Since relaunching the Love Your High Street fund in April 2020, the council has helped more businesses, local town/parish councils and organisations by offering grants of up to £10,000 (subject to meeting the eligibility criteria) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund might be used to support a new business venture, innovative projects that help create the high street as a destination, the diversification of a high street/rural business - for example, an activity to help the business retain a high street presence, such as creating an online offer, or a new delivery service. The Fund has also supported projects that will help prepare a business to recover after the COVID crisis.

Applications are still welcome from businesses, property owners, Town and Parish Councils, event organisers; or business groups who are collaborating to make a difference on their high street. This might be something physical, or just a great idea which creates a stronger high street presence and community, a project that supports the ethos of developing a great place in the East Riding.

To date, a total of 165 applications have been approved, with funding still available for new applicants.

We look at some of the successful applications so far and find out how they have benefitted local businesses in the East Riding:

Cutting it Fine received a grant of £3,000 to convert an empty property to a hair salon in Cottingham.

Liz Smales, from Cutting it Fine in Cottingham, said: "The Love Your High Street grant has allowed me to set up my business in Cottingham and that wouldn't have been possible without the support and help from East Riding of Yorkshire Council. I've purchased signage and equipment for my salon with the funding and this will really help my business to grow in the next few years. I'd recommend other businesses get in touch with the council and seek similar help if they are eligible for it." 

Sister Boutique in Hornsea received a grant of £3,421 to assist in the opening of a new clothes boutique in Hornsea.

The Westwood Restaurant in Beverley received a grant of £3,000 to enable them to cover an outdoor seating area so diners could use it for more time during the year.

Michele Barker, from The Westwood Restaurant in Beverley, said: "Being able to cover our terrace area of the restaurant has helped to put at ease those customers who are still nervous about being indoors due to COVID. These customers now feel safe during their time with us and we've received some fantastic praise for it. This would not have been possible without the Love Your High Street grant."

Sprinkle Sisters in Hessle received a grant of £5,200 to convert an empty premise into a fully functional bakery to made local artisan food products.

Blue Sky Day Nursery received a grant of £6,156 to convert an empty building into a children's nursery in Pocklington.

Jo Watson, area manager for Blue Sky Day Nursery in Pocklington, said: "The Love Your High Street grant has been a very useful and a simple process when it came to refitting the front of our nursery. We required a complete refit which included new windows and steps and thankfully our application was accepted. I would encourage businesses to follow the same process, as the work done has massively improved the building at Blue Sky Day Nursery." 

Everything But The Dog received a grant of £10,000 towards the cost of converting an empty premises in Beverley to a dog spa and boutique.

Paul Bell, head of economic development and communications at the council, said: "The Love Your High Street fund is making a real difference in supporting East Riding businesses to not only recover from the pandemic, but also to flourish and prosper after the restrictions. This funding provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to get some much-needed financial support and it has been great to see a number of the improvements made so far to the successful applicants."

For more information about the fund, or to apply for a grant, please visit www.loveyourhighstreet.co.uk