Launch of HERO grant initiative by Highland Council aims to encourage job creation in the region

GRANTS of up to £6000 have been launched in a bid to help boost employment in the Highlands.

Highland Council has announced the grants, which aim to help businesses cover the cost of recruiting and employing a new member of staff.

If you are a private or third sector employer with less than 50 employees in Highland you can apply for a ‘HERO grant’.

The fund can cover the costs of employing someone including their wages, training costs, travel or other work-related costs.

Highland Council's economy and regeneration manager, Andy McCann, said: "With the current uncertainty in the economy, the council is aware of the difficulties businesses are facing to make a commitment to employ someone new.

"The aim of this 12-month grant is to take away some of this uncertainty and encourage employers to take on new staff who are unemployed or who have been issued with a redundancy."

Businesses can visit the Council’s website and take the 15 minutes required to read the guidance and to apply using the online form at: www.highland.gov.uk/HERO

The Highland Employment Recruitment Offer (HERO) grant is part of the Council’s Economic Prosperity Fund included in the Council’s 2021/22 budget.

Related news: Highland Council agrees 'ambitious' programme to kick start region's economic recovery

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