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Economic Development

Economy minister says Phase 2 of Economic Resilience Fund will open next month - with non-VAT firms able to apply

Ken Skates made gave an update on the business support scheme to the Senedd today

Economy Minister Ken Skates

The second phase of the Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) will open in Wales next month - with non-VAT firms able to apply.

The £400m ERF was launched by the Welsh Government in March and has received more than 9,500 applications, with over 6,000 offers already made to date - worth over a £100m.

But there was a backlash from start-ups and non-VAT businesses who were excluded on eligibility criteria and a campaign launched to extend support.

Now Economy minister Ken Skates says the second phase of the scheme will reopen in mid-June.

Non-VAT firms will now be able to apply while Mr Skates said he was working with local authorities about getting support to start-ups.

Mr Skates said: "On 27 April, we paused the Economic Resilience Fund to give us an opportunity to consider where further support could make the biggest impact.

"Not only to help those businesses we haven’t already reached, but also to consider what support all businesses will need through the ongoing rescue phase as well as into restart and recovery phase, as lockdown measures are eased in line with last Friday’s framework. 

Ken Skates, Minister for Economy and Transport, and Minister for North Wales (Image: Ian Cooper/North Wales Live)

"That work is advancing well and we are finalising the details on the next phase of the Economic Resilience Fund.