16 March 2007
New training and equipment grants for wood and forest businesses
| A new scheme offering grants to forestry and wood businesses in the south west has been launched. Woodworks has been designed to help small growing businesses across the whole of the area, following a highly successful Cornish project, of the same name, that has funded 80 businesses totalling £200,000 over the past eight years. The new initiative is being jointly managed by the Stoke Climsland-based Silvanus Trust and Working the Woods, which covers the AONBs and National Park areas surrounding Plymouth. |  |
The grant can provide up to £375 towards the costs of training a new employee; up to £180 towards the costs of equipment and expenses for the new employee; a £50/week wage subsidy for 6 months; and help with business planning for those businesses with no current plan. The total fund available is £2,000.
Will Frost of The Silvanus Trust said:
'Many expanding businesses want to take on new staff but are worried about the costs of getting new recruits up to speed and this is where Woodworks can help. It can also help with the start-up of a new business'.
Over the last ten years, the wood and forestry sector in the south west has been characterised by slow growth and under-investment but new markets are beginning to open up with the help of new technologies. Recreation is also beginning to generate income for woodland owners, whilst the market for sawn timber in construction and furnishings is growing. All this is leading to stronger demand and better prices, which is helping woodland owners and businesses to expand and plan for the future more positively than for many years.
Jacqui Orange from Working the Woods explains what she is looking for:
'This is an excellent opportunity for small woodland businesses in the area that are looking to expand and need a little extra help. We are particularly keen to hear from businesses working in the timber in construction, wood fuel and woodland tourism sectors'.
For details of how to apply for a grant, please contact Jacqui Orange, Working the Woods, c/o Tamar Valley AONB, Cotehele Quay, St Dominick, Cornwall, PL12 6TA. Telephone (01579) 351316. Email jorange@tamarvalley.org.uk or visit www.woodmeet.net (external link, opens new window) or Will Frost, the Silvanus Trust, Kyl Cober Parc, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 8PH. Telephone (01579) 372100. Email will.frost@silvanus.cornwall.ac.uk or visit www.silvanus.org.uk (external link, opens new window).
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Photo opportunity
To arrange a photo opportunity please do not hesitate to contact Jacqui Orange on (01579) 351316 or email jorange@tamarvalley.org.uk
For Further Information
Jacqui Orange, Project Manager, Working the Woods
Telephone (01579) 351316, email jorange@tamarvalley.org.uk or visit www.tamarvalley.org.uk. (external link, opens new window)
Notes for Editors
Woodworks SW is delivered by a number of partners across the south west. The overall management of the scheme is undertaken by The Silvanus Trust. The scheme is funded by SW Woodland Renaissance and the businesses themselves.
Working the Woods is part of an exciting national pilot, one of only four across the UK highlighting the links between protected landscapes and woodland in the Tamar Valley AONB (external link, opens new window) South Devon AONB (external link, opens new window), and Dartmoor National Park.
Working the Woods stimulates the use of more locally derived timber by improving coordination within the woodland sector; promoting wood product marketing; raising public awareness of the benefits of woodlands; creating new partnerships and sharing good practice amongst woodland sector businesses.
The SW Woodland Renaissance Partnership exists to regenerate woodland and forestry in the south west for the benefit of the economy, society and the environment. Its 3 main areas of investment are the timber supply chain and the marketing of its products; emerging technologies for alternative uses of wood such as biofuels; and the tourism and leisure sector where benefits will be made available not only to the industry but also to the population of the south west. For further information please contact Jez Ralph, The Silvanus Trust, Kyl Cober Parc, Stoke Climsland, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 8PH. Telephone. (01579) 372100. Email. jez.ralph@silvanus.cornwall.ac.uk or visit www.silvanus.org.uk (external link, opens new window).
For Further Information from Dartmoor National Park Authority
Rupert Lane, Head of Trees and Woodlands, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
Return to Dartmoor National Park Authority Partnership Project News Releases
This page last updated 16 March 2007
