FINANCIAL grants to support business start-ups in the Vale of Glamorgan will soon be available.

Almost £220,000 in grants will be available to new small businesses after the Vale Bursaries Scheme was approved by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

The council hopes to establish 50 new businesses in the Vale of Glamorgan through the scheme, offering grants of up to £5,000 to help cover the cost of starting up.

Cllr Lis Burnett, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for education and regeneration said: “Economic development and job creation have long been a focus for this council and our new bursary scheme is yet more evidence of that.

“Previous rounds have been targeted at young people aged 18-30 but we know there are people of all ages across the Vale with brilliant ideas for new businesses.

“It's always a joy to bump into people who were supported in previous rounds, and I hope there will be many more success stories in the future.

“With so many opportunities opening up as a result of the Council’s regeneration work there has never been a better time to be doing businesses in the Vale of Glamorgan.”

The council has allocated up to £159,074 to fund the scheme, with an additional £60,000 coming from the Waterloo Foundation, equating to £219,074.

Wales fund manager for the Waterloo Foundation, Anna Rees, said: “The Waterloo Foundation is delighted to once again support the Vale of Glamorgan Bursary Scheme which aims to help people start their own business.

“We hope more budding entrepreneurs will take advantage of the scheme, and the wider business opportunities it offers, as they are helped on their journey to self-employment.”

The bursary scheme will open to applicants from Friday, April 1.

From that date more information on how to apply for the Vale Bursaries Scheme will be available at www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk