How does the council support business and the local economy?
Providing advice and support to new businesses
The Council provides support for new businesses via the Erewash Partnership Ltd. Did you know that over the last 2 years, Erewash Partnership have assisted 222 entrepreneurs, provided 425 businesses with non-financial support, and helped 90 new businesses set up, employing over 100 people. The Partnership has a large local membership and runs its own networking events. Support for start-up and pre start-up businesses continues this year.
New for 25/26: Existing businesses could additionally benefit from bespoke training, workshops, access to finance and 1-2-1 expert mentoring provided through the Erewash Business Accelerator. The programme, which runs until 31 March 2026 is led by East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and funded through EMCCA and the Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Business Grants
The Council continues to directly operate business grant schemes to support town centre properties and companies undertaking Research and Development (R&D). These initiatives are funded by the UKSPF.
R&D Grants
From 2022 to 2025 the Council’s UKSPF funded ‘Manufacturing Research & Development Grant Scheme’ supported 11 businesses with 13 projects. Over £214,000 was awarded to Erewash businesses to carry out a variety of projects from clothing and sofa manufacturing to recipe development and automated machinery research. A few of the recent success stories can be found here:
Comfa: The North Erewash company’s first creation was a range of affordable T-shirts made from super-soft material with Pop-Its – popular fidget toys often used by neurodivergent people to help them sooth and self-regulate - in the seams. The design for the T-shirt has been handed a UK patent with a European and Worldwide patent currently pending. Comfa has received grants from organisations including Erewash Borough Council for the project. There are now plans to design other items of clothing such as school uniform and underwear. Comfa featured on ITV’s This Morning in 2024 to talk about the t-shirt, which now frequently sells out on their website.
I.Holland Ltd: The chances are that even when you reach for a humble paracetamol or tablet of Ibuprofen it comes from a factory that uses machinery from pioneering company I Holland. The equipment even punches out Polo Mints! The Long Eaton engineering firm is the world’s longest-established maker of “tablet compression tooling”. It was founded more than 75 years ago and has become a huge exporter – with overseas customers now accounting for 95 per cent of its business. Because pharmaceutical giants require ultra-sterile equipment the company has been looking at new ways to keep machinery pristine. A £10,343 research and development grant from Erewash Borough Council went towards the project.
Emma Harris Lingerie: Fashion graduate Claire Emma Harris worked as design director for a high street chain before taking the plunge and launching her own company. She now boasts an army of fans among the rich and famous. Clients wowed by the latest creations from her Ilkeston firm include wives of music idols. Claire successfully applied for a R&D grant from the council. She used the investment to develop her latest fashion range.
The Research and Development Grant scheme will continue throughout 2025/ 2026 and has been extended to include all sectors.
Shop Signage Scheme
Over £32,000 was awarded to new businesses moving into vacant premises in our town centres through the ‘Empty Shop Signage Scheme’ the Council ran from 2023-2025 with UKSPF monies. 20 new businesses across Ilkeston and Long Eaton benefitted from the scheme, which helped reduce the number of vacant shops in the town centres as well as improving the shop fronts. Have you visited any of these businesses?
| Long Eaton | Ilkeston |
|---|---|
| Naz Indian Restaurant & Takeaway Lady Nene’s Café Bar & Bistro Show That Glow Tanning Salon Fades Barbers Infinity Vapes Sorella Studios Rainbows Children’s Hospice shop 88mph Tattoo |
Living Hope Community Store Off the Peg by La Belle Boutique Cooper’s Dog Grooming Olive and Daphne’s Haberdashery Supplement City J&H Hair Studio LCM Leisure B. Beauty Ilson Foods Little Warren’s Den Ryder’s Bar |
| Some examples of how the scheme has improved the street scene whilst supporting businesses. | |
|---|---|
| Before - A vacant unit: | After - Cooper's Dog Grooming: |
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| Before - A vacant unit: | After - Lady Nene's Café: |
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| Before - A vacant unit: | After - Supplement City: |
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| Some other examples of new signage. | |
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During 2025/26, the Council will be continuing the Shop Signage Grant but will open it out to include occupied units.
NEW: Shop Front Improvement Scheme
This year the Council will also be running a complementary Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme which aims to encourage owners or tenants of rundown premises in the town centres to clean, repair, or renovate their buildings so that they are less of an eyesore and contribute to the attractiveness of our town centres. Grants of £1,000 - £10,000 are available (with 20% match funding) to carry out works such as graffiti removal, repairing brickwork or rendering, re-painting, replacing windows, and clearing guttering.
Providing Business Accommodation
The Council is a business landlord and owns various properties in the Borough including Bridge House in Long Eaton and Toll Bar House in Ilkeston. These properties offer small affordable office accommodation for small to medium sized business.
If you are looking for office accommodation, then you can find out what we have available on the Council's Rightmove Page.
Coming soon… The Stables: Renovated with Town Deal Funds, the Council will be offering affordable office accommodation in the Stable Block behind Long Eaton Town Hall due to open autumn 2025. You can find out more on the background to the project on the Town Deal Website, and details regarding lettings on the Rightmove Page.
To register your interest in the new Stable Block facilities, please contact Gemma Cragg (Estates Surveyor, Erewash Borough Council) by phone: 0115 9072325 or email: propertyandestates@erewash.gov.uk
Working with EMMCCA
East Midlands Mayoral Combined County Authority (EMMCCA) has responsibility for economic growth in the East Midlands. It has a budget of £385m over the next year and is leading on various initiatives to stimulate growth, promote the region, and improve skills. The Council has been working with EMMCCA on the following:
- Brownfield Housing Fund - The council has been working with the site owners to deliver 11 apartments and 2 ground floor commercial units in the former Ilkeston Argos on Bath Street. This prominent high street unit has been vacant since 2015. The council successfully secured EMMCCA support at the expression of interest stage last year, and subject to a successful business case, this conversion scheme is due to commence in early 2026.
- Investment pipeline for the region. The council successfully secured DCC cabinet support for six investment projects which form part of a countywide bid for EMMCCA investment. These projects comprise junction improvements, cycle trails, a rail hub at New Stanton Park, flood mitigation to unlock employment land and a capacity study for M1 J25. This incorporates projects at New Stanton Park, one of the region’s largest new strategic employment sites.
- See more information on EMCCA.
Delivering the Long Eaton Town Deal
£25m was awarded to Long Eaton through the Government’s Town Deal Fund. The money is being spent on several transformational projects intended to improve the town. These include investment in the High Street, brownfield land regeneration, new bridges, and outdoor leisure and events spaces to maximise the potential of West Park. Keep up to date with project progress on the Long Eaton Town Deal website.
Help with Business Rates
The Council administers National Non-Domestic Rates which includes the billing of, administering rate reliefs, where eligible and collecting the amounts due.
Businesses should contact the Council if:
- You have questions about your Demand Notice
- You need to report changes such as a move
- You are struggling to pay your rates
- You think you are eligible for a relief you are not currently getting – you can find out more on our Business Rates Relief Pages.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) and when to contact them:
The VOA sets the Rateable Value for all businesses. The Council then uses this to work out how much each business owes.
Businesses may need to contact the VOA if:
- You do not think your business should be paying business rates
- To report changes to your business property
- You think your Rateable Value is incorrect
- You want to appeal your Rateable Value
Check and challenge your business rates valuation with the VOA.