manager Katie Ainsworth on 01905 843992.
