Active Business Support (UK) Ltd based in Middlesbrough has been able to add an additional member to their workforce thanks to a wage subsidy grant from Tees Valley Unlimited. Samantha Mueller, who joined the company last year on an accounting apprenticeship, will take up the position of Trainee Accounting Technician. “Samantha worked really hard last year both in the office and at college and was the only member of her class who passed all of her exams first time” explains Managing Director Dianne Hitchen who established the company four years ago “and we had no hesitation in offering her a permanent position with the company.”
“The grant we received has been pivotal to the company’s expansion plans and I believe the scheme has been very successful not just for our business but also other SME’s who sometimes find that grants are aimed at the larger employers making it difficult for the smaller companies to get funding.
There should be more funding aimed at the micro businesses (less than ten employees) who often miss out on their share of the grant money that comes in to the Tees Valley simply because the starting point is so high. A grant of less than £10,000 can make a huge difference to this size of business giving them the chance to develop into something larger”.
“The company’s growth is due to more and more organisations choosing to outsource their bookkeeping, HR and payroll administration as it is more cost effective than having to employ their own staff to carry out these duties and also does away with the problem of covering holidays and sickness. “added Dianne “in the next few months we will be taking on another apprentice and look forward to another busy year ahead ”